Properly Storing and Transporting a Performance Vehicle

Here at Kate’s Trailer Sales, we know how important it is to safely transport your performance vehicle from place to place. You’ve already spent money on the vehicle, and you don’t want it to go to waste by not taking great care of it so it will last for years to come. You probably have a custom trailer for it, too, and it’s important you know how to properly store and transport your vehicle.

The main point of this blog is to make sure your engine stays up to par for as long as possible, but it’s to also inform you of how to correctly transport your car when it’s in use. When not in regular use, race car engines can easily be corroded from all the chemicals, fuels, and wear and tear done to it. They take a lot of heat, and they work incredibly hard to perform for you. Follow these simple steps to keep that engine going!

If you have a performance car, chances are you aren’t driving or racing it year-round. If that’s the case, it’s important you store it properly when it isn’t in use. Below, we talk about a few ways to prepare your car for the off season. Then, we’ll go into a few ways to safely transport your baby!

First, you’ll want to choose between an open trailer or a closed trailer. Open trailers tend to have more maneuverability and weigh less, but enclosed trailers offer more security and shelter.

If you’re familiar with winterizing an RV, preparing your car for the off season is similar! But, most of your attention will be on the engine, whereas for RVs, you’re focusing on all parts.

First, you’ll want to fog the engine. If you plan to store it inside of the car, turn the engine over and start spraying fogging spray to cover the carburetor or injection sparks. Be sure you’re spraying enough to coat the engine’s internal components. If you’re storing the engine externally, spray to coat the exhaust valve ports and spark-plug holes.

Next, it’s time to drain all the fluids. This is a critical step in maintaining your engine and could cost you major bucks if you skip it. The fluids could freeze, leaving you with a frozen engine block. If you’re storing your engine in a location with no heat, draining the fluids is so important. It’s also recommended to store your engine in a place with heat, if possible.

Now, it’s time to get rid of methanol fuel systems. This material is one of the most corrosive fuels in the engine, so it’s important that every single drop of this is drained. It’s a good idea to take out all the lines from the methanol fuel system and drain them dry. Then, spray it down with WD40.

Now, let’s talk about the best ways to transport your car!

Trailer Weight

The weight of the trailer is an important characteristic you should think about when purchasing the right car hauler. It will determine how heavy duty of a tow vehicle you’ll need along with the extent of the payload it will be able to carry. Classic cars and roadsters will almost always be heavier than any race car, and knowing how much your car weighs is critical in choosing the right hauler. You also have to factor in your truck’s towing capacity when deciding on a hauler trailer.

When securing your car in an enclosed trailer, there are a few best practices we recommend. The main tip involves loading your car into its hauler.

Many people load up their car into the trailer by driving it up, and then squeezing out of their body alongside of the trailer to make their way out of the back door. This can work, but doesn’t come without risks. It’s a pretty simple way to either hurt yourself or your car, especially if this is your setup each time you unload.

The best way to load a race car or performance vehicle up into an enclosed trailer is by using a winch, because it allows you to stay outside of the car during the whole process.