What are all you other snow riders/with out garages doing to keep your trike clean?

[200XMichigan]

So we moved, are now home owners, but until I can build a garage, my 200X doesn't have the nicest home. I want to keep it looking nice till I can give it some love this spring once temps warm up. Any suggestions on keeping the swing arm and other parts from building up so much snow?

I was thinking maybe a water based (doesn't eat rubber) silicone spray on everything, might make the snow shed off it easier?

I was looking at some ski waxes that are designed to shed snow but they are all real expensive. Any ideas?

I was also thinking about using a couple magnetic block heater I have laying around on the swing arm and frame to melt the snow off after I go for a ride.

Any good suggestions?

[code200k]

take the tires off and bring it inside. no trike deserves to be out side in the snow

[harryredtrike]

moisture from the ground and the top,rain snow dew are the enemy.also lock her up.heavy chain and lock. out of site out of mind eyes ,dont let prying eyes know whats under a tarp.your on the right track with the spray idea.i do that in the winter to all my machines and bikes

[Gearheadtom]

I do nothing to my 200m, except pull a tarp over it if it is going to snow.

[200XMichigan]

I'm so far out in the country, 45 acres, and I've know my neighbors all my life. So theft isn't really an issue.

I going to ride it this winter, we have a huge field I'm going to stake out a track to drift on, and there are trails all over I can ride on. I know it doesn't deserve to be out in the snow, but really it won't effect the mechanical component since it will be in a state of use, the only enemy is external corrosion. Its in a better place than it was. Sitting mostly unused in a garage, with the intent of being restored, with a wife who hated it. And any use it got it got little or no maintenance. I'm gonna tear it all down and re-do everything this spring or summer.

I guess I'll just stick with the water based silicone, unless anyones got any better ideas? It has worked awesome on my Nighthawk that is also garageless and I've owned it for almost 10 years now, and it still looks like the day I bought it. Every once in a while I'll just spray the whole thing with silicone, maybe dry it with a big heat gun and then give it good spray down after every few rides.

[MonroeMike]

ATV cover.

[200XMichigan]

I guess I'll test the silicone spray vs spray ski wax sometime. That's really what I want to figure out is something that snow will just shed off the machine instead of build up around the swing arm.

Snowboard waxes shed snow like a mo-fo, I want to be able to take it out, rip around, lube up all the major points with as little hassle as possible.

[harryredtrike]

just keep it off the seat,lol

[4cfed]

I guess I'll test the silicone spray vs spray ski wax sometime. That's really what I want to figure out is something that snow will just shed off the machine instead of build up around the swing arm.

Snowboard waxes shed snow like a mo-fo, I want to be able to take it out, rip around, lube up all the major points with as little hassle as possible.

hit up your local sports store... ya know none motorized sports store... pick up a puck of mr zog's sex wax. its used for surf boards, ski's snow boards ( used it when i was a kid for waxing skateboards for board slides on curbs) you can rub the plastics down with it, forks, swinger, pretty much anything you can think of,

or cheaper is wd 40, or pam cooking spray... spray everythign down with pam and nothing will stick!! my sister and her ex husband usedto race off road buggys and trucks, they would spray the wheels, wheel wells and bodys down with pam to keep the mud from sticking,

than come spring ya would have to give it a good bath with some degreaser to get the residue off but that will keep everything from sticking

[old-yellow]

Could you use this style snowmobile hand warmer on the frame and the swingarm or would they not be strong enough to handle the abuse from riding the trike through the snow. http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=3931&store=Main&catId=&productId=p3931&leafCatId=&mmyId=

[Thorpe]

I would mist with a little wd-40 if it were me... But my trikes are warm, in my heated garage... :naughty:

[200XMichigan]

I'm gonna try the Pam, I have thought about that before, but never had any around to try it. I like its not toxic since I'll be spraying it everywhere.

I don't think the electrical system has enough juice to run heated grips. I might try a 110 block heater on the swing arm/frame at night to melt the snow off.

[code200k]

ever think of one of them lil tarp garage thingys?

[200XMichigan]

Yeah I looked at the little tarp/frame garages but for what they are they are pretty expensive, like $600.

I figure next spring or summer once I can build I'll just spend a couple grand and make something nice, pole construction, electricity, and a wood stove.

[tanks350x]

If you just plan on trying to store it for the winter, get a blue tarp, and a motorcycle cover of some sort and wrap it up

[racerxxx]

Here ya go bro,

http://www.shelterlogic.com/sheds-and-storage/small/

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/shed-in-a-box-8-x-8/48653

You could get some 6 mil plastic put that down on the dirt and lay skids down and screw some 3/4" pressure treated plywood down to the skids.

Well below your $600!, I've been kicking one of these around for a few years now--I have a decent shop but always looking for a little extra space. I'm over built on my 3/4 acre. I think Northern Tool also sell the Shelter logic Brand. Google may even turn it a bit cheaper. I know we have Pep Boys around me (like a Schucks of Kragen) and they have a 12 X 20 Shed/Garage similar to the Shelter logic stuff for $208. Also you can look @ Sams club, Costco and Bj's, I've seen them there too. I know it may be lame looking but you can also put other stuff in there, you don't want to WD-40 your lawn tool handles:lol:

Just a cheap idea

[tri again]

Yeah I looked at the little tarp/frame garages but for what they are they are pretty expensive, like $600.

I figure next spring or summer once I can build I'll just spend a couple grand and make something nice, pole construction, electricity, and a wood stove.

make sure the woodstove is 18" off the floor like a water heater..
keeps it above the gasoline vapor level.

then a ceiling fan to heat the floor

The only thing damp on a sunny spring day in oregon is whatever is under a tarp.

I park mine on scrap plywood and then another piece on top.

Swear gonna build a garage this fall