Every day storage with no garage. whats best?

[whitevan73]

Hi all
i have been noticing wet patches in my boot area and on the floor in my 250SE. At first i thought it was door/boot seals but now i`m convinced its condensation and lots of it. The car is parked outside, i have no cover for it. I live in Manchester UK where it rains every other day and is about 0c at night and 4 to 10c day times.
I opened my boot today to find the boot lid dripping wet. Also the head linning is not on my sunroof at the moment, so i can see the underside of the sunroof is Dripping wet. This concerns me very much and i was hopping for some advice on the best way to keep my car dry with no garage?

Thanks in advance Paul

[truckinik]

A dehumidifier, inside the car will work well for you. You can buy a small one, place it on one of the floors, and plug it into an extension chord. This, and a high quality car cover, will work extremely well to prevent moisture build-up.

Here, in North Carolina, USA. A very common local problem is also Mice, getting into cars, or anything else warmer, and more sheltered than the outside environment during winter months. It's very simple for them to get into a car. I have three vehicles out here for the moment, with more to come later. I have purchased two sets of auto ramps for each, and park them on the ramps every time I come home. It's funny, for the people driving by my house, because they always assume I'm having car trouble when they see the cars up on ramps, standing two feet off of the ground all the time. This works as a wonderful deterrant for mice though.


Trucky

[rusty_parts2001]

A good custom fitted car cover that breathes and is water-repellent works pretty good. Suggestion: get a cable and lock that goes under the car through grommets on the bottom of the cover and paint or write your name in large block letters on the sides of the cover. That pretty much makes it as burglar- proof as you can since any idiot that steals it will advertise your name on it.
I had good luck with this type:
http://www.beverlyhillsmotorsport.com/html/carcovers/bhmcustomcovers.html

[truckinik]

Originally Posted by rusty_parts2001

A good custom fitted car cover that breathes and is water-repellent works pretty good. Suggestion: get a cable and lock that goes under the car through grommets on the bottom of the cover and paint or write your name in large block letters on the sides of the cover. That pretty much makes it as burglar- proof as you can since any idiot that steals it will advertise your name on it.
I had good luck with this type:
http://www.beverlyhillsmotorsport.com/html/carcovers/bhmcustomcovers.html

Did you get my P.M....?


Nick

[whitevan73]

I`ve not received any pm`s. If the water is not leaking in. How does a car cover help? Sorry for being so stupid, i`m just wondering how a cover helps with condensation.

thanks Paul

[georgel]

Insulate exposed metal IE sunroof and boot lid. + previous suggestions. A 100 Watt Light bulb Inside the car will probably keep the interior warm enough to prevent condensation. When I lived in a cold climate [-20*F] we would put the Light in the engine compartment so the car would start in the morning. Of course many just installed block heaters.

[truckinik]

Originally Posted by whitevan73

I`ve not received any pm`s. If the water is not leaking in. How does a car cover help? Sorry for being so stupid, i`m just wondering how a cover helps with condensation.

thanks Paul

No, Sorry, I was talking to Rusty. I guess I should have been more clear. I p.m.'ed him yesterday.


Nick

[TheDon]

Here in America they sell this stuff called Damp-Rid at grocery stores. Its a grainy powder/chunks of a dehumidifier that will soak up any humidity in the air..
Perhaps you have something like that in the UK ..

all you would need to do is just put it in a container and put it in the trunk.. just remove it before you go anywhere or fab something up to hold it in place

[whitevan73]

I`ve got some moisture absorbing bags but theres too much condensation for them to cope. I think i will go for the cover with a bulb or low power tube heater. I suppose a thick fabric on the inside, water proof on the outside cover would be best to insulate the car. Hopefully this summer i will biuld a car port with drop down sides.

thanks Paul

[whitevan73]

http://www.coveryourcar.co.uk/store/product.php?productid=16448&cat=261&page=1

I`ve ordered one of these. Can`t afford it but im sure it help to prevent rust spreding from the inside.

[300SDog]

And how about pulling the carpets and tossing em into the trunk/boot. Also sliming rust prone areas on floorboards with vaseline?

Something I've always believed helps with sustaining vintage cars is keepin em wet with oil and grease. This means hosing anything that resembles rust with some kinda oil, trans fluid or grease. Oughta be nothing resembling dry rust anywhere on the vehicle, says me.

I aint kiddin - grab yerself can of axle grease and slime critical points of undercarriage especially. Y'all understand ther's never gonna be another RHD 250SE of its kind at UK.

[GaryF]

We have similar weather here in "Sunny" Ireland, I use a breathable car cover from Halfords. I don't have the same condensation problem you describe with or without the cover. You could try leaving the windows slightly open with the cover in place to get ventilation.