nah i bring the battery indoors - keep in in the basement on a pallet - the weather here swings too cold to keep it out during the winter - the trickle charger just keeps it alive
nah i bring the battery indoors - keep in in the basement on a pallet - the weather here swings too cold to keep it out during the winter - the trickle charger just keeps it alive
Agreed. You don't need to leave the battery in the truck to use a trickle charger.
Also, when I store the motorcycle, I add some fuel stabilizer to the gas tank and start it up long enough for it to run through the carbs. Otherwise, your fuel will gum up in your carbs/injectors, and you won't be able to get it started. It keeps the gas from breaking down. I'd add some to the tank, run the truck around the block a few times to help mix the stabilizer and the fuel and let it run in your driveway for another 10-15 minutes before you put it away.
Oh yeah, and on the motorcycles, if you decide to go with the fuel stabilizer option, as opposed to draining all of the fuel, they say to completely fill the gas tank. This cuts down on rust/corrosion to your fuel tank by getting as much of the air out as possible.
I agree with changing the oil. Always store vehicles with fresh oil in the crankcase.
If you periodically run the engine, run it for at least 20 minutes ... and don't merely idle it as this fuel-fouls the oil.
I would put very little fuel in the tank and have it loaded with Sta-Bil or the Briggs & Stratton fuel stabilizer. Even stabilized fuel will start to break down after just a handful of months.
I was told that leaving a modern automotive battery on a concrete floor is no longer a problem ... but I still leave 'em on a chunk of 2x4 to be safe.
HOWEVER, I think the battery tender, etc ... may be totally unnecesary here. I've talked to too many Nissan truck owners that have had their factory batteries fail after 2-3 years. Me? I'd give the factory battery away and get a new one (Optima Red Top) when he has his license again next spring.
Don't know the whole story, but to reinforce the lesson make your son do all of this work to the truck. Make him wash it, change the oil, pay for the cover, the battery tender, etc.
Then make sure he rides along when you take it for it's periodic spins around the neighborhood. Or better yet, make him stand at the curb while you drive around and around.
Of course this is assuming that he wants it back. If not then sell.
__________________ 2005 Frontier Nismo CC 4x2 -- Aztec Red, Rockford-Fosgate, Sunroof, Side Curtain Air Bags, Tow Package, Bed Extender, Hard Tonneau (finally!!), Microfilter, Manik Step Bars, Nissan iPod Interface, Ground Wire Kit, and more to come . . .
Sorry for all the conflicting stories. I guess the moral of the story is that a bunch of people have tried a bunch of different things when they have had to store their vehicles, and it looks like they have all worked just fine. Pick what sounds best to you, and your son is still going to have a great truck in a year from now. Worst case scenario, you may have to buy a new battery.
Now if I may change the subject for just a second... Q-tip, nice looking truck! I see that you are buying the Nissan iPod interface. When you get that installed, let us all know how that is. You know, give us some of the in's and out's. Thx.
Now if I may change the subject for just a second... Q-tip, nice looking truck! I see that you are buying the Nissan iPod interface. When you get that installed, let us all know how that is. You know, give us some of the in's and out's. Thx.
B. Rain
Thanks!! I got it in last weekend but I haven't had a minute to take any pictures. (Put the Manik bars on too and I didn't take pictures of them yet because the truck is dirty!)
First impressions of the iPod interface: the sound is great - as good or better than the CD player. I like the steering wheel controls but there isn't much you can do from the wheel. I still have to lean over a punch a lot of buttons. It's not quite as easy to navigate around the iPod from the truck as it is when you are using the iPod by itself. Have had to "unlearn" a couple of iPod tricks because the interface does things a little differently.
Don't want to hijack this thread - so - I'll get some pictures and get a thread going this weekend probably. 05 NISMO 4X4 has written up a lot on this forum about his iPod adventures. You could search for his posts to get his impressions too. I'll pretty much rubber-stamp whatever he says.
__________________ 2005 Frontier Nismo CC 4x2 -- Aztec Red, Rockford-Fosgate, Sunroof, Side Curtain Air Bags, Tow Package, Bed Extender, Hard Tonneau (finally!!), Microfilter, Manik Step Bars, Nissan iPod Interface, Ground Wire Kit, and more to come . . .
Linear Mode
