Tag: Car Parking

3 Reasons Your Car Might Not Be As Safe As You Think

Posted on March 28, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

Photo Credit: alicegop

Photo Credit: alicegop

You may think that your car is safe when you park it on the street. Most times it will be, however, all is takes is one time and your safety is compromised. Whether you’re parking on the street, or in your driveway there are still concerns you may not have thought of.

In this article we’re going to cover three of the biggest dangers you’ll face from parking your car in the street or in your driveway, and lastly what you can do to increase your safety by utilizing car storage.

Remember, the safety of your car is entirely in your hands. It’s up to you how you decide to store your vehicles.

1. Increased danger of theft

When you park your car along the street there’s an increased chance of theft. Either of your car, or objects you’re storing in your car. Even if you live in a relatively safe neighborhood, there’s still the chance of burglars coming into your neighborhood during the nighttime hours.

If your car is in your garage it’s usually much safer. However, if you have more than one car and you have to park it in the street you’re increasing your chance of risk.

2. Parking tickets and violations

Parking tickets are very prevalent in the Alexandria area. Of course, you can do whatever you can to avoid them, but the regulations are very strict. With the sheer amount of tickets the police department writes every year, you would think that people would learn the regulations by now. However, this isn’t always the case.

If you have several cars you know the difficulties of trying to park your cars in a legal manner. Over time, paying tickets can get very expensive.

3. Exposure to the elements

Parking a car outside also brings other dangers with it. For example, if you park your car underneath a tree and a branch happens to break and fall on your vehicle, then you’ll have to deal with the damages to your car, as well as the handle the insurance companies.

The outside environment also includes other cars. If you park your precious vehicle on the street there’s also an increased chance of being hit by another car.

All of these damages could have been avoided, if only there was another way.

What Can You Do To Avoid These?

If you’d rather pass on having to go through theft, damage and parking tickets there is another option at your disposal. Invest in personal Alexandria car storage. Although this option may seem like a hassle, we’ve have a streamlined storage process that is completely customizable to your needs.

We offer Alexandria car storage and short term and long term parking. Our facilities are secured 24/7 and you get a personal pin for easy access. We serve residents and military personnel across the Woodbridge, Alexandria, and Springfield area, as well as all of Northern Virginia. Get in touch with Gateway Storage today.

How To Prepare Your Classic Car For Storage

Posted on February 28, 2014 by - Storage

When you’re preparing your car for storage there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. The last thing you want to occur is have to spend a serious amount of time getting your car ready for driving, once you’ve decided to remove it from storage.

By spending a little time up front you’ll save yourself a ton of worry and hassle in the future. In this article we’re going to cover a few steps you can take to make sure you protect your classic car, before you take your car to an Alexandria car storage facility.

Getting a classic car ready for storage is a different process than any of your other vehicles. It’s important to take extra time and care with your vehicle to ensure it’s safety, no matter the time of year.

Ensure Your Tank Is Full

One of the biggest obstacles you’ll face when trying to protect your classic car is moisture. By keeping your gas tank full you’ll minimize the chances of moisture occurring in the gas tank or the or fuel lines. If the rule level drops, it presents a better condition for moisture to form, which can lead to corrosion.

Another good reason to top off your fuel tank, is due to sediment that may form at the bottom of the tank. If you run your car at too low of a fuel level there’s a good chance that sediment will get dragged through the engine.

Use Fresh Gasoline

Modern gasoline doesn’t compare to the gasoline that cars ran on when your classic car was built. As a result you’ll want to ensure you fill up your car with the highest octane fuel available. Since the structure of gasoline actually changes after 60 days you’ll want to ensure you add a fuel stabilizer to your tank, such as Sta-Bil. This will help your gasoline to stay in the same composition over extended periods of time.

Change Out The Fluids

If you don’t change out the oils and fluids in your car on a regular basis, it can cause excessive wear and tear on your engine. Before you bring your car to storage make sure you take a nice warm up run, drain out the old oil and pour in new lube. This can also be a good time to change the oil filter, if you car has one.

Do A Thorough Cleaning

By taking the time to wash your car on a regular basis you’ll keep it in pristine condition for years. When you’re cleaning your car for storage, take the time as if you were getting it ready for a big car show. Make sure you get every nook and cranny on the inside of your car. After you’ve washed the outside of the car it can be a good idea to apply a coat of wax to protect your car from dust and other objects. You may even want to throw a few silica packets onto the floor of your car to soak up any extra moisture.

Lube Up The Joints

It can also be smart to lube up all the locks, latches and hinges you car has, to prevent them from locking up when it’s in Alexandria car storage. You can even use a little bit of grease to coat the weatherstripping and any other seals on your vehicle.

Use Plastic Sheeting

It’s a good idea to place a plastic sheet below your car to prevent any dampness or moisture from rising up into the bottom of the car. Also, to ensure extra moisture protection make sure you fill the tailpipes with steel wool, just remember to take it out before you drive your car!

Jack Up The Vehicle

It’s a good idea to jack up your car to ensure you’re taking the load off the tires and suspension. You can use a trolley jack to hold up your vehicle. It can also be wise to place wooden blocks under the suspension, so it isn’t fully extended the entire time you’re in storage. You’ll also want to make sure the car is in neutral, and the parking brake is disengaged, so nothing locks up.

Use A High Quality Car Cover

A quality car cover can go a long way. Make sure you invest in a breathable cover that will allow moisture to escape and prevent any extra dust from settling on your vehicle. If you can find a cover that’s designed to fit the body of your car, it will protect it even better.

I hope you’ve found this article helpful and have a better idea of the steps you need to take if you want to maintain your classic car, even when it’s in Alexandria car storage.

If you’re still looking for a place to store your classic car, then get in touch with Gateway Storage, we serve the Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia.

Let’s discuss your situation, get in touch today!

5 Ways to Tell If Car Storage Is Right For You

Posted on January 30, 2014 by - Parking, Storage

You may be thinking that  car storage is a waste of time, is too much work, or you might not even know what car storage is! If you’ve been thinking about car storage for while now and are afraid to take the plunge, take a look at our five top reasons below and see if any of them hit home.

1. You have several “junk” cars

You may love the idea of spending your weekends fixing up your “junk” cars, however in reality your projects have been untouched for months, if not years.

Depending on your county you may have even received a ticket for having a “junk” car. After all you may perceive your car as an antique, while another person may see it as a pile of junk.

After all, if you do feel inspired to fix up your car once and for all, you can always take it out of storage. In the meantime you’ll know it’s safe and avoid further citations.

2. You are always getting parking tickets for your fleet of vehicles

If you own more than one car then you know how hard parking can actually be. It’s a careful art to park all your vehicles, legally, so you don’t receive a fine or ticket.

Granted, you may have some cars that simply don’t work, or don’t have enough space outside your home to park all your vehicles. Most likely, you probably only drive one or two vehicles on a regular basis anyways.

Save yourself the hassle of constantly finding parking and take a car or two to storage. That way you’ll be able to breathe easy and know you’re never going to get cited for parking illegally again.

3. You are constantly stressing about whether or not your cars are safe

If you have multiple cars, then you may spend your nights worrying if all your vehicles are safe or not when they’re parked outside your home. If you can’t fit your vehicles into your garage then there’s a good chance you’re going to have to park on the street. Depending where you live, this might not be the most comfortable option for you.

Do yourself a favor and store your vehicles in a safe Northern Virginia car parking facility, you’ll save yourself several sleepless nights.

4. You own a commercial vehicle

Frankly, if you own a commercial vehicle for work purposes, you’re going to have trouble parking it anywhere. You may have a few commercial vehicles for seasonal work and are looking for an easy place to store them during the “off-season”.

Most people don’t know, but Alexandria car storage facilities can store commercial vehicles, just as they would any other vehicle.

5. You don’t have room for all your vehicles

Sometimes you just have too many vehicles, whether they’re “junk” cars, show cars, or inoperable vehicles, you just need more space. You don’t want to park them on the street and you certainly don’t want to sell them.

The easiest option for you to consider would be Gateway Storage Center’s car parking. You get to keep all your vehicles, and still have access to them whenever you’d like.

If any of the above reasons resonated with you, then do yourself a favor and look into Springfield car parking today.

We serve residents and military personnel from Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield and all across Northern Virginia. Let’s discuss your situation–give us a call today!

How to Pick the Right Car Cover

Posted on September 25, 2013 by - Parking, Storage

car coversThe first step in deciding what type of car cover you need is determining what dangers you need to protect your car from. If storing outside, you’ve got the weather elements to worry about, mainly rain, snow, and UV damage, plus birds and other debris flying around in the wind. If storing inside, you’ve got dust, condensation, and the worry of garage debris toppling over on your beauty when you’re digging out Halloween decorations.

Now that you’ve figured out where you’re going to be storing your car and what elements you need to protect from, you need to know the types of car covers:

  • Outdoor Car Covers – these heavy duty covers protect your car year-round and often feature a multi-layered design to protect your car from dings, debris, and weather damage
  • Indoor Car Covers – these are less-heavy duty but are fully equipped to protect against scratches, dings, dust, and condensation
  • Custom Car Covers – these hug every curve of your car, from your side mirrors to headlights, you are covered
  • Universal Car Covers – these protect your car without taking a bite out of your wallet, coming in a variety of sizes and styles to project your car and save you some money

When searching for the right car cover, make sure you find one that is:

  1. Breathes – you want a breathable cover to allow moisture to escape from below the cover and keep condensation off of your finish
  2. Weather Resistance – this is a given, make sure you also know the weather in your area so you can make the best choice. Car cover needs differ from Upstate NY to North Carolina to South Florida
  3. Soft – with most paint jobs being about 0.006 inches thick, you want to be extra careful when it comes to scratches. Find a cover that features a soft, satin lining
  4. Mildew Resistance – just like your shower curtain, you want to protect your cover against the moisture in your garage or the rain/snow outside and get one that’s resistance to fungi and rotting

Do your homework and find a car cover that works the best for your car, your location, your peace of mind, and your wallet. Good luck!