indoor car cover

[starwberry house tr7]

TR7 about to go on SORN for the winter.

Was thinking of getting an indoor cover for whilst it is in the garage. Anyone any views on what to get or will one from Halfords be ok.

Garage is dry but not heated.

Any thoughts most welcome

[Neil_W]

Covers are not the best thing for paintwork.
When it gets cold the car can sweat under the cover leaving paint damage.
If the garage is dry & ventilated I would leave it uncovered so it can breath & take any damp off the car.

If you want the best tho' a Carcoon is the thing if you have an electrical supply.

Mine is kept in one - best thing since sliced bread.

[FI Spyder]

I just throw a couple of old bed sheets over it to keep the dust off. So lonmg as the car cover breathes you should be OK. Example: DON'T USE A TARP.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[Hasbeen]

My shed is so well ventilated, & this area usually so dry & dusty, that I can get a film of dust on the 7 from just one windy day, with it parked in there. The car can need a wash after a couple of them.

I have been using a concoction of 3 bed sheets sewn together as a dust cover for over 10 years now. With it thrown over the car, although driven regularly almost as a daily driver, it can go months without a wash. I consider too much washing will do as much or more damage to the car, as a soft dust cover.

My old sheet cover is getting tired, & will fall to pieces soon, so I am looking for a new one.

When ever I ask for rags my lady always tells me she is still wearing them, so I can't have them, so I'm not game to ask for old sheets, god knows what she might tell me she is still doing with them.

I'm told there are special soft "show covers", so I'll have a look for them. I don't want anything with elastic corners, they are too much hassle to fit, when there is no wind to need that.

Hasbeen

[stevie_a]

<font color="teal"><b>I used a cover last year, never again

and this was with a professional dehumidifier in the garage

the car was damp inside and ended up with major electrical issues, </b></font id="teal">















------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

http://www.smallbiztranscripts.co.uk

[Neil_W]

Steve - what a mess [:0]

From the photo the eves at the end of the garage are open to the elements which I believe may have partly caused the damp - you can buy foam sections to block off the roof sheets to the top of the sectional garage.

Not sure if a carpet inside on the floor helps as it will draw the damp up too - not sure of the total solution but go with you on the cover not being fitted - ok if you have a central heated garage & like a livingroom to fit a nice cover.
Hope this winter things get better - usually cold / damp now up North

[FI Spyder]

That dehumidifier won't do much good with those eaves open like that. I have one for the garage (another for the house) as we get much like your damp winter weather so humidity is pretty high. Another trick you can try is to run a 60 watt (or so) incandescent light bulb and holder (small light fixture) in the car (sitting on the floor mat) the heat from the bulb is enough to drive off the damp so you don't get the mould growth. I did get some of that in the cars when stored in shed with no cover but it's too far away from house to set that up. I might some day in the future.

As for the aluminum corrosion out side the car you need to treat that with something like Wicked Metal Polish which will clean that up and leave a coating on it so it doesn't (in the shorter term) re-corrode.




- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[supercass]

A soft cotton cover should suffice if the garage is reasonably dry. protects the car and does not trap moisture. Concrete section garages though can be chronic for damp. supercass

[Beans]

Always use a good breathable and dustproof cover, preferably with a soft lining
Cotton absorbs moisture, so it is best nor to use these unless your garage is heated/100% dry.

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1976 TR7 FHC (needs some TLC ...)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, a.k.a. Kermette)
1981 TR7 FHC (Sprint engined a.k.a. 't Kreng
</font id="blue"><b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="3"><font color="red">My full Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size3"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

[Hasbeen]

Thank god for our climate. Even in our wet season, the only place you are likely to find mold is in the bathroom. The shed dries quickly, even if you have to park a wet car in it.

I had a look yesterday for indoor covers, & saw some show covers. These have a nice soft lining, & are more expensive than outdoor covers, which probably means an expensive fabric.

They do have the elastic corners which would be a hassle with fitting & removal, & neither of the shops had small ones, & the last thing I want is something hanging down to the floor. That would be asking to get mice in the car, when we get one of our regular mice plagues.

Guess I'm going to have to find a fabric shop, & make my own.

Hasbeen

[supercass]

It's a question of drawing a balance, paying your money and taking your choice. A tarp will trap water and moisture (often condensation) under the cover but is dust proof and the top area will not absorb moisture. It is likely to scratch the paintwork. Usually they are cheap. A dustproof breathable cover with a soft lining is likely to be slower at releasing trapped moisture than a cotton cover but will absorb less moisture from the top surface and some of these are shower proof. Often they are high tech fabric and are expensive. A close weave soft cotton cover absorbs moisture but helps prevent significant condensation and dries out reasonably quickly.They are reasonably priced usually. Somewhere in between are the polyester covers that are thin and offer little in the way of protection against knocks but trap less moisture than a tarp and are showerproof. A lot depends on how much you are willing to pay, whether you wish to have a tailored one and storage off the car. Some of them are quite bulky.

In the U.K. the problem is the dramatic and rapid changes in humidity levels. A car that has been baking in the sun all day can end up with the entire bodywork and presumably internal cavities drenched in condensation and garaging a car will help reduce this, assuming it was dry when garaged. Not sure about the 100% dry garage! Something below 50% relative humidity (say 40%) is considered O.K. Too dry an environment can have damaging effects on trim, plastics, leather, rubber and even wiring. General recommendation is that you leave the interior of the car with some ventilation when garaged and under a cover, leaving a window slightly open for example, although in areas prone to rodents this might not be indicated. supercass

[Workshop Help]

This topic has become depressing!

My opinion is we all pack up and move to a climate more attuned to be kind to our cars and ourselves. Looking on the free road map from a gas station back in the late 1960's, I pick Prescott Valley, Arizona. 4900' of elevation, 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix, four real seasons, a large and comprehensive medical complex focusing on the geriatric set, superb scenery, and enough of an infrastructure to meet our needs and interests.

That's right, geriatric. Even if you're a vibrant and vigorous 22 year old, you're still on the same conveyor belt of time rushing down the path. It's always best to plan ahead.

I could live there.

Mildred Hargis

P.S.
I forgot something. In Arizona they consider Daylight Savings Time to be an affront and contrary to the nature of humanity. So, they won't turn the clock back and forth twice a year. 8:00AM is always at the same time.

M.H.

[FI Spyder]

Not been to the valley but been to Prescott via 89a. Sedona very nice too and 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix and just north is north climb up to upper desert which is cooler the higher you go. Probably more expensive to live though as it's very touristy and a lot of famous people live or have homes there whereas Prescott (Valley) is the stereotypical small American town.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[DNK]

Does Prescott have snow?

Don
Stick a Wedge In It
80 TR7 V8 Kick in the pants

[FI Spyder]

Being high desert it will get the occasional dusting but it won't stay long. Just long enough to remind you, you don't like the stuff and thankful you don't see it very often. If you want snow there's always Vail, Co.

Neatest thing about the desert is the dry air, the stars are particularly bright, great for UFO sightings as well. Ancient Indians were well acquainted with them.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT