If you're like many vintage truck owners, you likely store the vehicle during winter to protect it from snow, ice, and road salt. This keeps the body in excellent condition so that the vehicle is ready for you to take it out and show it off during the spring and summer. However, preparing the truck for use requires some careful planning to make sure it is safe and comfortable. Here are several strategies to follow. 

How Can You Get a Vintage Truck Ready for Spring?

1. Check the Battery

If you removed the battery or attached a trickle charger to it before storing it, this device should be ready for use without additional preparation. However, you should still test it to make sure it works, as this prevents it from dying when you take the truck to a show. Using a multimeter, check the voltage of the battery. If it's below 12 volts, you may need to replace it before reinstalling it. Also, inspect the terminals for corrosion before reconnecting the leads. If you notice a chalky substance, use a soft toothbrush to remove it.

2. Inspect the Fluids

Use the dipstick to check if there is enough oil in the engine and top it up as needed, and change it as soon as possible, as it may have deteriorated during storage. Next, make sure the truck has adequate levels of coolant, brake and power steering fluid, and fuel. Unless you added a stabilizer to your gas tank before storing your truck, replace the fuel, since gasoline can turn to sludge after long periods of disuse.

3. Replace the Tires

There are several ways to prepare a vintage truck’s wheels for storage, from placing the vehicle on blocks to mounting inexpensive tires on it. Whichever method you chose, you must inspect the road tires you plan to use. Look around the treads and sidewalls for cracks, bulges, and oxidation. While you can repair some issues with the tread, any large fissures or bulges on the sidewalls require you to replace the tire. If you don't spot any issues, rotate the tires before remounting them.

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