Parking your Jeep outside

[PuddleJumper]

I agree with keeping the vehicle in doors protecting paint/plastics/etc but none if those effect service life as I see it, especially in a Jeep that gets wheeled. Mechanically there's no difference. Sure tires could take longer to dry rot, but mine are worn out from use long before seeing the slightest signs of sun damage. The paint has pinstripes from brush and branches far worse than sun damage from 15 years outside could ever do. For the op, hail damage is a real concern but otherwise there's little real risk to parking outside. Every vehicle I've ever owned was parked outside. Even in 2012 my 77 wagoneer and 89 xj had no visible paint fading. Dents and scrapes from rocks or trees is another story.

i hear ya but that depends on where ya live. NE coast a decade of being part outside and you won't have much left. Every night spent in a garage does bounds on keeping away, rust, mold, moisture, etc. You scratch something to bare steel here and don't treat it immediately. It'll be rust by th etime you get home, and bubbling paint its touching in week. In a month you can go from minor paint touch up to just change the whole panel and repaint. My aunt had her entire hood replaced on her rubicon at 9k odo. cus it got dinged to bare metal and she ignored. 2 months of salt and that paint was flaking off. and yes while thats not necessarily affecting its mechanical integrity, it will eventually. the south west coast is far easier on vehicles.

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[pharmfrank]

Been driving now for 60 years and have NEVER garaged my vehicles, I buy them to go from point
A to point B or C etc. Cleanliness being next to Godliness yes a bath and maybe a coat of wax
now and then are all they've receive (we have that issue with salt in the winter). I drove my last 2
Dakotas 10 and 13 yrs respectively, the 10 yr old never saw a body shop while the 13 yr old had some
rust work done twice. And yes I have had a garage for the past 46 yrs, see I DO keep my tractors
garaged. The thoughts on my daily drivers is if they won't start at home I don't want them to fail
when I'm away. My wife however has the benefit of a carport for her driver. Were I to live in a more
southern climate I am sure I would seek shade parking. With the Gladiator I'm actually more
curious about it being built with both steel and aluminum, I've had galvanic corrosion with a
previous rack system. Now I suppose if you enjoy fussing over your 'investment' than go for it,
wash & wax, car cover etc, aftermarket suppliers will love you, but realize that is also time you
could be out enjoying the roads and trails.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Only caveat I got is sea spray. If you're on or close to the beach, that salty air/water/spray will absolutely destroy your car, from the inside out. I've heard of mechanics in Florida knowing which way you park your car relative to the beach because there is more corrosion on one side. Not only do you need to keep your car inside but you need to fresh water rinse that thing a few times a week.

Depends on the coast - not as big a deal on the east vs. west with prevailing winds. My son is a short drive inland on the east, and we've talked of it before.......

Been driving now for 60 years and have NEVER garaged my vehicles, I buy them to go from point
A to point B or C etc. Cleanliness being next to Godliness yes a bath and maybe a coat of wax
now and then are all they've receive (we have that issue with salt in the winter). I drove my last 2
Dakotas 10 and 13 yrs respectively, the 10 yr old never saw a body shop while the 13 yr old had some
rust work done twice. And yes I have had a garage for the past 46 yrs, see I DO keep my tractors
garaged. The thoughts on my daily drivers is if they won't start at home I don't want them to fail
when I'm away. My wife however has the benefit of a carport for her driver. Were I to live in a more
southern climate I am sure I would seek shade parking. With the Gladiator I'm actually more
curious about it being built with both steel and aluminum, I've had galvanic corrosion with a
previous rack system. Now I suppose if you enjoy fussing over your 'investment' than go for it,
wash & wax, car cover etc, aftermarket suppliers will love you, but realize that is also time you
could be out enjoying the roads and trails.

Yeah, but can you make a car last THIS LONG - just shy of 200,000 miles, 42 years old?

When it's time to trade or sell, that extra effort to keep them inside and at least take fair care pays off in real $$$$.
There's also the critter issues out here. There's a car sitting under the lean-to by my shop - coon tracks and what looks like some large canine tracks on it and all around it. (we all heard coyote out here last week)

 

[Big John]

Mine has been outside since I bought it in Oct of 21. Wife’s car and my teardrop camper fill up the garage. It’s been fine. The black fenders will fade but you can always use Back to Black on them if you want. My only concern would be if you have critters in your area that might get into the engine compartment. I also added hood locks for piece of mind.

 

[Snowcavemike]

Hi all,

I am being to cautious with my Jeep?

I would like to hear some of your thoughts and ideas on parking your precious Jeep outside. I've had a garage for about 7 years now and have always parked my Jeeps inside. Living in Colorado, the hail and intense sun can really do a number on your panels and fiberglass top. That being said, I use my Jeep as a real expedition vehicle, it's not a mall crawler, and I'm not afraid to hit the trails at Moab or the San Juans. That being said, I paid almost $60k for this thing, and when it's home, I take extra care of it as I want it to last me 15 years. I have a new camper on the top and it won't fit in my garage when it's attached. I can take it on and off, but it can be a hassle.

Am I being too cautious? Am I making it up that my jeep will fall apart in a year if I park it outside?

I bought a steel car port and my Gladiator lives in there. I wouldn't leave mine out side unless we're traveling

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