Storage prep services help shops maximize profitability from snowbirds and sunbirds

Many shops are located in areas with seasonal customers—“snowbirds” who leave cold climates for warmer winters and “sunbirds” who travel north during the summer to escape the heat.

Catering to their needs, including vehicle storage, can make their business more profitable. The problem is that most customers don’t prepare their vehicles for storage or know how to return them to service. This is where shops can help.

Providing and promoting these services can generate additional profit and sometimes new customers. Here are a few potential services you might offer your seasonal customers:

Offer a Premium Vehicle Storage Service

Those who have room for storage facilities can earn monthly fees and ancillary revenue, depending on the length of time vehicles will be stored. For instance, you might offer a wash, wax and vacuum service to help protect the paint finish and prevent a rodent infestation.

Turn the cabin air ventilation to "recirculate," which will close the cabin outside air intake vent. As an extra rodent deterrent, place scented dryer sheets or cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil or a commercial rodent repellent throughout the interior, trunk, and under the hood. Cover openings, such as exhaust and engine intake vents, with steel wool or wire mesh depending on the size of the opening, and lay snap traps or electric traps close to the tires to catch intruders. To prevent mildew and musty smells, place a desiccant pack on the front and rear floorboards and inside the trunk. An oil and filter change is particularly essential for vehicles stored in the winter. Old oil contains contaminants, moisture, and acids that can condense and damage internal engine parts over time.

You might also apply a light coat of silicone grease on all door weatherstripping and window seals to keep the rubber supple.

Fill the gas tank completely (to prevent corrosion), add a fuel stabilizer to keep fuel from degrading for up to 12 months, and run the vehicle briefly to circulate it through the lines. Also ensure that transmission and brake fluids are full. If the vehicle has not had a brake fluid flush within three years, flush the fluid to remove any moisture that can condense, collect in low spots such as caliper bores, and cause corrosion.

Connect the battery to a smart battery maintainer, which will keep it charged during cold weather and protect against parasitic drain and sulfation damage.

Also, be sure to leave the parking brake off to prevent the pads or shoes from seizing to the rotors or drums. The tires should be aired to max pressure to retain the bead seal and the tire’s shape. While today’s tires are not as likely to develop a permanent flat spot like older nylon tires and will typically roll out as they heat up from driving, it is still preferred to keep the vehicle’s weight off the tires by raising the vehicle on jack stands. Alternatively, you can place wheel chocks behind and in front of the tires to keep the vehicle from rolling.

Make sure the engine coolant is in adequate condition for the season and is compatible with the materials in the system. Wipe a silicone-based lubricant on the wiper blades and wrap them in plastic or prop them up off the glass entirely, so the rubber stays supple and doesn’t stick to the windshield.

The windshield washer reservoir and lines can present a freezing concern in cold areas where premixed winter washer fluid does not protect at low temperatures due to Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) regulations. In some areas, you can only legally purchase concentrated (dilutable) antifreeze fluids and mix them yourself to achieve the desired freeze protection. The other option is to drain the reservoir and lines.

Do a complete battery load and sulfation test to judge its condition. Provide a battery “smart” maintainer that is correctly sized for the amp hours of the battery so it can apply proper current and use pulse current technology to de-sulfate the battery effectively during charging without any manual operation. Another option would be to remove the battery and store it. Just keep in mind that the battery-supplied, on-board computer memory will be lost and you’ll need to reset it. If you are storing the car in a storage facility, use a high-quality, breathable car cover. If storing outdoors, use a heavy-duty, all-weather cover to protect the paint finish. When storing indoors, a simple car wash may be all that’s needed to remove any dust buildup.

If the vehicle is to be stored for longer than a few months, then you’ll want to pull the spark plugs and fog the cylinders with fogging oil to prevent corrosion.

Boat Storage and Winterization Tips

For those storing recreational vehicles or boats, additional winterization steps are necessary. Drain all water tanks, the water heater, and water lines completely. Add RV antifreeze to the plumbing system traps by running it through all faucets and the toilet trap. Bypass the water heater before adding antifreeze to avoid filling the tank with the pink fluid. Leave cabinet doors open to allow air circulation and prevent mold growth. All food items should be removed, and the refrigerator should be thoroughly clean, leaving the door slightly open.

You’ll also want to drain the engine cooling system and add antifreeze appropriate for your engine type. For inboard engines, run antifreeze through the entire cooling system using a flushing kit. Outboard motors should be stored in the down position with the lower unit drained. Fog the engine with oil to protect internal components. Stabilize the fuel and fill the tank to prevent condensation.

If the customer is storing the vehicle in their garage, advise them to seal the engine exhaust pipe and intake with steel wool and check the garage for gaps around doors, windows, and pipes. Because rodents can squeeze through tiny holes, seal these openings using caulk, steel wool, or metal mesh. Leave the hood propped open to eliminate the dark, hidden, warm pockets that rodents love. Keep pet food, birdseed, and garbage bins tightly sealed, and avoid parking near brush or compost piles if possible.

Reactivating Vehicles After Storage

When bringing the vehicle out of storage, remove any wire mesh or steel wool used to seal the exhaust and intake. Remove the battery maintainer and desiccant packs, and fill the washer reservoir if emptied.

For storage periods longer than a month, disable the fuel injection, remove the spark plugs, fog the cylinders, and crank the engine before actually starting the vehicle to allow the engine oil to circulate. Check tire air pressure and adjust as needed.

Even if you don’t intend to offer storage space for rent, you can still offer additional services and supplies for sale: 

Additional Services:

• Vehicle and RV storage prep services
• Car wash, wax, and vacuum
• Oil and filter changes
• Brake fluid flush
• Tire pressure check and fill
• Coolant flush and fill

Supplies for Sale:

• Rodent deterrents and traps
• Desiccant packs
• Wire mesh/steel wool
• Fuel stabilizer
• Batteries and battery maintainers
• Washer fluid with proper antifreeze protection

Finally, as a courtesy, suggest that customers contact their insurance company, letting them know that the vehicle will be stored. Some policies offer discounts for vehicles kept in garages.

Supporting seasonal customers year-round helps strengthen relationships while driving additional revenue.