Car Cover?

[88MercWagon]

It looks as if my Mercury is going to be spending this winter out doors, and I wanted to cover her up. I don't have the money for an expensive Covercraft cover or soemthing like that, but I saw that Wal-Mart has some temp. covers on sale for $55. I just want to keep her covered up for the winter, and sheilded from the snow and shit.

Now, I've heard these cheap covers can cause more problems than protection, is this true? Does anyone have any other suggestions/ solutions?

[mrltd]

I bought a $50 ebay one and it didn't fit and it doesn't seem to keep anything off the paint. You definately get what you pay for. I need a $250+ one for my wagon, but I have no money.

[Big Rectangular Car]

What about a tarpaulin? Or plastic sheeting?
I use them on my cars, one has a leak when it rains that I can't seem to track down, so as to avoid a pond under the passenger seat... and I cover my LS with a 18'X24' sized one to protect against birds, salt spray and the sun, whenI'm not driving it daily. And likely I will cover it during storms, because I don't know how the moisture will effect the electronics. Had a station wagon that was really cranky in wet weather, but ran fine when I covered it with plastic sheeting (painters drop cloth size) whenever it rained or snowed.
If you were storing it long term, like over winter, I would occasionally lift it on on a sunny day and check the underside for accumulated moisture and leaks. Give it the occasional airing out, too.
I'm no expert on this, just had some ideas to roll through.

[mrltd]

A tarp will definately damage the paint. Plastic might not be as bad. I do not want to make my paint any worse....also the plastic and tarps don't breathe and let the moisture evaporate and will cause rust and mildew/mold

[gadget73]

Boats are often stored with shrink wrap, which is basically just heavy plastic sheeting that shrinks taught with heat. They're sealed up pretty good, but there are usually 2 or 3 vents to let it breathe, and moisture absorbing devices of some sort inside. We used to get this big dessicant bags at the marina and they worked great. No idea where he got them, but they were about the size of a regular tube sock and they were full of those little glass beads that come in the tiny packets with electronics. We didn't have mold or moisture problems with the boats that were sealed that way.

[DanHool]

http://www.drytheair.com/xcart/store/catalog/

[Embassy]

My $0.02.

Don't skimp and invest in a quality car cover from a manufacturer like California Car Cover.

My current showqueen '98 spent the first two years of its life outside, protected by one of their car covers. With such top-notch cover and exterior car, everyone beleives the Vic was always garage kept.

Now it keeps the dust of her during winter storage and long periods of nasty weather.

Click.

In short, the initial cost is recovered quickly with regular use.

[Blaze86Vic]

If I get a second car I will be on that like white on rice!

[packman]

My friend owns a Chevelle that he takes out occasionally in nice weather. What he does is cover the garage floor with a tarp that is big enough to also cover the wall approximately 3' off of the ground. Then he uses a car cover that he may have gotten from California Car Cover; the tarp traps condensation from the floor and the cover keeps dust off of his car without damaging the paint. This may seem expensive, but I found that this method works. I don't have a clue what to do with cars that are outside all of the time.
Packman

[87mefull]

A tarp will definately damage the paint. Plastic might not be as bad. I do not want to make my paint any worse....also the plastic and tarps don't breathe and let the moisture evaporate and will cause rust and mildew/mold

x2 This month's issue of car craft shows a 70' Superbird that was ruined by rust because of the owner covering it with even a decent tarp. Still restorable but a complete frame off restore with a donor car will be the only way to save the car.

Cheap car covers don't work, I know from experience. I bought a $50 car cover from pepboys, secured it well, and thought it would be fine for one winter. Took it off a month later to find white spots on the hood of my previous car from where the cover didn't breathe properly. Luckily the car was a pos (eagle talon tsi) and I managed to light color sand and buff and wax it so the next owner wouldn't notice.

The covercraft cover my dad has for his 89 Iroc is great, never had a single problem. Car is allways dry and the paint is perfect despite sitting on the street in front of my house. Still rust free too, car was from North Maryland. I think my dad got it for about $150 but I've seen some wholesale dealers on ebay have them sometimes.

[silverfrost1]

Wolf Car Covers

I use a $130.00 Wolf Car Cover made of Evolution fabric. Only Weathershield fabric is better (longer lasting). My cover is four layer, water repellent (only an all day heavy rain wil get through this stuff). I get compliments on how clean my car looks, and I rarely wash it.
BTW, don't park your car under trees (things falling onto your car) or on unpaved surfaces (too much moisture) for long periods of time.

[gadget73]

cheap covers are fine for cars stored in the garage if you just need them to keep the dust off. If its outdoors, you need a good cover.

[interceptor1985]

What about over here where it rains nonstop 7 days a week torrential down pours.....It rains so hard here it's like an act of god...or something

[gadget73]

For places like that, they invented U-Haul.

[interceptor1985]

My car's Have to be outside and they wont let me have a small shelter or anything....so yet again