Outdoor Car Covers

[60 Plymouth]

Hi Guys,

I'm moving house and unfortunately, have no facility to park my car under cover at the new house (and being a rented property I'm unlikely to get agreement from the landlord to put up a car port). So I'm on the look out for a decent outdoor cover for my 1960 Plymouth. I seem to remember PC doing a review of various covers two or three years ago but I'm damned if I can find it!

I did have a cheap $50 cover but I don't think much of it.

I'm after a good, breathable cover that'll keep the rain out but not trap condensation in. Anybody got any suggestions? Anybody got first hand experience?

All the best,
Conor

[Wicksy]

Covers tend to flap and never do what they say on the tin in my experience but you do get what you pay for and the better breathable ones probably keep out most of the damp.
Have you considered a chamber type cover I have a carcoon outside air chamber and it is nothing short of brilliant - used for four winters so far on an MGBT and a Herald. The car comes out after several months as pristine as it went in, it even dries out a wet car and can withstand the harshest wind and weather, heavy snow needs to be cleared fom it but that's all. It uses two computer type cooling motors to operate which consume the same amount of electricity as a medium light bulb , as a bonus it also trickle charges the car battery
They are on the pricey side, I paid about £400, but I guess It's down to how much your car is worth and wether keeping it perfectly preseved through the winter is what you want at the end of the day

[60 Plymouth]

Hi Wicksy,

I have thought about Carcoons, the only problem I have is entry/exit. Can they be used like an ordinary garage? How long does it take to 'set up' a carcoon over the car? This is also the first instance I've heard of them being used outside (as opposed to inside in a garage).

My car gets used fairly frequently, it's currently in a marquee type thing at the side of the house. It'd be nice to be able to open the door and drive out so to speak.

Thanks a lot,
60Ply

[Wicksy]

Best go to their website fo a better idea.
Briefly, you spread the bottom "mat" on smooth ground and drive the car on, drape the top outer double skinned cover over the car and Zip it to the mat. The battery is connected to the chamber wiring harness and the whole thing connected to the mains via the units smart charge/power pack.
The chamber inflates fully in about 10 minutes and there is a zipped flap that can be left open for a day or two to vent the chamber of all moisture - if the car is dry this can be closed after inflation.
The whole thing looks like a small Airship when inflated and the computer motors emit a gentle hum to add to the picture - mine is knicnamed R101.
How log to set up - putting the car in, about 10 minutes when familiar - getting it out, about 5 minutes. Not that much longer than a cover really but with so much better results

PS. I have regularly got cars out of mine for a "nice day" run and it's not too much of a chore