winter storage
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,647
Likes: 1
From: East Aurora N.Y.
St. Jude Donor '10
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
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From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
I think a big question that needs to be answered first is: will the car be inside or outside? If outside, I wouldn't put a cover on my car, figuring the wind will cause the cover to flap and mess up the paint. I store mine in the garage at my house, so I put the cover on it to keep dust off, and to prevent the damage to the paint from foot traffic in the area. For reasons I can't explain, people walk a lot closer to my car when the cover is off than when it is on. As a general rule, I don't throw things at my car or drop things on it, so I don't really worry about protecting it from that sort of thing.
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Depends on the cover, and the condition of your car.
A weather-proof cover like Stormproof won't breathe and can damage the finish because they're like a windbreaker material, and trap moisture between it and the car even though it'll shed rain and snow.
Multi-layer barrier style covers like The Wall or Noah are soft and breathe, but eventually get soaked through.
My advise, if you really want to protect your car, and you have the $ to spend is to get one of each.
Put the breathable cover on first with the weather-proof cover on top.
Will you be driving the car at all during the winter? Can you rent a secure garage space for it?
A weather-proof cover like Stormproof won't breathe and can damage the finish because they're like a windbreaker material, and trap moisture between it and the car even though it'll shed rain and snow.
Multi-layer barrier style covers like The Wall or Noah are soft and breathe, but eventually get soaked through.
My advise, if you really want to protect your car, and you have the $ to spend is to get one of each.
Put the breathable cover on first with the weather-proof cover on top.
Will you be driving the car at all during the winter? Can you rent a secure garage space for it?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
Likes: 1
From: No longer in Heaven
You are in Crystal Lake, I am also in the Chicago area. Obviously assuming indoor storage.
Why wouldn't you store it with a cover? It keeps the dust off and provides some superficial protection from falling things, wandering things, walking things, etc.
If you are concerned about ventilation or moisture, get a cannister of moisture remover (near the moth ***** in drug store) put it in the car with a few handfulls of moth ***** and dryer sheets. This will keep it dry inside, keep critters out, and it will smell pretty good in the spring.
Personally, I can't think of any reason not to cover it.
Why wouldn't you store it with a cover? It keeps the dust off and provides some superficial protection from falling things, wandering things, walking things, etc.
If you are concerned about ventilation or moisture, get a cannister of moisture remover (near the moth ***** in drug store) put it in the car with a few handfulls of moth ***** and dryer sheets. This will keep it dry inside, keep critters out, and it will smell pretty good in the spring.
Personally, I can't think of any reason not to cover it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
So, his car is a vette also? Can't leave it outside all winter! 
If stored outside, at the least keep it under a carport protecting it from snow accumulations. Covering it is likely to cause more paint damage than it will prevent; as mentioned, wind shifting the cover and rubbing the finish. Indoor storage not an option? That's the direction I would be heading for.
If stored outside, at the least keep it under a carport protecting it from snow accumulations. Covering it is likely to cause more paint damage than it will prevent; as mentioned, wind shifting the cover and rubbing the finish. Indoor storage not an option? That's the direction I would be heading for.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 561
Likes: 1
From: No longer in Heaven
So, his car is a vette also? Can't leave it outside all winter!
If stored outside, at the least keep it under a carport protecting it from snow accumulations. Covering it is likely to cause more paint damage than it will prevent; as mentioned, wind shifting the cover and rubbing the finish. Indoor storage not an option? That's the direction I would be heading for.
If stored outside, at the least keep it under a carport protecting it from snow accumulations. Covering it is likely to cause more paint damage than it will prevent; as mentioned, wind shifting the cover and rubbing the finish. Indoor storage not an option? That's the direction I would be heading for.
I have the same confusion. I don't know what or whose car the original post is about...
I agree with your advice, but I'm not sure the son's car is a Corvette. I'm not really sure what his post is about.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,431
Likes: 298
From: MN-C3, AZ-C7
Don't park it on grass.....even worse!
Look in Craigslist for a storage option.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/rvs/1419288111.html
Look in Craigslist for a storage option.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/rvs/1419288111.html
Last edited by John Ulrich; Oct 15, 2009 at 12:27 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Lake IL
Don't park it on grass.....even worse!
Look in Craigslist for a storage option.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/rvs/1419288111.html
Look in Craigslist for a storage option.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/rvs/1419288111.html
Last edited by morleyz; Oct 15, 2009 at 02:30 PM. Reason: Confusing.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Don't leave a Corvette outside in winter. The damage can be more substantial than a modest monthly fee for indoor storage. Many older people no longer use their garages. Check your neighbourhood for that possibility.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Australia
I think a big question that needs to be answered first is: will the car be inside or outside? If outside, I wouldn't put a cover on my car, figuring the wind will cause the cover to flap and mess up the paint. I store mine in the garage at my house, so I put the cover on it to keep dust off, and to prevent the damage to the paint from foot traffic in the area. For reasons I can't explain, people walk a lot closer to my car when the cover is off than when it is on. As a general rule, I don't throw things at my car or drop things on it, so I don't really worry about protecting it from that sort of thing.
and every now and then you can take a peek to make sure she's sleeping well!!! 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
Likes: 22
From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
I think there is little argument that the best way to winter store is in a garage attached to your living space that has power, light, heat etc. The car I have now is the first classic I have ever owned where I had access to that kind of winter storage, so I know what "less than ideal" storage is like.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 14
From: Dallas-Fort Worth TX
Winter storage huh...
Down here we look forward to fall/winter, means the temps are below 90 degrees.
Every now and then we will get a few spikes to 60's and 70's during the middle of winter.
But if I lived on the Frozen Tundra of the North like all of you. I would store it in garage or at least a storage facility. It would be worth the money as mentioned above.
Down here we look forward to fall/winter, means the temps are below 90 degrees.
Every now and then we will get a few spikes to 60's and 70's during the middle of winter.
But if I lived on the Frozen Tundra of the North like all of you. I would store it in garage or at least a storage facility. It would be worth the money as mentioned above.
