29 replies to this topic

[Pallbag]

Have a bit of a predicament, about to become a four car family due to scoring a promotion which comes with a work car and private use and only have enough room at home for three.

Don't really wanna sell either my VF Commodore or the mrs Hyundai Accent - mrs only recently got her licence and is a bit scared to drive the Commodore around town as it is a bit too big. And I dont really want to offload the Commodore just yet as it's a great car and if I hate this new job I can tell work to stick it and walk in to early retirement. But if I do that will then need car and dont like the idea of looking for a replacement with potential trouble when I threw away a perfectly good car a few months earlier.

Have also got an option of selling both cars and getting a smaller car mid way between the Commodore and Accent - Hyundai I30, Kona or Mazda CX30 which will suit both of us, more bling/accessories then the Accent and comfortable enough for me for long trips.

Anyway, a nephew has room for me to stash the commodore. Will be on a concrete driveway, behind a fence and out of sight, just need options of what is best to keep it covered ... a decent camping type gazebo, maybe an all weather car cover, what else is there?

Happy for the nephew to take the commodore for a run each 3 or 4 weeks to keep it lubricated so leaning towards the gazebo. Otherwise if it goes under a cover it will prob not move for ages as it be too much of a pain to do so.

Long term storage shed prob not really an option right now due to ongoing monthly costs.

 

Has anyone used a car cover for long term storage outside and was it any good?

What have I missed for options?

[dattoman]

Sadly my Caddy is outside and has been for at least a year

I use a HD cover I got from Repco

Replace each year as it eventually rots away

 

 

 cad cover.jpg   331.33K   5 downloads

[Pallbag]

Ever had any hail storms Datto.

Each year ya take it off ... how does the car look underneath ... as good (or near as good) as the day you wrapped it up?

[N/A-PWR]

That's a big Car cover Datto. 

 

I am sad to see Caddy like that. 

[skap]

Almost think it’s better exposed than covered like that.

Guess it’s alright if ya live in the dessert.

[UCSLE]

i got one of these about 7-8 years back and used it for about a year https://shelterstati...e-petit-garage/

 

 

Cost about 800 bucks back them but probably a lot more now

 

I wouldn't use it in a place that,s very windy but it did handle a Perth winter  

 

needs to bolted down or comes with things that screw down into dirt

 

A VF may fit but there is a bigger tent listed on there web site

 

Here is how one of my Toranas fitted

 

 tent.jpg   429.75K   3 downloads

 

 

[RallyRed]

Can't speak on car covers ( have them, but they are inside the shed on cars, so no weather exposure). However, regarding those pretty good looking grey ones that have the micro holes in them for breathing....could offer the following, as we have had them on a caravan.
1. Not suitable in a windy location, they get air under them and blow up like a ballon.
2. When being moved by wind, they rub on all the corners/ edges where they touch the thing being covered.
3. They seem to just turn to dust within about 2 years.
We went through 3 of them pretty quickly, ended up biting the bullet and making a carport.
Any chance you could throw up a lightweight carport?.. and donate it to old mate as a " thank you"?.

Edited by RallyRed, 02 September 2023 - 06:19 PM.

[Bruiser]

I left my commodore out in the weather for several years when I stopped being into the cars for a while
Wish I hadn’t now, it shows a bit. If I could go back, I’d have made a shelter of some sort, and used a cover too.
Like datto said, covers don’t seem to last very long.
I reckon you’d have to spend a bit for a good cover, My boat in the back yard is on it’s second one and that is now
trashed from the sun and now the wind is tearing it apart

[yel327]

Can the budget stretch to one of these?

 

Single 3.3x6M STEEL Carport Shade Sheds Portable Shelter Backyard Pergola Garage | eBay

 

Easy to bolt down or if not ratchet strap down using a couple of old axles hammered into the dirt at an angle.

[Bruiser]

Same as Col’s thoughts, too

[yel327]

Or this:

 

https://www.blockysu...open-p475056252

 

As Col says, put a quick and nasty carport up. Doesn't have to be high, just high enough for a car. 1.6m or something like that. You'd find the steel on Gumtree or Foolbook, and a bit of old framing timber.

Edited by yel327, 02 September 2023 - 06:32 PM.

[Bruiser]

The weather plays havoc with the littlest of paint chips, and the sun gets at the tops of the seats and door trims
and my steering wheel

[rexy]

Have you worked out what its going to cost you in rego, insurance etc while you aren’t using it? Might be better off selling while prices are still relatively high.

[Bigfella237]

Have a look at supercrap auto and bunnings, both have "portable carports" for a couple of hundred bucks but you're probably in the same boat as a car cover in that you'd likely need to replace it every twelve months or so?

 

@hanra might chime-in here as he has a couple of those inflatable car-coon things too that he keeps his Mini etc. in, but IIRC they are inside a shed so not sure how they stand up to weather (especially wind)?

[limo]

20 ft container if you csn get it in your yard. Put shelves around above car plenty storage. I have a 40 footer at the garm woth dexeon shelving. Lockable ss well.

[claysummers]

Went o/s for a year and left my car in an old stable in the north flinders ranges. Dirt floor, dry climate and out of the weather. Got any mates out back where you could leave it?


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[hanra]

Have a look at supercrap auto and bunnings, both have "portable carports" for a couple of hundred bucks but you're probably in the same boat as a car cover in that you'd likely need to replace it every twelve months or so?

@hanra might chime-in here as he has a couple of those inflatable car-coon things too that he keeps his Mini etc. in, but IIRC they are inside a shed so not sure how they stand up to weather (especially wind)?

They do make outdoor Carcoons. But these may be suited outdoor UK instead of outdoor Australia?

Nothing good is going to come from storing a car outdoors.

[limo]

20 ft container if you can get it in your yard. Put shelves around above car plenty storage. I have a 40 footer at the farm with dexeon shelving. Lockable ss well.

[hanra]

https://www.carcoon....utdoor-carcoon/

[neglectedtorana]

Can you just park the new work car on the street?

I have used those grey covers but with an indoor cover underneath to protect the car from the HD cover, works ok.

If you weren't paying rego on the Commodore could the savings vs go towards storage?

Hope you find a suitable solution

[Pallbag]

Have you worked out what its going to cost you in rego, insurance etc while you aren’t using it? Might be better off selling while prices are still relatively high.

Not too worried about these costs as it will hopefully be a max of three months before we work out what to do with at least one of the cars and if I decide to last in the new role long term.

[Pallbag]

Can you just park the new work car on the street?

I have used those grey covers but with an indoor cover underneath to protect the car from the HD cover, works ok.

If you weren't paying rego on the Commodore could the savings vs go towards storage?

Hope you find a suitable solution

Work car will be parked outside (has to be in an "off street" location) and we already have one of our three cars outside, just don't have space for a fourth to be outside

[skap]

With ridiculous conditions like that on company car use, you’ll probably need yours back soo enough. Are you allowed to park it at shopping centres?

[dattoman]

Ever had any hail storms Datto.

Each year ya take it off ... how does the car look underneath ... as good (or near as good) as the day you wrapped it up?

 

 

Its Perth... no hail to speak of

Car had paint issues before I put it under the cover... so still pretty much the same

I wouldn't recommend it for something with decent paint

But I have run out of room... and something has to be outside... Cadillac drew the short straw

Its the biggest cover I could find... but its still not big enough... just covers the body... but tight fit on... and front bumper sticks out.

[Uncle Chop Chop]

I found my car cover blown off quite regularly, so I started using a few old tie down straps. It hasn't moved since.