Storing My Car....

[TheEdgeofSanity]

well, the time has come for me to leave my comfy home to go live in some crappy dorms at MSU. The best part: no car freshman year! so, in the mean time, my car is going to reside at my aunt's house, just short of an hour away from school. We are doing this because in the event i need to go somewhere, she can pick me up and bring me to my car. The bad news: my car (which stays in the garage here at my house) will be staying on a dirt driveway that is always soggy under 3 huge willow trees in my absence! Furthermore, its out in the wild country and the car will be sitting for up to 3 weeks at a time without being driven. I already bought a car cover for it, but don't know what else i should do to protect it from the dampness, rodents, and evil trees that will be around it. Some suggestions would be good? any tricks or tips for storage so that my ho will be just as good as the day i parked her?

[Golden Alero]

one of my good buddys is heading up there, they got some killer partays!

[Blktrax]

Outdoor car cover = BAD

Several reasons, It traps evaporating moisture under it during the day, It stores the moisture against the paint, If you need the car, i'm betting rarely will you have time to wash and dry it getting dirt and grime from both it stitting and being driven- you might as well rub sand paper all over the paint.

Sitting on dirt or gravel is least favorable to a hard surface, again moisture constantly under the car not saying its going to rust to peices, but exposed metal that has been expossed to salt previously will rust faster. Since im 15 min from the ocean, and origionaly form Ohio, I've seen my share of salt rust.

As an example I had to replace Pads and rotors on and 08 Rav4 with 7500 miles on it, it bought in Canada, they drive to Flordia in the summer, stored it for 6 months. Shipped it here so they would have it when they sailed their boat here. Well basicly no brakes, They had rusted so bad the pads literaly welded themselves to the rotors. When they broke free the pads were gone in less than 100 miles.

Best bet just put a sunshade in the window and wash it when you can. Anything else and youre just making an unfortunite situation worse. Better find a way to get it on pavement, Best, rent a storage unit and put it on blocks. Or: (and I shudder saying it) let your aunt drive it.

[cherrington17]

whats with these "no car freshman year" rules? The first time i ever heard of this was in the Transformers 2 movie. I didn't know it actually existed. That would aggrivate me. Its MY car.

[misslindseysue]

Have you ever been on a big campus? There's NO ROOM TO PARK! And since freshman have to live on campus... no need to drive. Most metropolitan campuses have rules like that. Michigan Tech doesn't only because it's hundreds of miles home for most people and they have to get there somehow, but frosh have to park about a mile away and hike up the hill to their cars. I didn't have a car my freshman year just because it was easier to beg rides wherever I needed to go than deal with parking way the hell up there and hiking down to campus with my groceries.

But to answer the original question - outdoor covers aren't all evil, you just have to make sure your car is clean when you cover it. If it's dirty, he's right that you're better off just washing the crap off later. You could just give the keys to your aunt and ask her to drive it to the store once a week so that the battery doesn't die and the brakes don't get terribly rusted. Then worry about washing it when you want it to look good.

[lonnie]

You could always just park your car off campus. I know allot of freshman that go to SU here and park there cars off campus...ie...a public street etc.

[AGT]

If you do end up parking it either run the gas our or put some stabil in you gas

[Oldsnut]

I would avoid the car cover for long term storage outdoors. The moisture will get trapped under it and can screw up your paint. It also can start flapping around in the wind and scratch the hell out your paint.

As for the rodent issue, place dryer sheets inside your car interior, trunk and even in your engine bay. Most critters don't like the smell of them. Worse thing that happens is your car smells fresh. I have seen squirrels build huge nests in engine bays and chew up the wiring. If there are dogs around you may want to cover the tires and wheels. Their urine is very acidic and not good for tires. We all know how dogs like to lift their legs.

One last option would be to buy one of those portable garages for storage.

[Nate's Alero]

well, i use a budgie car cover for my alero, it is very nice, was only about 30$, and works very well on my car, gits nice, has a liner so it wont get wet, has reinforced edges so it wont scratch, and it has mirror and spoiler points so it does not stick out, this is my daily use cover (use it because tourists like to run their fingers down the side, or sit on it, or worse....)

[99alerogirl]

IU used to have a no freshman cars allowed, but not anymore. i don't care, i was never a freshman there :) and at louisville i could have my car so ha!

[jackal2000]

i forget the name of the outdoor cover i put on my car when i parked it in late december but it was almost $200 and better not have scratched my car. if its only sitting for 3 weeks at a time it will probably be fine.

[TheEdgeofSanity]

well, here's the deal. my aunt has NO concrete in the yard, so i am stuck on gravel. secondly, before i cover it, i will have it washed well so hopefully thats ok. thirdly, i will put dryer sheets in it. sounds like a good idea. fourthy, i think i will have her drive it once in awhile.

thanks, hopefully i don't come home to a pile of rust that was once my car.

[Nate's Alero]

well, here's the deal. my aunt has NO concrete in the yard, so i am stuck on gravel. secondly, before i cover it, i will have it washed well so hopefully thats ok. thirdly, i will put dryer sheets in it. sounds like a good idea. fourthy, i think i will have her drive it once in awhile.

thanks, hopefully i don't come home to a pile of rust that was once my car.

i wouldnt let her drive, she might not put the cover back on, or something else, worse :)

[TheEdgeofSanity]

i wouldnt let her drive, she might not put the cover back on, or something else, worse :)

she's a good driver. its less of a risk than coming home to destroyed brakes.

[Nate's Alero]

she's a good driver. its less of a risk than coming home to destroyed brakes.

no no, im saying she might not put the cover back on right, she may get it real dorty, or park it somewhere where it will get dinged up

[clutch1]

One last option would be to buy one of those portable garages for storage.

If you have some extra cashmonies this is what I'd look into. Sounds safest.

[[ion] C2]

no no, im saying she might not put the cover back on right, she may get it real dorty, or park it somewhere where it will get dinged up
or crash.

[Nate's Alero]

If you have some extra cashmonies this is what I'd look into. Sounds safest.

who has extra monies nowadays? not me :p