I've currently sorn'd Ralph after having a great summer on the road with no breakdowns. Apart from when I left the keys at the garage and needed to use Ralph to get to my wedding so had to break in and hotwire him. (sorry Ralph). Anyways what's the best, option 1 keep taxing him and run him through the winter. Option 2 sorn him and buy him a nice cover ?
What's best for winter?
- Thread starter lancealot
- Start date
If he's tax free I'd definitely keep him 'taxed' and give him the odd run out to keep his juices flowing, keep the battery on a trickle charge in the meantime.
If you're going to lay him up I'd put him on axle stands so the wheels are off the ground. Fill the fuel tank to prevent rust forming. Trickle charge the battery. Start him up and run him up to temp once a week and give the brakes and clutch a workout to keep everything supple and lubricated.
Spare a Commer Guv?
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
If you're going to lay him up I'd put him on axle stands so the wheels are off the ground. Fill the fuel tank to prevent rust forming. Trickle charge the battery. Start him up and run him up to temp once a week and give the brakes and clutch a workout to keep everything supple and lubricated.
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
Option 3. Barbados 
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Hi Lancelot - it must be 3 years now since we saw you at Stonehenge on our ways back from Glastonbury [8D]
If tax free / otherwise affordable then I'd keep him taxed regardless and use whenever you can but on dry days only, IMO classics deteriorate worse through no winter use rather than careful winter use.
Even then definitely consider a decent cover, to protect from the very worst of the winter weather - compared to paying for dry storage it'll recoup it's costs pretty quickly - both will slow down bodywork deterioration and potenitally save £££'s too (if possible park on a hard standing, rather than soft ground to minimise 'rising damp')
Agree, that a 'trickle charger' / 'intelligent' (not in a Knight Rider way) battery charger (fully automatic battery 'conditioner') is a very good option too, I got a very decent one free with a subscription to Practical Classics (worth more than the subscription itself). I've seen this offer repeated a few times - a possible Chrimbo pressie option ?
Nothing worse than after a winter lay-up, having your spring being taken up with getting issues resolved rather than a few cheeky Commer outings [8D]
Winter's not the best time but if you can muster yourself to get out to do a few jobs on Ralph then it'll keep more sunshine days free for driving & camping
'Hunny' our Commer Hi-Tor by TorCars
If tax free / otherwise affordable then I'd keep him taxed regardless and use whenever you can but on dry days only, IMO classics deteriorate worse through no winter use rather than careful winter use.
Even then definitely consider a decent cover, to protect from the very worst of the winter weather - compared to paying for dry storage it'll recoup it's costs pretty quickly - both will slow down bodywork deterioration and potenitally save £££'s too (if possible park on a hard standing, rather than soft ground to minimise 'rising damp')
Agree, that a 'trickle charger' / 'intelligent' (not in a Knight Rider way
) battery charger (fully automatic battery 'conditioner') is a very good option too, I got a very decent one free with a subscription to Practical Classics (worth more than the subscription itself). I've seen this offer repeated a few times - a possible Chrimbo pressie option ?Nothing worse than after a winter lay-up, having your spring being taken up with getting issues resolved rather than a few cheeky Commer outings [8D]
Winter's not the best time but if you can muster yourself to get out to do a few jobs on Ralph then it'll keep more sunshine days free for driving & camping
'Hunny' our Commer Hi-Tor by TorCars
Just figured out what IMO means, LOL. All makes sense now![8)]
Rupert horten does'nt work!!
Rupert horten does'nt work!!
Thanks commer advisers. He's not tax exempt unfortunately. He is on a Tarmac carpark, and his battery is trickle charged from a solar 4watt charger. I think I will buy him a cover. I can't afford to use him ATM as I have other car issues which are gonna be expensive. New engine in the focus, flipping thing is only 5 years old and a diesel to boot. I can start him Once a week though and take him for a drive around the car park.