car storage bag

[STEVE-O]

I know winter has finally past and here in the NorthEast, cars from storage are finally getting back on the road. However I have a question related to winter storage.
I saw in the California covers catalog, a car storage bag intended for long term storage, where the car is driven onto and then its zippered close.
The bag cloth is also treated with a rust preventative.
Has anyone used this type of car storage bag? Would it work in keeping moisture from condensing on the car?
Is a zippered enclosed bag any better then just having the car sit with just a normal car cover on it?
Any thoughts?
thanks

[ROUSHAC]

Steve, a friend of mine named Walt (aka as Mumblerone here) has one and loves it. I think he may still be on vacation, but send him an email and talk to him regarding any questions you have.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by STEVE-O

I know winter has finally past and here in the NorthEast, cars from storage are finally getting back on the road. However I have a question related to winter storage.
I saw in the California covers catalog, a car storage bag intended for long term storage, where the car is driven onto and then its zippered close.
The bag cloth is also treated with a rust preventative.
Has anyone used this type of car storage bag? Would it work in keeping moisture from condensing on the car?
Is a zippered enclosed bag any better then just having the car sit with just a normal car cover on it?
Any thoughts?
thanks

Patrick should be able to weigh in...he's a "car bag" expert.

Patrick - Have you released your car from its "seal a meal" home yet?

[sparks]

Is the car gonna be kept indoors ? If yes that the bag is a waste. Get a piece of indoor outdoor carpet about 10x15 and a cover will work just fine. Concrete is not good to let anything sit on. I use a rubber mat and the carpet. My car seems to really like it.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

Patrick should be able to weigh in...he's a "car bag" expert.

Patrick - Have you released your car from its "seal a meal" home yet?

Yes, I brought it out a couple of weeks ago. I love my car bag. I put my ERA in it around Thanksgiving and then take it back out around Easter. You put these desiccant bags in with it and it keeps it dry as a bone in there. It comes out just the way you put it in. Wonderful. Here's a shot of it:

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yes, I brought it out a couple of weeks ago. I love my car bag. I put my ERA in it around Thanksgiving and then take it back out around Easter. You put these desiccant bags in with it and it keeps it dry as a bone in there. It comes out just the way you put it in. Wonderful. Here's a shot of it:

I would imagine that the bag would also be a good idea in areas where mice or other rodents are prevalent. What is the brand of the car bag?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

I would imagine that the bag would also be a good idea in areas where mice or other rodents are prevalent. What is the brand of the car bag?

That brand is a "Car Jacket" http://www.carbag.com/products/products.html and the plastic is pretty thick, but a determined mouse could still get through it, I would imagine. Just so everyone knows, you still have to keep it in the garage -- it's not for outdoors. It costs about $200, maybe a little more.

[coryb]

How about an Airflow car storage bag? It keeps circulating air through during storage so the car doesn't get musty. They're expensive though.

http://www.airflow-uk.com/air-chamber.htm

I haven't used one but I remembered reading about them a while back.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by coryb

How about an Airflow car storage bag? It keeps circulating air through during storage so the car doesn't get musty. They're expensive though.

http://www.airflow-uk.com/air-chamber.htm

I haven't used one but I remembered reading about them a while back.

Well that's kind of cool looking; a space-age type thing. Believe me, a Cobra will not get musty in a car bag with fresh desiccant bags. Between the gasoline and leather smells, the "scent of Cobra" remains strong. Really, I think any sort of waterproof plastic that seals up pretty well is going to be as good as the next bag -- but I love gimmicks as well as the next guy. So fans, vacuum action, nitrogen injection, anything like that is all pretty cool to me. I did perform one "scientific test" year before last. I took a photo of the brake rotors before I put her in the bag in late Fall, and then compared the rotors to the picture when I pulled her out in the Spring. They looked identical -- and you know how brake rotors can actually form a surface layer of rust literally overnight in just the right moisture/temperature conditions -- anyway, they looked great and that's in spite of the fact that a garage cement floor can make moisture appear like magic when the temperature changes and humidity work just right. It really does make putting the Cobra away for the winter pretty easy. Really just these steps: 1) Fresh oil change; 2) Inflate the tires an extra ten pounds; 3) Disconnect the battery; 4) Have Stabil throughout the fuel system; 5) and pop her in the car bag. I don't bother keeping any sort of "battery tender" on her (and you probably shouldn't do that inside a bag with potential gas fumes), but I do charge the battery up overnight when I open the bag in the Spring. Then I crank for ten or 15 seconds with the ignition disabled until I see the oil pressure needle start to move, then enable the ignition and she fires right up. I know, I know -- Rick L. is gonna say "Pat, you need an accusump, you're damaging your bearings, the world is coming to and end, the sky is falling, etc." I don't buy it -- one start out of the year like that is not going to hurt the engine, and if I get to do that 20 more times I'll consider myself lucky.

[MaSnaka]

"Yes, I brought it out a couple of weeks ago. I love my car bag. I put my ERA in it around Thanksgiving and then take it back out around Easter. You put these desiccant bags in with it and it keeps it dry as a bone in there. It comes out just the way you put it in. Wonderful. "

Have you tried replacing the desiccant bags with butter, rosemary and some lemon wedges? Bast it every week or so and I bet it comes out smelling as delicious as a roasted turkey.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

John

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by MaSnaka

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I understand.

[WarrenG]

Patrick,
How do you drive during the winter with that thing on it?!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Patrick,
How do you drive during the winter with that thing on it?!

Once a month or so I roll it a few inches back and forth in the bag.