Tarps?...How to keep your project car dry

I have to store one of my project cars outside. So I have used traditional Blue, green and Sliver tarps to cover it. The tarps deteriorate over time and the car gets wet promoting rust.

What is the best tarp, cover or canvas that I can cover a car and it will stay dry?

Thanks,

N B R

 

Not just dry, but warm inside as well. You need also to keep out the condensation. A small space heater on its lowest setting works nice. But as long as it stays cold in the winter it will get moisture in even if covered.

 

Moisture attacks cars from the ground just as much as from above. Outside storage in a damp climate is just a bad idea if the vehicle isn't going to be moved and heated up by use to dry it out.

If it has to be outside for a while keep that time as short as possible and use barriers to keep moisture away from the bottom of the car as well. Get it at least a foot or two off the ground with jackstands and put a heavy waterproof barrier under the stands. Try to promote crosswind under the car to help dry it out if it does get damp.

In the end you are only slowing the process if you are storing it outside and not driving it.

 

whatever you do...don't buy a "car cover" from any cheezy-ass auto parts store for $50.00...
your better off leaving it uncovered...at least then the water that still gets all over it anyway...will evaporate.

 

Search online, or go to a retail chain car parts supplier and look for a fabric car shelter. They are waterproof and completely enclose the car. Cost more than a plastic tarp. But, if you want to have a project to work on later, rather than a pile of rust, you need to protect it properly. Suggestions above have good info.

 

i was using the brown tarp because its a heavier duty. but yesterday i got around to putting up my "garage in a box" from northern tool. so far so good. i also got it so i could work on my truck in the rain snow etc.

 

I don't agree with that. I buy the cheap car covers at Wal-Mart for $19.95 that are made of spun polyethylene. These seem to "breathe" as promised on the box. Granted, I live in the desert where rain is not the greatest issue (but it does rain, hail & snow here). When it rains, any wetness under the cover evaporates within an hour or so.

Plus, if your project car is like some of mine that have no windows in them a little moisture between the cover and the car is much better than 2" of water in the floor.

Also the grey car covers keep the city guys away.

 

o.k....perhaps it beats NO cover...barely.
or maybe not...I need me some windows still, too, in the coupe, so a wet interior it did prevent, but...it was just SOAKED under my cover, any time it rained...I think a tarp, or even just a roll of plastic would have been better...
??? now, I luckily have myself a gee-rage.

 

My experience with tarps here in the wet 'ol pacific northwest has been watch out for mold, not a big deal if your project has no interior. Also wiring, fusebox ect. can corrode. Crappy thing is that it dosen't take long for these things to happen, at least not around here. Georgia? Probly molds overnight!! Tarps kinda keep the rain off, but if any moisture gets in they do one hell of a job keeping it in. I think a shop light left on inside might help keep the air dry.

Later- John

 

Most tarps will only accelerate the rust. It traps moisture underneath it. You need something that can breath or keeps all moisture out from above and below...

 

Military surplus REAL tarps... cheap. //^^^^^^^^\\

 

I think if you were to buy one of those cheap portable car ports . Cut the legs down so the port just sits a few iches above the car so it can breath. put a tarp on the ground. drive car onto tarp to stop moisture from coming up. set cheap 3 sided portable port over car and make sure you secure the port to the ground. It will breath well and also block the moisture from coming up from the ground. ? Sounds logical to me.

 

My 57 is inside a porta garage and covered with a car cover. The garage is more of a tent and the breeze blows through some what at both ends. Its also parked on a concrete pad. The 56 Dodge is in the snow bank......

 

Get on ebay and buy a high quality suitable sized CAR COVER from somebody who's sold their ride.

Over time, it'll pay back. First time the tarp eyelet doesn't ruin your bumper chrome or a piece of stainless trim, you've been paid back. Looks way less hillbilly than a tarp and pleases the neighbors, first time the inspector isn't called, you're paid back.

Not only that, but when the car's done, wash the daylights out of the cover and now you've got some nice protection for your finished ride. Even if you store it inside, the cover will protect it from the inevitable bumps and scratches.

 

Check with "California Car Covers". They have an outdoor capsule that comes with a fan. It also has packets to absorb moisture. The problem with all the car covers is it's breathable, which allows moisture to soak through, turning the dust to mud. They also have an outdoor that is water proof and very light. I got one for my 51'.

 

a bucket of silica gel ( the stuff that comes with jerky in the little packet that says do not eat) works ok for the inside

 

I know this sounds cynical, but if you are gonna push the car outside and put it under a tarp, you've already given up on it. You just havent admitted it to yourself.
Sell the sucker and move on.

 

Sounds like too many projects to me. Those "portable garages" are a blight. Here in L.A. they just scream GHETTO! Nothing ruins the 'hood faster than those things. Hahahahah.... -stick

 

My tiny shop is too little for all of my clunkers, so I have to keep three outside. One of the three is a nice older restoration, and one is in primer. The third has no glass installed. But I've kept 'em dry, and it hasn't been too bad. The air here is very dry, so I'm lucky there. But there's a load of snow. What I do:
1) Cheap Walmart cover on car.
2) Next layer "heavy" tarp
3) Another tarp
4) Top layer Walmart cover again.

Maybe overkill, but the tarps last much longer without sunlight killing them, and the covers do fine in the sun (comparatively). Also, as one layer gets bad, replace and rotate! The covers cost the same as a tarp but protect the tarp much longer and last longer themselves in the sunlight. That keeps the waterproof layer waterproof!

 

I covered a car with a plastic tarp when in got windy the tarp beat the crap out of the paint. Better off storing your car without a tarp in my experance!

 

Thanks for the tips. This car is a work in progress and has to stay outside covered (neighbors...).

Here is what I have learned.
1. Need some type of heat (lightbulb, etc.) to drive moisture out of interior. I have some mildew/ mold growing.
2. cover should be tied down so flapping won't damage paint or chrome.
3. tarp/ cover needs to breathe to get rid of any moisture that gets inder it. This is my main problem, trapped water under 2 layers of cheapo leaky tarps.
4. Tarp/ cover should be waterproof.

Back to the original question. Is there any cover better than 6 or 8 mil plastic to keep the water out?

Thanks,

N B R

 

Was at Kragens (Shucks,etc) and they had a waterproof four sided canopy for $119 10'Wx20'Wx9'H. Empire covers (online) has a cover called Empire Plus Car Cover for $79.99/$10 ship that is 100% waterproof,etc. If still too expensive park car on tarp or concrete then get cheapo $30 car cover , next a surplus canvas tarp, then a plastic tarp and hold down wih bungee cords. Putting the drying packet stuff listed above would also be good. Putting a light bulb in car may lead to a fire. How big is your living room?
The car canopy works good if not in an open high wind area. I have had one with metal frame that bent (held down good) and seperated in high wind and screwed up a good paint job.

 

The Harbor Freight portable garage works good. Buy some cheap ratchet straps and secure the garage framework to the vehicle. My friends portable garage took off in the wind and wiped out his neighbors fence. I had a framework with just a plastic tarp roof and the wind turned the Chinese tubing framework into a pretzel. That got me using the ratchet straps.

 

You're not s'posed to eat that?

 

Tarp Update.

Thanks for the advise guys. Here is my solution...

I put a pan of "Damprid" moisture absorber in the car. This the product that Home Depot sells ($3.50 for 2.5 lb refill). It's Calcium Chloride (not Silica Gel) but you still can't eat it. This stuff is a "one-time" use and 1 Lb will protect up to 200 sq. ft. (household) and collect about 3 pints of water in the GA. Humidity. The stuff is not reusable as Silica Gel is. (( I'll post some feedback when I get back to work on the car which had mildew growing on some old leather.))

As for the outside, I covered the car with new 4 mil plastic followed by an outer cover of my old and very leaky green tarp from HF. This should work for my needs.

More later. N B R

P. S. Silica Gel can be purchased in bulk on the Internet. It's about $5 to12/ Lb. which is good for 33 cu ft. or 2Lb./ car interior. I'll post the link to the cheap stuff when I can find it.

 

If you want a good tarp go to a tarp co. that makes them for trucks they can make you a tarp that has grommets where you want them so you can tie it down for wind and bad weather. I use a lite weight asphalt tarp that will last forever......Just my .02 cents

 

i go a little more permenet, put some post up, a few 2x6's but not many. Then sheet the roof in industrial metal siding material. I buy the sheeting for 2.35 a liner foot and its 3 feet wide. hardest part is diggin the holes for the posts.

 

That's what I did for my 51 Pontiac it works great the cheap tarps from wal-mart only last a year and leak like a siv. I use lots of rubber hold down straps to keep it from moving. I had the tarp cut short on the sides so water can drain underneath it. The sits on the drive way I don't have the money right now for a shed to put it in and I will regret it for ever if I sell it.

 

One of my cars is 'out in the elements' due to space....but I opted for one of them 'cheap' frame & tarp set-ups ''over'' my car....the white ones, with the white frame for about $99.....I'm not a big fan of tarps sitting on cars because of the massive amount of moisture and condensation they develop. ....but, with the tarp/frame setup, it's covered and not resting on the car itself. I do recommend ''reinforcing'' makeshift cross-bars with baling wire or extra frame material, so it doesn't ''bulge outwards'' and collapse...but I've had 8" inches of snow on it (reinforced), and it's sturdy enough...just gotta pump the snow off it with a mop from underneath, and I've had it over the car for almost 2 years, and no water gets inside....just an option, and it works well for me, till I can get it inside