It’s almost that time of year – that season when many of us start winterizing our lawn mowers, trimmers, clippers, and other yard equipment until next year. Antique wagons clearly don’t have the same needs as motorized vehicles or other machinery but when left unattended for long periods, there’s still plenty to consider about necessary care.
A prominent area that deserves our attention is the storage arrangement. Is your treasure-on-wheels stored in a climate-controlled environment with a concrete or similarly stable floor? If so, great! If not, is it kept in an enclosed building with a concrete floor? Or might it be sitting on a dirt/gravel floor in a pole barn, open shed, or lean-to?
While the environment here is subject to animals, the old running gear is set up on wooden barriers, protecting the wheels from the bare ground.
Whatever the indoor arrangement, if your wagon is in one of the areas with minimal climate control, dirt or gravel floors, and compromised protection from animals and insects, it’s going to appreciate a little assistance from you. With winter being a season that typically involves less activity with, and time spent around our wagons, below are a few thoughts worth considering...
1) If the storage building has an open side or sides, you may want to consider investing in a good dust cover securely cinched around the wagon. Water resistant canvas tarps can offer good protection. Likewise, plastic and vinyl covers can be effective, but some can also transfer their own color to the wood of the wagon. It’s important to watch for this kind of staining with all coverings. Wind can also cause problems with tarps and canvas.
This old wagon has been left out and subjected to the elements of nature for too long.
2) While a cover can help shield the wagon from dirt, debris, and moisture, it likely won’t keep out the varmints. In fact, it might help draw them into the protection of a covered bed and gear. As a result, it pays to keep an eye out for “Diggers, Droppers, Chewers, and Campers.” What do I mean by that? I’m referring to animals like skunks, squirrels, rats, mice, raccoons, opossums, birds, and insects like powder post beetles, spiders, and other troublemakers. Those vermin can harm almost anything with their teeth, claws, urine, and/or feces. Mice and rats will make beds in about any secluded spot. They’ll drag nuts and all types of acidic leaves, moss, sticks, cloth, plastic, and plants into an unguarded wagon bed. Before you know it, the thing will be packed full of droppings, urine, and filth. Likewise, squirrels can wreak havoc while chewing on wood, especially if they can smell a food source in or near it. Other burrowing beasts like groundhogs and armadillos can cover wheel felloes lickety-split... even if the wheels are up on blocks! That might not sound like a big deal until sometime later when the insects, moisture, and minerals from the dirt have taken a toll on spoke tenons and felloes... and, while the tiny teeth on that giant spider won’t be a threat to the wood on your wagon, their droppings can put a hard stain on wood and paint. Plus, if you’re storing things in old cardboard boxes in the back of that wagon, there’s something about that cardboard that can attract arachnids like the brown recluse – whose bite is definitely one to be wary of. Each of these scenarios can add up to one more recipe for regret. The only prevention that truly works is to be and stay vigilant, using as many responsible deterrents as necessary.
3) Be aware that, if the bed of the wagon is being used to stack and store items, this type of additional material can encourage the presence of mice, rats, and other small animals as well as bugs. Anywhere these little nightmares can get cozy and set up shop undisturbed, they will do it.
This wagon is stored in a shed with a large opening on the front and opening on the lower sides as well. Note how the wheels haven't been moved for some time. Dirt and debris are building up over the felloes. It's an unhealthy environment for the wood.
4) If your vehicle is in the dry but on a dirt or gravel floor, you might want to put a contrasting-colored tarp underneath the wagon. Not only can this help serve as a ground moisture barrier but, should your wagon be infected with powder post beetles, you may be able to recognize the problem sooner. The wood dust should be able to be seen on the tarp. Be advised, just because you haven’t noticed anything in the past, there’s no guarantee those irritating critters won’t be a problem down the road. Ultimately, it’s an issue that always needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. So, if the area below the wagon is one that contrasts with wood powder, those kinds of conundrums will be easier to see. If those rascals do start boring countless pinholes into your wagon, the hardwoods may be the first place you discover them. Specific areas often infected are the axles, sandboard, and bolsters on the running gear as well as spokes and felloes and also the cross sills under the box. If you do spot evidence from these pests, the problem is usually easy to contain by spraying something like the Home Defense® brand of bug spray into the holes and affected wood. I’ve never had this stain the wood or paint and I try to make sure the entire area is sufficiently treated. It’s a practice that seems to instantly resolve the problem. Since this is a chemical, you’ll want to follow the application instructions and precautions on the product label carefully.
5) It’s also a good idea to position a treated, 2x6 wooden block under each wheel and then secure the wheel with chocks to help protect it from unnecessary damage, especially if the vehicle is sitting on dirt or gravel.
6) Wood-wheeled wagons sitting motionless for longer than a few months, might need to be placed on jack stands. The same can be said for those on rubber tires.
7) Winter is also a good time to review places that may need lubrication. Areas like the skeins, bolster/sandboard plates, box rod nuts, the tongue bolt, and any rotating reaches should be examined.
8) Ensuring the wagon is sitting level is an important step in keeping the bed and other elements true to their manufactured shape.You don’t want them to take on a twisted or bent posture after sitting too long on uneven ground. Likewise, unhooking and allowing the tongue to lay level on blocks will help prevent it from developing a sag along the length of it.
9) Believe it or not, other problems I’ve seen involve that of farm animals. When two and four-legged critters like horses, mules, cattle, goats, chickens, and other barnyard beasts are left unattended and within reach of these vehicles, there’s a good likelihood of problems occurring. It may be that something gets broken, chewed, weakened, bent, or otherwise harmed but rest assured, the outcome won’t be good.
10) How well sealed is the roof over your wagon? I’ve rescued more than one wagon from a barn where years of leaks permanently stained or rotted the wood. When a roof leaks, that steady drip will go to work. I can’t count the number of box floors, seats, and rotted bolsters I’ve seen that were directly attacked in this way. Ultimately, an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.
11) One other area worth focusing on is that of surveillance and security. Unfortunately, I’ve spoken to folks over the years who have suffered significant losses due to a lack of oversight and protective measures being put in place. Whether it’s cameras, sensors, locks, alarms, helpful neighbors, or regular watchfulness of your own, it’s important to keep an eye on the things that are important to you. After all, many precautions are easy to employ and can be fairly cost effective these days.
12) As with all areas of activity around these wagons, please exercise appropriate health and safety practices while using strong doses of common sense in every instance.
Weather-protected environments with stable flooring help protect your wagon investment. This private collection contains wagons, seats, and parts from over five dozen notable brands.
When it comes to storage, I’ve witnessed almost every scenario a person can image. From constantly monitored and controlled environments to atmospheres full of dirt, animals, bugs, ammonia, moisture, dangerous mold spores, and harsh exposure to the weather, there are a host of challenges that command our attention. So, whether we’re talking about protection from the sun’s UV rays, heat, or other topics as mentioned above, the safer control you have over the climate and surroundings, the better. After all, it takes faithful vigilance to help ensure your vehicle will continue to live long and winter well.
Ps. 20:7
