Winter Storage

[Uncle Dickie]

I am reluctantly putting the car into hibernation for the winter. This will be our first winter so i am just wondering what is the best way to store her.

She is in a garage currently with a few dust sheets over her and a couple of tubs of some salt/rice mixture i fashioned as a dehumidifier!

Is there anything else i should be doing and what shall i do with the tonneau/roof?

Does anyone have or know of a good place to get a breathable cover for the car?

Thanks in advance

Richard

[Miket]

Originally Posted by Uncle Dickie

I am reluctantly putting the car into hibernation for the winter. This will be our first winter so i am just wondering what is the best way to store her.

She is in a garage currently with a few dust sheets over her and a couple of tubs of some salt/rice mixture i fashioned as a dehumidifier!

Is there anything else i should be doing and what shall i do with the tonneau/roof?

Does anyone have or know of a good place to get a breathable cover for the car?

Thanks in advance

Richard

Use it all year, if you have to put it away, do not cover the car and buy a dehumidifier, cheap as chips from B&Q.

[Purple AK]

Originally Posted by Miket

Use it all year, if you have to put it away, do not cover the car and buy a dehumidifier, cheap as chips from B&Q.

Totally Agree To Add covering it will lead to Micro Blisters in the paint

[Clive]

Likewise, use your car all year round. Some of my best drives of the past year were in the winter months. If need be buy a wooly hat and gloves, but enjoy it. As long as there is no salt on the roads it'll be fine.

If you do decide to put your car away for winter and your garage is to large or draughty for a dehumidifier you could look at getting one of these,

http://www.carcoon.co.uk/carcoon.htm

[Uncle Dickie]

Thanks, will have a look for a proper dehumidifier. The sheets are old bed sheets mainly to stop the dust and insect cr*p that coats the body after a night indoors. They aren't tight fitting, but will rig up a way of lifting them off the car to allow for good circulation.

The car will still be out on occassion over winter but I am limiting myself as I am nearing the end of my mileage allowance, it cost me an arm and a leg to get it through the MOT when the exhausts were split and generally I am broke!

[Wilburn]

Hi Richard,

Hopfully this document will help you.

Paul

[wilf]

Just be aware - many dehumidifiers will ice up when the temperatures drop close to freezing ( and there is little humidity in the air then anyway). However, they are worth their weight in gold otherwise.

You should look for a dehumidifier specifically for use in a garage in winter (i.e. safe in low temps).

[Bigblock]

The winter days usually have the least rain fall, might be cold but usually dry. Get out in it and stop whimping about.

We never used to cover cars in long storage with any thing but an automitive poly sheet.

It is well worth the investment for anyone. Usually yellow and very very thin.
Cut a length and cover the car. It wont stick or cause condensation. Everytime you go out chuck it away and put a new bit on. You can use it for domestic chores, decorating etc, so it is an easy way to convince the other half you need a roll. Dont buy the static cling product for this purpose.

However no matter what you use if you do cover with anything make sure the car is completly dry underneath or it will sweat.

[Russ-Notts]

Someone told me to put several extra pounds of air in the tyres to help keep their shape better whilst stood for long periods.

I'm after some advice along the same thread. Last October I moved my Cobra from a cold garage, following a frosty night, onto my path and into the winter sun. Almost immediately the windscreen cracked. Since then I'm paranoid about it cracking again. Are there any precautions I can take whilst in the garage over winter months? I've currently got a thin duvet over the windscreen at the moment but doubt what difference it will make.

Thanks,
Russ.

[clive a brown]

I agree with several of the other posts

use it if the roads are dry and salt free

if it's going to stand for several months then get the weight off the wheels or they will deform

after several years of dehumidifing I now use a low wattage heater and that stops the car getting any condensation

just under a dry cotten dust cover

get a big coat and hat

Clive