At last you have the car of your dreams and you spent large amounts of both time and money on restoring it and you now want to keep it in the same pristine condition. Unfortunately winter is coming and you do not want to drive it in now the weather is turning bad. So you have decided that you want to put your car into storage for the winter months and as cheaply as possible? Yet you also want to be able to get it back onto the road as soon as the weather is good again and find it in the same condition as when it went into storage?

Well hopefully the information contained within this article will help you to make an informed decision on the type of car storage you will use.

Indoor Storage Of course this is the best way for any one to go when looking for storage for their prized car and is the best option especially if you will be away for any extended period of time.

But because you don’t have a garage you are now looking for an alternative. Luckily there are many indoor storage facilities around which will gladly rent storage space that is big enough for a vehicle. If you can try and find a facility where they will run the engine on your car for you every month or two. However, you may find that they will charge you extra for this facility, but it will save you money in the long term as the vehicle will be ready for you to drive after a long lay over period.

When preparing your car for storage it is important that it is clean. Wait until you have a warm dry day and then completely wash and wax the car. Also make sure that you clean the underbody and around the wheel areas as well as any dirt left on the car holds moisture and when combined with air will result in result being allowed to grow.

Also thoroughly clean the car inside. Use either a shop/garage vacuum or a household one in order to get into all the nooks and crannies in your car (it is important to get rid of any dirt or crumbs etc., from the car prior to storage). Leaving such items in the car will only make it a place that small creatures (mice, rats) will be drawn to and make their home inside it.

If you can get the carpets thoroughly cleaned and do this before you do any thing else so that it gives them time to dry out before you put the car into storage.

Next take out the spark plugs and put some oil into the cylinders as this will prevent the cylinder walls, pistons and valves from rusting. You can use regular motor oil but a can of fogging oil from a marine supply store is a good alternative. Now you need to turn the engine by hand half a dozen times to make sure that the oil coats everything. Before you reinstall the spark plugs apply a little anti-seize to them.

Also make sure that the petrol (gas) tank is full as this will reduce the risk of how much water is available to be absorbed by the petrol (gas).

Now we come to the electrical system of your car. Remove the battery cables (negative cable first) and then lift out the battery from the engine. Next you need to wipe the batter down with a battery cleaner (this removes any moisture holding dirt or grease from it). Now you place the battery on a clean dry surface. Attach the battery to a trickle charger which will help preserve the battery’s charge. Also inspect the battery for any rust or corrosion.

You will then need to lubricate the hood latches, hinges and door hinges if you are able to check the brake fluid (flush it out and replace if necessary). Now you will need to check the coolant level (make sure there is enough to protect the cooling system from winter temperatures).

If you want to keep rodents and other small animals from chewing the ignition wires and other wiring in your car (place clean rags into the engine air intake, fresh air intake (under the windshield) and the exhaust. A good idea is to get a big box of mothballs and spread them around and under the car (this seems to keep undesirable elements away from the car).

As for the tyres they will after extended periods of time when not moving they will develop flat spots and the best way to prevent this is to put the car up on jacks.

Now remove the wiper blades as this will prevent them from becoming glued to the windshield.

Now you carried out all the necessary things about there is nothing left for you to do but to put it in to storage and lock up knowing you can enjoy it in the future?

Tonneau covers are getting more and more popular these days. These covers provide you with extra storage facilities and maintain the looks of your truck. Tonneau covers also help to increase the mileage of your truck and protect your possessions. All of these features have made them very popular truck accessories.

There has been an increase in the production of tonneau covers due to increasing demand. There are now wide varieties of tonneau covers available for all kinds of trucks. However, you should look out for all the varieties but only choose the cover which best suits your needs.

Tonneau covers are available in six categories according to price range, ease of use and installation, protection, capability and durability. These categories are hard top tonneaus, soft roll up tonneaus, hinged tonneaus, retractable or roll top tonneaus, toolbox tonneaus, and cross bow tonneaus.

Installing a good quality tonneau cover on your pick up will definitely increase its look and value. But you will need to spend a certain amount of money to get this cover. In return it will definitely make a statement. Make sure that you are buying an original cover, as some are available at a very low rate. You may get deceived by their looks but actually, they are not genuine. You will need to pay less for a soft-top tonneau cover compared to a hardtop cover that is more costly. Therefore, you can make a choice according to your personal taste, preference and affordability.

Easy Maintenance: When cleaning your tonneau cover, wash it in the same manner as the rest of your truck, however always remember not to use dashboard-cleaning agent. Simply read the instructions in the reader’s manual on how to maintain your cover.

Protection of Products from Damage: A locking and hard shell tonneau cover is the best choice if you carry precious products regularly in your truck. Truxedo and Extang are the only covers available for security requirements. There will always be curiosity to know what is in the back of your truck.

Increases Truck Value: Always choose the finest tonneau cover to increase the value of your truck, and this will keep your truck looking and running good.

As the prices of gas are increasing day by day, a tonneau cover also helps to save fuel. As it reduces wind drag, it saves as much as 15-20%. In conclusion, these covers not only increase your truck value but also increase the storage capacity of your truck.