I have run out of room for my stuff. Not letting that little problem get in my way, I bought an early Nova for my next project. The lady across the road (it's a rural area) has two out buildings both about 24 x 50. Neither has a floor other than some crushed rock. There is no heat,cold,or light other than what nature provides. All in all, there is little more than shelter from rain, hail, wind, etc. The project is now in sandable primer and will be for the foreseeable future. The lady has offered me storage on the cheap to add to her social security. The question: How would one best protect the vehicle? I could leave it on the trailer or roll it off onto the gravel. Covered? Not covered? What type of cover if that is the best go? I forgot to mention that there are all kinds of small animals around here. Any help would be appreciated.
Maybe rig a tarp/heavy poly over the car(not touching).Moth balls under,around the car to keep rats&mice from chewing your wireing.Support to keep tires off dirt.
That's not going to help the primer, the plastic will hold moisture and the sheet metal will start to rust under the primer. HRP
so, now two projects, and one will be out of sight/out of mind - better protect it well. put thick plywood at least under tires. to cover car could use a good quality car cover that breathes, not a tarp. run small diameter chicken wire around inside perimeter of storage building, going a little below surface.
Tarp under entire car with bed sheets covering the top of the body. Depending on how long you intend on it being there, I would spray some sort of corrosion protectant spray on any suspension parts and other bare metal parts to slow down rusting. Don
Thanks for all the suggestions and help. The old car is a rolling body, i.e., no interior, engine, transmission, etc. so I don't worry about the wiring being eaten up. I guess the consensus is to tarp the ground, cover the car with breathable material, use dryer sheets and moth balls. Thanks, again. I appreciate it.
If you cover it the humidity will get you. Better to not trap the moisture. Put it up on blocks like was done when the car was new with a vehicle that is stored for any length of time. get the tires off the ground.
Do the dryer sheets really work? I have an ongoing battle with mice and can't handle the mothball smell.
I use rat cakes. They are easy to get ay places like Home Depot cheap and they work. you should replace them about once a year.
Have my doubts. It just sounds like so much BS to me. Moth balls are pretty toxic to people though (methylparabenzene or something like that) I'm pretty laid back when it comes to health hazards, but a quick read on moth balls tells me to stay away.
Be sure to secure any rat poison. They carry it off to save for a rainey day. Securing it makes them eat it.
I've used dryer sheets on everything from cars to campers to my garage for years. I've never had a problem with anything happening except for everything smelling like it just came out of the dryer.
If your going to store a car in any old building dirt/stone or concrete. Put a larger tarp on the ground. Then use a cotton/ breathable cover for the body of the car. Next if there is ever a posability of roof leaks, bird*****s, or any areal attack cover the cotton with another tarp. If the metal is going to sweat the cotton should absorb the condenate. Finally take that larger tarp and tie it up the sides this reduces critter entry. Also do your dryer sheet and or moth balls. I like moth balls but hate the smell. I also find moths hard to catch.
I've done the poison routine and the little********s always find remote and hard to clean areas to kick off. Had to take a dash apart once and it was hard to clean and get the smell out. They seem to invade every fall and I do the trap thing until I get them all. I will try the dryer sheets. My garage door does not seal well along the sides so until I get a new one the battle is on.
I use these as mouse traps, this is just an Internet pic so you get the idea. Bucket with rod across it, can with peanut*****er, add some used motor oil to the bucket, provide a ramp. Mouse goes for the food and falls in the liquid. Using a liquid that doesn't evaporate keeps the mice pickled and not stinking.
Reese's Peanut*****er cups (supposedly) work even better. Sure glad I grew up not knowing about all this stuff, never had a problem ha ha. Have heard of critters munching on late model OT wiring harness and practically, totaling the car.
I think a lot depends on your climate and the soil that the barn sits on. High or low water table? I've seen concrete floor garages in areas with high water tables where things just sat inside and rusted and molded away. Check the interior wood for mold and moisture content. That will tell you a lot.
Kind of like making them walk the plank. I'll try it. They seem to be pretty good at stealing the bait and not setting off the traps, I have to modify them with hair triggers.
We caught over 70 pack rats this fall and didn't get them all. They carry off the dryer sheets and make nests out of them. They carry of the moth balls to who knows where and thumb their nose. Had one of them shoot out of the tailpipe on the car once. They walk away with a snap trap and put in their nest as a trophy. The eat wiring, brake lines, hoses, seats, carpet and***** everywhere. I used a set up with the rolling bottle on a rod over the water bucket baited with peanut*****er. They can't resist it. Just doesn't work in the freezing weather we have and it needs to be serviced daily. I'd check your set up on a routine basis to make sure that the critters aren't taking over. If they do you know why Bill Murray turned the way he did in Caddyshack. I just bought the Conex shipping containers for storage....rodent proof, no building permit and can sell them when I'm done. Good luck
^ WOW, my problem doesn't seem so bad now. I get maybe 6 to 10 a year if ya catch them early. LOL I know what your saying about Murray - It gets personal real quick and you come up with some devious ideas. PETA be damned.
Yes they do. In the winter months I put a box of them in motor home and the hot rods. Also one winter put them in my brothers model A in the barn. It's full of critters and kept them out. I just use the cheap ones from grocery store Moth balls make the car smell. Just*****ter them inside. Cliff
One winter put a F350 in the barn. Running driving truck. In the spring went to start it up and would not turn over. Pulled starter and it was jammed with mice nests also the clutch. What a mess
I restore vintage cars for a living, so I've seen it all. Moth balls and dryer sheets are totally old wives tales. Neither one will deter a mouse. They will use the dryer sheets for bedding (which they will piss all over) and the moth balls will only make your car stink. If it makes ya feel better, use them, but I'm telling you, it just a placebo effect . I'd suggest traps all around with peanut*****er (I like the bucket trick as well). We have seen people using stuff that looks a bit like pot pourri - some kinda organic*****. At least that stuff doesn't make your car stink like formaldehyde . Other stuff has been pretty well covered, don't put a tarp directly over the car, under instead , tires off the ground , all good advice .
Run fans over and under a stored vehicle in an unheated area. This will remove ground moisture and humidity. The absolute best option.
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