Car cover - not up to it
Discussion
Previously I've noted that I was satisfied with Covercraft's Weathershield car cover. I bought it in September last year for £150. Just recently I noticed that it had stopped beading the water and I was noticing dampness under the cover when removing it. Well today I can report that the cover is now pretty permeable and is providing little protection from rain.
I will contact Covercraft on Monday and hear their reaction. In the meantime I would not now recommend this product.
I will contact Covercraft on Monday and hear their reaction. In the meantime I would not now recommend this product.
Interesting... I've got the same cover as well, and haven't been too impressed with it recently either.
I drove my car last night, after it being stored under the cover for the past week, and the whole body was wet, and the interior so damp that there was condensation running down the inside of the windscreen, the LCD display was corrupt (due to dampness I assume - it was the first time it had done this, and worked again after driving for 30 minutes with the heater and aircon on full), and my brand new and unused chamois screen demister pad was damp to touch.
When I covered the car last week, the car was very slightly damp, however there was far more water under the cover last night than a week ago. I've also noticed slight marks on various parts of the body where the cover touches it the most, and it seems to be dulling the paint very slightly.
I'm interested to see what they say to you, and also if anyone else can recommend any other cover that would be suitable for covering a Tuscan that's left outside all the time.
Edited to add: This is ehasler really - just using Mel's PC!
>> Edited by slamm on Saturday 29th November 12:38
I drove my car last night, after it being stored under the cover for the past week, and the whole body was wet, and the interior so damp that there was condensation running down the inside of the windscreen, the LCD display was corrupt (due to dampness I assume - it was the first time it had done this, and worked again after driving for 30 minutes with the heater and aircon on full), and my brand new and unused chamois screen demister pad was damp to touch.
When I covered the car last week, the car was very slightly damp, however there was far more water under the cover last night than a week ago. I've also noticed slight marks on various parts of the body where the cover touches it the most, and it seems to be dulling the paint very slightly.
I'm interested to see what they say to you, and also if anyone else can recommend any other cover that would be suitable for covering a Tuscan that's left outside all the time.
Edited to add: This is ehasler really - just using Mel's PC!
>> Edited by slamm on Saturday 29th November 12:38
I haven't had any problems with it marking the bodywork and it does come supplied with a long polythene coated steel cable and padlock. So apart from the fact it's gone permeable after 12 months it was ideal! My wife suggested soaking it in a waterproofing solution but I'll wait to speak to Covercraft on Monday.
In the December issue of Practical Classics they have just done a review of outdoor car covers. According to their tests and scoring system, the best one was;
Thoroughbred outdoor car cover £226 tel 01132 795079 closely followed by Specialised Car Webflex Outdoor cover at £196 Tel 01943 864646.
The best budget buy was Classic Additions Lightweight cover £88 Tel 01380 720970.
Covercraft tel 0207736 3214 scored the same as the budget buy but did not get prize due to its higher price. In fairness all the covers seems to do pretty well but the thing that separate the best from worse was the combination of water resistance and breathability. Sunlight, or more precisely UV light, also seems to reduce the fabric’s water resistance with time.
I had been using a Halfords special but it is close to useless and the worse £25 I have ever spent. There is more water under the cover than on top of it. Trouble is when the fabric gets soaked it sticks to the car and can then damage the paintwork. I had a car under wraps for several months and the water got underneath the paint and blistered, so be careful.
I was going to invest in a better cover but in the end like the idea of a cover that did not actually touch the car at all, so I purchased a Folding Garage for £445 tel 01933 410851.
Just installed it today, got soaked and burnt out 4 drills trying to get the fixing bolts in. Still it’s up now, pleased with the product and the way it looks and it is lovely and cosy inside. For a Cerbera you need the larger size (despite what they tell you), due to size of the doors and you will also need space to be able drive straight in, as you have to be exactly lined up.
I’ll let you know how it stands up to the winter. Of course if my garage wasn’t full of other projects, I wouldn’t need such extreme measures !! That said the times when I have most problems with Cerbie, you know windows, alarms, general electrics – it is always after it has got wet. So if my investment can stop that, for me it will have been worth it.
Thoroughbred outdoor car cover £226 tel 01132 795079 closely followed by Specialised Car Webflex Outdoor cover at £196 Tel 01943 864646.
The best budget buy was Classic Additions Lightweight cover £88 Tel 01380 720970.
Covercraft tel 0207736 3214 scored the same as the budget buy but did not get prize due to its higher price. In fairness all the covers seems to do pretty well but the thing that separate the best from worse was the combination of water resistance and breathability. Sunlight, or more precisely UV light, also seems to reduce the fabric’s water resistance with time.
I had been using a Halfords special but it is close to useless and the worse £25 I have ever spent. There is more water under the cover than on top of it. Trouble is when the fabric gets soaked it sticks to the car and can then damage the paintwork. I had a car under wraps for several months and the water got underneath the paint and blistered, so be careful.
I was going to invest in a better cover but in the end like the idea of a cover that did not actually touch the car at all, so I purchased a Folding Garage for £445 tel 01933 410851.
Just installed it today, got soaked and burnt out 4 drills trying to get the fixing bolts in. Still it’s up now, pleased with the product and the way it looks and it is lovely and cosy inside. For a Cerbera you need the larger size (despite what they tell you), due to size of the doors and you will also need space to be able drive straight in, as you have to be exactly lined up.
I’ll let you know how it stands up to the winter. Of course if my garage wasn’t full of other projects, I wouldn’t need such extreme measures !! That said the times when I have most problems with Cerbie, you know windows, alarms, general electrics – it is always after it has got wet. So if my investment can stop that, for me it will have been worth it.
OK - spoke to Covercraft this morning and got some very helpful advice. Seems the problem is likely due to detergent retained in the fiber mesh (even though I only used a modicum in the machine). The suggestion was to do the following to re-condition it:
1. run w/machine empty through a full rinse cycle to clear detergent residues
2. put cover in and run through 2-3 rinse cycles without any detergent
3. put in tumble drier on low/medium heat and until touch dry and then run it for a further 20-30 mins after this to 're-bond' the fibers
4. no benefit to be gained from the addition of Nikwax waterproofing additives etc
Apparently the expected life of the cover is around 3-6 years
I'll try this and update leter
>> Edited by hut49 on Monday 1st December 11:58
1. run w/machine empty through a full rinse cycle to clear detergent residues
2. put cover in and run through 2-3 rinse cycles without any detergent
3. put in tumble drier on low/medium heat and until touch dry and then run it for a further 20-30 mins after this to 're-bond' the fibers
4. no benefit to be gained from the addition of Nikwax waterproofing additives etc
Apparently the expected life of the cover is around 3-6 years
I'll try this and update leter
>> Edited by hut49 on Monday 1st December 11:58
hut49 said:
OK - spoke to Covercraft this morning and got some very helpful advice. Seems the problem is likely due to detergent retained in the fiber mesh (even though I only used a modicum in the machine). The suggestion was to do the following to re-condition it:
1. run w/machine empty through a full rinse cycle to clear detergent residues
2. put cover in and run through 2-3 rinse cycles without any detergent
3. put in tumble drier on low/medium heat and until touch dry and then run it for a further 20-30 mins after this to 're-bond' the fibers
4. no benefit to be gained from the addition of Nikwax waterproofing additives etc
Apparently the expected life of the cover is around 3-6 years
I'll try this and update leter
>> Edited by hut49 on Monday 1st December 11:58
I've got a Covercraft cover for my Cerbie.
I've had it nearly 3 years now but it stopped being waterproof after about 6 months.
Have tried the proceedure you mention... unfortunatly it doesn't help. (maybe a slight improvement until it pours down next).
hut49 said:
OK - spoke to Covercraft this morning and got some very helpful advice. Seems the problem is likely due to detergent retained in the fiber mesh (even though I only used a modicum in the machine). The suggestion was to do the following to re-condition it:
1. run w/machine empty through a full rinse cycle to clear detergent residues
2. put cover in and run through 2-3 rinse cycles without any detergent
3. put in tumble drier on low/medium heat and until touch dry and then run it for a further 20-30 mins after this to 're-bond' the fibers
4. no benefit to be gained from the addition of Nikwax waterproofing additives etc
Apparently the expected life of the cover is around 3-6 years
I'll try this and update leter
>> Edited by hut49 on Monday 1st December 11:58
Excellent - I was intending to ask them how best to clean the cover, and whether it's safe to use a washing machine, so you've just saved me the bother - Thanks!
Further to earlier post, I put the cover in the washer and ran it through two rinse cycles (surprised to see small amount of froth appearing which tended to suggest that there was some residual traces of detergent in the fabric - no wonder the rain was going through 
).
After that I left it to dry/cook in the tumble drier for an hour. Just tested it by draping it over the bath and water now beads perfectly - whereas before the process it didn't. Left a pool of water suspended in it and it's still there 30 mins later so this looks encouraging. It didn't wet the fabric at all.
I'll put it back on the car tomorrow if it's not raining and see how it goes.
). After that I left it to dry/cook in the tumble drier for an hour. Just tested it by draping it over the bath and water now beads perfectly - whereas before the process it didn't. Left a pool of water suspended in it and it's still there 30 mins later so this looks encouraging. It didn't wet the fabric at all.
I'll put it back on the car tomorrow if it's not raining and see how it goes.
JMH99 said:
MikeyT - sorry been away, so not up to speed with the post. I will post some pics in next few days. I have to say the garage has held up well to rain of last 2 weeks. Whole car is much drier and the electrical niggles have resolved themselves.
JMH99 - good stuff - look forward to seeing them.
This was the option I finally went for - basically a tent for Cerbie. It's breatheable, keeps car dry and does not touch body work. Obviuosly, not as good as a garage but for me it works
Please no comments about my drive looking like a pikey camp site
or how many cars/projects do I need - wife does that very well on her own thanks 
- and yes the garage is full too !
>> Edited by JMH99 on Friday 12th December 00:42
Please no comments about my drive looking like a pikey camp site
or how many cars/projects do I need - wife does that very well on her own thanks - and yes the garage is full too ! >> Edited by JMH99 on Friday 12th December 00:42
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