Steel Garages: The Right Way to Store Your Snowmobile Over the Summer

For many vehicles and machines, winter is typically the offseason. It’s a time to drain the fluids, check connections, and store them in a safe, dry place. For snowmobiles, these seasons are flipped on their head. When the cold season starts, it’s time to break your snowmobile out and get going! But as spring hits and the thaw goes into full effect, you’ll need to know how to store it properly. This blog will dive headlong into the right way to store your snowmobile to ensure that it looks and operates like new for years to come.

Performing Basic Maintenance on a Snowmobile

When the time has come to hang up your scarf and hat for the summer months, you'll need to have a game plan to ensure your snowmobile is appropriately 'summerized.’ Below, we’ve put together a checklist of basic maintenance needs for your vehicle.

1. Keep it Covered

One of the most critical aspects of keeping your snowmobile in working order will be to store it away from the elements. Harsh UV rays, rain, and snow can destroy paint, dry out rubberized components, and prematurely age your vehicle if left exposed. Due to their strength and cost-effective design, many folks use custom steel garages to protect their vehicles and snowmobiles.

2. Clean Your Snowmobile

After a season of hard work, your snowmobile is bound to have picked up some dirt along the way. Before storing it for the summer, wash your vehicle and take special care to clean essential components. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve dried your snowmobile after its bedtime bath to minimize any issues with rust or mold.

3. Top Off the Fuel

Since most modern snowmobiles use fuel injection, you'll want to fill your gas tank before storage. This will keep your engine lubricated adequately until its next use. Additionally, you'll want to use a fuel stabilizing agent to ensure that there is no gasoline breakdown over time.

4. Lubricate Moving Parts

Snowmobiles contain many working pieces of machinery. As such, you’ll want to ensure these components are properly lubricated. This includes the steering, suspension, engine, and just about everything in between.

5. Fog the Engine

Stagnant fuel can evaporate, leaving behind a thick residue that can clog engines and cause immense damage to your snowmobile. Fogging is a process where a special type of oil is introduced to the carburetor to displace moisture. At this point, it’s crucial to run the engine until the vehicle dies. This process ensures that all the necessary components in your engine remain lubricated while reducing the risk of rust, buildup, or corrosion.

6. Check Your Sled’s Track

Prior to leaving your snowmobile in storage for the summer, you’ll want to check its track. This track can build up tension that can wear out a tread if left alone for extended periods. By loosening the tension, your tread will stay safe and sound until the next snowfall.

Elemental Hazards that Can Destroy Your Snowmobile

Despite being exposed to frigid temperatures and inhospitable conditions for a big part of the year, the summer months can wreak just as much havoc on your snowmobile. If left exposed, harsh UV sunlight can beat down on your vehicle, penetrating through clear coats and fading or cracking the paint beneath. These same UV rays will also dry out crucial rubber components, causing them to rot and crack.

Another major issue with leaving your vehicle exposed to the elements will be moisture damage. Moisture infiltration can cause essential components to rust and break down, increasing the likelihood that your engine may seize the next time it’s fired up.

So, what’s the best solution for these elemental hazards? Many people have turned to custom steel garages to keep their snowmobiles safe during the summer. Whether open or enclosed, these versatile structures provide the necessary protection to keep all your possessions dry and in working order. They’re strong, cost-effective, and built to last for years with minimal need for maintenance.

Popular Steel Garage Sizes for Your Summer Snowmobile Storage

When you purchase a metal garage, you’ll have a wide array of options to choose from. So many choices, in fact, that it might be difficult to know what you need. To help you make a more educated decision, we’ve compiled some of the most popular metal garage sizes.

1. 20x35

A 20x35 metal garage is perfect for storing a few snowmobiles while saving a little extra space to move around comfortably.

2. 24x45

If you need a little extra room for storing equipment and accessories, a 24x45 metal garage is a great alternative! This structure will provide the space you need to house multiple snowmobiles, ATVs, or any smaller recreational vehicles requiring protection.

3. 18x36

An 18x36 building or carport will give you nearly 650 sq. ft. of space, plenty of space for comfortably storing one or two snowmobiles. These structures also make excellent tools and maintenance sheds for keeping your vehicles in prime condition.

4. 12x25

A 12x25 metal garage gives you just enough space to fit a single snowmobile, ensuring it remains safe and sound from the elements. These structures can even be customized with doors, windows, and all the accessories you could need.

5. 24x26

A nearly square structure, 24x26 metal garages are a great, cost-effective choice that gives you almost 625 square feet of room to use for virtually any purpose. Whether storing your snowmobile during the offseason or simply keeping it in working order during the coldest parts of winter, you'll have space and then some!

6. 18x20

Despite its small size, this metal garage packs a punch! An 18x20 garage gives you the space needed to keep a single snowmobile in working order, no matter the weather.

Coast to Coast Carports is Your Number One Choice for Metal Garages of All Sizes

Whether you're ripping through the snowy countryside or packing your snowmobile away for the winter, you can count on Coast to Coast Carports to keep you protected year-round. We’re proud to offer premium products that are designed to last for years with minimal need for repair. From steel garage kits to fully enclosed boat garages, we do it all! Are you working on a budget? We have the best financing options in the industry. And if financing isn’t your cup of tea, we also have great rent-to-own options as well. So, if you need a metal garage to store your snowmobile away for the summer, you’ve come to the right place! Give us a call today at (866) 681-7846 and let our team of building experts help you design and customize a structure for you!