Dickinson, ND classic car and collector vehicle owners know two things with certainty — that North Dakota's summer driving season delivers some genuinely beautiful open-road experiences on the western plains and badlands highways and that North Dakota's winter is among the most hostile storage environments for a collector vehicle anywhere in the country.
Dickinson classic car owners face the most demanding winter storage conditions of any collector community in this guide — and the specific risks that North Dakota's sub-zero winters create for stored classic and collector vehicles are worth understanding in full detail. Sub-zero temperatures combined with North Dakota's extremely low winter humidity create conditions that attack every rubber component in the vehicle — seals, weatherstripping, gaskets, hoses, and belts all lose moisture in the extremely dry cold, becoming rigid, brittle, and cracked in ways that permanently compromise their function and appearance. Batteries left without a maintainer in sub-zero storage permanently lose cell capacity — a battery that held a full charge in October may not start the vehicle in April after a North Dakota winter without maintenance. Certain lubricants including gear oils and differential fluids thicken in extreme cold to the point where they no longer flow adequately when the vehicle is first started — causing bearing wear in the moments before the thickened lubricant warms enough to circulate. Paint and body seams contract in extreme cold — creating pathways for any condensation moisture that forms during the spring temperature transition to work its way into hidden metal surfaces and begin rust development from the inside. And an unattended battery left in a vehicle stored through a Dickinson winter will either freeze and crack internally at the lowest temperatures or sulfate and die through months of slow self-discharge. A climate-controlled unit at Storage Unit of Dickinson is the only storage environment that adequately addresses all of these risks simultaneously. Call (701) 690-5512 to discuss your vehicle's specific needs.
Fuel system — fill completely and stabilize: Fill the fuel tank to capacity before storage — a full tank minimizes the air space where condensation moisture accumulates on tank walls, and moisture-caused rust on the inside of a classic car fuel tank is among the most expensive and difficult repairs to address. Add a quality fuel stabilizer and run the engine for 15 minutes or more to fully circulate stabilized fuel through every component of the fuel system. North Dakota's long storage season — often six months or more — makes proper fuel stabilization especially important. Oil and fluids — change everything before storage: Change the engine oil and filter immediately before storage without exception — used oil in a North Dakota engine storage situation is significantly more corrosive over a six-month storage period than in shorter or warmer climates. Check and top all other fluids — brake fluid, coolant, power steering, transmission fluid, and differential oils. Ensure coolant is rated for the minimum temperatures the storage environment might reach. Check differential and gearbox lubricants for water contamination — water in these units freezes in North Dakota's sub-zero temperatures and can cause serious damage on the first spring use. Battery — a smart maintainer is non-negotiable: A quality smart battery maintainer connected for the entire storage period is the single most important mechanical preparation step for any North Dakota collector vehicle winter storage. A battery that enters storage fully charged and connected to a proper maintainer exits the storage period in the same condition it entered — ready to start the vehicle immediately. A battery that enters storage unattended exits with significantly reduced capacity or as a dead unit requiring replacement before the vehicle can be driven. Rubber protection: Apply a quality rubber conditioner to every exterior rubber seal, weatherstripping piece, hose, and trim element — North Dakota's dry cold desiccates rubber faster than any other climate in the continental United States, and the cracking and shrinkage that results permanently compromises both the appearance and the function of every rubber component.
Proper positioning and protection inside the storage unit addresses the remaining risks that preparation alone cannot fully eliminate. Back the vehicle into the storage unit for forward exit on retrieval — especially important in North Dakota where a cold vehicle in a cold unit in a cold winter is not the ideal situation for complex maneuvering. Place the vehicle on a clean tarp or interlocking foam tiles — concrete in North Dakota's winter storage environment undergoes significant temperature cycling and the moisture that migrates through concrete during these cycles can cause underside corrosion on vehicles stored directly on the floor. For any storage period longer than 60 days seriously consider placing the vehicle on quality jack stands — eliminating tire flat-spotting entirely and relieving the suspension components of supporting the vehicle's full weight through a six-month North Dakota winter. Use a quality breathable car cover — in North Dakota's dry climate the primary cover function is dust protection and the breathable fabric allows any residual moisture to migrate out rather than being trapped. Block the exhaust pipe and air intakes with steel wool — North Dakota's winter drives rodents aggressively into any warm shelter available and a stored vehicle is an attractive target. Connect the battery maintainer and set monthly calendar reminders without exception. Monthly visits to Storage Unit of Dickinson should include starting the engine and running it to full operating temperature — the most important single ongoing maintenance step for any vehicle stored through a North Dakota winter — as well as fluid level checks and a careful inspection for any signs of rodent activity or developing leaks.
The spring retrieval of a properly stored collector vehicle from a Dickinson storage unit should be a straightforward and satisfying process — not a repair project. Before the first drive after a North Dakota winter storage inspect the tire pressure carefully — tires lose pressure slowly during cold storage and may be significantly below the recommended driving pressure even if they appeared properly inflated when the vehicle went in. Check all fluid levels before starting — even a properly prepared vehicle may have developed a slow seep in a hose or fitting connection during the long winter. Inspect all rubber components carefully — belts, hoses, and seals that were properly conditioned before storage and protected by climate control should be in excellent condition, but a visual inspection before the first drive confirms this with certainty. Start the engine and allow it to reach full operating temperature before driving — give the lubricants that may have thickened during cold storage time to fully warm and circulate before placing any load on the drivetrain. And enjoy the North Dakota driving season with full confidence that the vehicle stored at Storage Unit of Dickinson is in the same excellent condition it was in when it went in last October.
Storage Unit of Dickinson offers clean, secure, and climate-controlled storage in Dickinson, ND — the only appropriate storage environment for classic cars and collector vehicles through North Dakota's most extreme winters. Call (701) 690-5512 today to discuss the right unit for your vehicle and get set up before Dickinson's next winter storage season begins. Your collector vehicle deserves proper protection through North Dakota's winter — call (701) 690-5512 today.