So it is supposed to snow tonight, and I want to put the car cover on my car. I blotted the car as dry as I could (It's rather cold out so I can't get it 100% dry). I understand there is going to be some water droplets here and there, and the surface is not 100% dry as I said.

My question is, is it okay to put a car cover on the vehicle if it is a little damp underneath? I understand that the cover may freeze to the droplets if they freeze, but that isn't difficult to resolve.

I've heard horror stories about car covers that are put on wet cars causing bad problems with the paint and such.

Should I cover her up, or let the snow fall on her unless I can get her 100% dry?

 

Snug as a bug in a rug.

 

I think I have the same cover. Will it be okay that I put it on with a little bit of dampness underneath on the body?

 

You guys don't have a garage? Is it just me or why don't people park their cars in garage's or carports anymore. Every home should have a spot to park your car rather than parking it gangsta' on the sidewalk?

I've never put a car cover on a car that's wet, but I'm pretty sure in the dry, salty, cold and wet climate up there can lead to some problems sticking or leaving harsh residue on the body.

 

i used to have car cover for my cars. my body shop guy told me that having a car cover creates moisture that may get under the paint if you have little chips here n there, and can cause rust to build up from the moisture under the car cover's. and no matter how cold it is soon as the sun hits the cover moisture will start no matter what. he advised me a car tent in which i had gotten about a 2 years ago. works wonder's, so far only had to re tarp it. but deff worth the $

 

I wouldn't cover a damp car unless the sun is coming out the next day. A frozen cover to a car would be a worry I couldn't resolve without damage I think.

Here's my dry Z in the garage with the cover on before it ever got wet:



Lame response - Enter trashing here:

 

Hey dragon what type of tent do you have for your car? Im looking into getting one because I will need to store the z for about 10 months. Also what size are you using?

 

Costco has some nice weatherproof tents for under $300. Just make sure you can install it without upsetting the neighbors.

 

Well the instructions say that if moisture gets under the car cover, it may freeze to the body, in which case you use warm water to pour over the outside of the car cover where it is frozen to melt it, and it will pull up just fine.

I look as it as, either the car has snow sitting on it and it is wet all day regardless, or it is a little damp when I put the car cover on, and most of it gets wicked up by the cover anyway.

Basically, either way there would be moisture on my car. The sun definitely isn't coming out today, or tomorrow, or probably all weekend so I don't think I will have major problems.

 

even in the garage your car will build moisture under a car cover. .best thing to do is never cover the car. My pops had our Pantera in the garage covered with a nice special soft cover and the damn thing still built up a little rust here n there.

My car tent to tell you the truth i have no clue at the moment what brand it is. I bought it from my retiring MAC TOOLS man, for about $300. .and i was so excited to put it up that i never checked. Been about 2 years now, but if i can see a brand name on it somewhere i will tell you.
It's a One car tent with front door zipper, but no windows. It's anodized 2.5 inch diameter Aluminum Bars. Shaped like a House roof, it's not rounded. So far out here in NJ it's suffered grueling 2 years of harsh rain and snow, sun n heat. Started to leak a tad from center, so 3 months ago i went to home depot and bought a new big blue tarp with some ropes, and steaks. Tied it down over top of the tent, and works fine now + it's like extra added protection. As far as how big it is until i measure it if need be. .i'd say i have when the Z's about in the middle of it, i have 3 feet to the front door, and 3 feet to the back door extra space, and about the same from side to side. I also have extra junk inside the tent as well. To reinforce it i bought some thin boards of wood and wire tired them down on the inside so the snow doesn't cave the tarps in, in between the poles. If ya need some pix let me know. . .

Keeps my Z safe at least!!!

 

Alright, if you think I should, I will take the cover off when I get home tonight. I figured a tiny bit of moisture under the car cover for a few days wouldn't hurt anymore than snow being on it.

We don't really have room to put up a car tent with the way our apartment is, so I figured a cover would be alright.

 

Yeaaah, no more car cover for me What a waste of $.

 

I only use it the day or two before and day of a car show or meet. I would avoid lettting it sit in snow/wet with the cover it.

 

yeah a reason i didnt buy an apt. .no garage or space for a tent. .

 

Interested in pics. How do the poles stay grounded connected to a concrete driveway? (anchor weights?)

 

I just couldn't imagine how covering a car before it snows is worse than letting it snow on the car. Moisture is moisture, isn't it?

 

As weak as Nissan's paint is - I'd keep the cover away from it until it is dry. Imagine trying to remove the cover after it froze to the car.. Talk about a jigsaw paint job.. It send shivers down my spine.

Just my opinion - never tried it.

 

Yea. I'm worry about that too, but the instructions said to just melt the ice if it is stuck anywhere underneath.

Meh, there is a car storage place right at the end of my street. I am thinking about renting a unit for the rest of the month because they have a deal where if you rent for the rest of this month, you can get the month of March for free, so what do I really have to lose? Weather is supposed to be nasty for at least another 2 weeks, and my landlord always wants us to move our cars while it is snowing to snow blow.

 

the tent itself does not go into the ground, but i do have it stuck down with big steaks that are adjustable on all 4 corner's. .in concrete. .you got me there. .

 

We'll there are different types of covers.

Ones the allow moisture to pass through them but keep dust off.

Ones that do not allow moisture from the outside and breathe out. (expensive)

and plastic tarps which generally do not allow water in or condensation out.

The biggest concern with a plastic tarp is abrasion in the wind and mold/mildew building up under the tarp from condensation not getting out.
You can put a dry ease under the tarp to help but, then you still have abrasion.

IMO - I wouldn't cover a car out in the elements if it was expected to rain or snow.
Just make sure you have a good coat of wax / protection on her before the season starts.
If not, get a coat on her the next sunny day.

The only two conditions I would now consider covering a car outside when it was raining:

If a window leaks or something. Then I would just cover that area with a plastic garbage bag. You can tear those away fairly easy and when the ice melts .... get the pieces. It also seems when the plastic bag is on there it warms up the surface faster and allow removal earlier. I however wouldn't leave the bag on for more than a day at a time.

If it was early winter and leaves and twigs were flying. Then, you have to make sure it's a breathable soft cover and tied down well. If it's really windy say over 20mph I wouldn't do it because of fear of abrasion. Even with a cloth soft cover.

Boats are a different story. I use a boat cover / tarp over it tied down with bungees and a dry ease inside to pick up the moisture. But, then again I'm not going to take my boat off the trailer unless it's at least 40 degrees out. So, no freezing issues there.

I have had more than one car covered in my garage for over 20 years. Think 4-5 .... Never seen the rust issue ... But, I'm in Calif, wax the cars every six months, and have covers that breathe both ways just to keep the dust off and nicks from happening in the garage. Believe me it happens .... twice when the cover wasn't on.... Doh !!! But the 7-8 times we've bump into it with the covers on or the dog jumped on it not a nick, scratch or mar.

Oh, just thought of something to add - Lol - like my response isn't long enough .... sorry.
But, if you cover a car that has been rained on, snowed on or is dirty at all there is a good chance you'll scratch the surface by putting it on and taking off. Not to mention wind moving it around and grinding the dirt into it. A little dust ... ah ... that's OK as long as you have a coat of protection on it. Dirt, mud, sand, snow on the car already LEAVE THE COVER OFF. preaching off .....