Car cover, yes or no?

[mt shasta steve]

I have car covers for both hotrods. My concern is surface rust by leaving the cars covered all winter. Very wet winters here. The shop is insulated and sheet rocked, but I only heat it when I'm out there.
Anybody have any input on keeping a car covered for 6 months?

 

[dadsEH]

Your cover needs to be able to breath, dont use any plastic sheeting as it traps moisture. Your aim in covering your ride is to keep dust and dirt off the paint.
I have my car covered with 2 'Wagner' brand painting drop sheets sewn together .
They are made of calico linen / all natural product. Inexpensive and works a treat!
I just take my cover and hang it over the back fence and hose it off and dry every six months or so.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

A good car cover designed to be used inside a garage (not the exterior ones) should allow plenty of breathing to keep condensation from forming underneath. There are also very thin covers designed as dust covers only, that won't trap any moisture underneath at all.

 

[petee_c]

i use an outdoor cover, in my garage for the winter storage of my boxster. It's made by a tissue company... (Kimberley Clark(?)). Feels more like a paper product than a fabric... breathable. Was about $100 locally for the small size.

I have not noticed any issues with condensation underneath the cover.

P

 

[stick004]

I seem to to be the only one so far who has sprung for 2 real California Car covers. One for my 2001 F-150 that is parked in the driveway year round and one for my garage kept 78 F150. Both at marketed as outdoor covers. The '01 has a "StormWeave" model on it and it is pretty plush. It has been stormed on, snowed on, frozen solid on top, and no matter when I pull it off to use the truck, the paint is bone dry and smooth. With rarely any condensation of any kind under it. Even if it has soaked through at times, it dries very quickly without removing it.

The '78 has the "Noah" model on it. It is actually an upgrade from the StormWeave even though it is slightly thinner (more prone to door dings). But it is a bit softer material and keeps all dust and such off the new shiny paint.

I love them both, they fit better than any other cover I've ever had and well worth every penny.

 

[Rag Roc]

X2 on the California Car Covers. Check their website for applications as they have about 7 different materials.
For indoor use I have the Dustop cover which protects from dust sifting through, and has some ding protection as well. Never had moisture buildup, and after six months of the car being covered, it looks just like it did the day I covered it. I can't say the same for other manufacturers, as after six months the car needs to be washed and waxed due to stuck on dirt.

 

[ForceFed70]

I would also suggest a large bag of desicant (sp?) material inside of the vehicle to absorbe any moisture if you are worried about it.

 

[70redbee]

A fan blowing on the lowest speed along with the breathable car cover will keep it nice and dry.

 

[TWX]

I definitely advocate for car covers. Dad's Charger is covered, and I still need to get one for my Cordoba. The Charger looks fine when the cover is removed, and the Cordoba is dusty as hell...

 

[1965gp]

Just beware of trapped dirt. I had one on my 97 formula cause it sat outside and would always find dirt in it when I took it off. Problem was that when the cover would move due to wind or removal the dirt was still underneath and caused scratches I am still buffing out.

 

[mikester]

Sorry but I dont think the cover is the issue. The problem is heating your garage only some of the time. I know guys that have rust on their cars, tools, anything that will sweat with the constant change of temperature. I think your cars are going to get flash rust even covered. Have you thought about keeping your garage at a warmer temp through the winter ?

 

[oldwino]

Gotta go with the California Car Cover...I have one of the all weather ones and keep the rod stored in the garage...dust/dirt/moisture free. I do a lot of welding/fab work in the garage and nothing transfers to the car. One of the best investments yet

 

[wfopete]

A quality cover should breathe.

No cover = dirt on vehicle. Dirt attracts moisture.

 

[nmanitou]

Sorry but I dont think the cover is the issue. The problem is heating your garage only some of the time. I know guys that have rust on their cars, tools, anything that will sweat with the constant change of temperature. I think your cars are going to get flash rust even covered. Have you thought about keeping your garage at a warmer temp through the winter ?

This is exactly right in cold regions. I think the OP is in California, so maybe not the same issue us northern region guys face. I don't heat the garage all winter (yet, but trying to get something together this fall) and when I temporarily heat the space there is a lot of condensation on tools etc.

The only issue I have had with my car under a breathable cover is when the outside temps rise quickly in the spring, the interior garage is still very cold, open the door and everything is drenched in condensation, even the car under a breathable cover. The point is that the "rate of change" in moisture/temperature conditions has a lot to do with "breathability".

 

[evintho]

CCC has an indoor cover using a material called Dustop. This is what you need. It retails for $210. I had one of these on my show winning Dodge for several years. The inside of the cover is like velvet, very light and breathes extremely well. It's used for vehicles stored indoors. I'm in the Bay Area, not as cold as Shasta but I think this cover will do you fine.

 

[mt shasta steve]

Thanks for all the input guys. I've got two "breathable" covers that I think I'll try, and just keep a weekly check on the condition of the cars. I fire them up once a month during the winter anyway. Plus the different winter work projects, I won't be keeping them covered non-stop for 6 months.

 

[mikester]

This is exactly right in cold regions. I think the OP is in California, so maybe not the same issue us northern region guys face. I don't heat the garage all winter (yet, but trying to get something together this fall) and when I temporarily heat the space there is a lot of condensation on tools etc.

The only issue I have had with my car under a breathable cover is when the outside temps rise quickly in the spring, the interior garage is still very cold, open the door and everything is drenched in condensation, even the car under a breathable cover. The point is that the "rate of change" in moisture/temperature conditions has a lot to do with "breathability".

I thought about that but I took the time to look at Mt Shasta on the map. Hes way up in the northern part of the state so Im thinking the winters are like ours here in the northeast.

 

[venom50svt]

I was told once that if you store a car under one of those silver or green tarp sheds you need ventsto keep the moisture moving and also a tarp should be layed on the ground to keep moisture from the dirt to get up to the frame.

I graduated to a Bend pak lift for the garage and now I only use a Blue cotton car cover from Advanced auto to keep the dust off my cobra when its up in the air during the winter..

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a Wolf (I've had it so long, I forget what it is) that I keep on the Mustang. On top of it, I have a piece of plastic to keep the dust off the car and cover. The plastic doesn't go all the way to the floor, like the cover. It can get air in and under it, along with a wood burner in the garage, which keeps it dry during the winter.

I know it still breathes with the plastic on it because it gets dust under the cover, it just stops a majority of it, like the **** from a grinder.

 

[brslk]

I definitely advocate for car covers. Dad's Charger is covered, and I still need to get one for my Cordoba. The Charger looks fine when the cover is removed, and the Cordoba is dusty as hell...

A cordoba should always be dusty. No one likes them. Unless they have fine corinthian leather.

 

[magilla]

I use a sheet of HD plastic tarp on the cement under the car, and a breathable California Car cover over the car. The car cover gets washed annually, but it's oversize so I have to use one of those big washers at laundromat. Also leave battery in vehicle and hooked up to a trickle charger all the time. Car gets moved once a month min so as to not flat spot tires (they're bias ply).

 

[bazzateer]

Carcoon

 

[action fab]

Why not put a dehumidifier in there. I am about to have to do the same thing since rigs sit in my shop bare metal for months at a time. It's usually upwards of 80% umidity here year around. Most days it's upwards of 90%, so within a week bare metal starts to dull and within a month surfice rust starts to form... Thats inside the shop. Out side, it takes a week and it's orange/brown!

 

[Stuart in MN]

Most dehumidfiers aren't effective when the temperature gets below around 60 degrees.

 

[oldzzy]

I have had a dehumidifier in my garage for a few years now, and don't have any rust troubles at all. The car i am working on sat for over a year stripped down to bare steel, and no rust. I keep my garage at 55 during the winter when i am not working in there. My dehumidifier was built for cool basements so i don't know if that's why it works well at lower temps.

 

[RobSmith]

One tip is to fold the cover against itself and rub it between your fingers...if it feels 'grainey' or rough. That's how it will treat the cars finish. I've got a KENKO brand cover made of Tyvek. It's so light that the slightest breeze balloons it over the car (so it's hardly touching the car) It's not waterproof but it dries in minutes. I use it every day at work and home. It keeps the dust and bird **** off

 

[SuperSocket]

Or you can get a car cocoon... this will solve all your problems.