Re: Outdoor winter storage PNW - Hardtop?

burgandy81 · Post by **burgandy81** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:24 pm

Hi All,

Recently I have downsized and lost my Spider storage. As the summer is fading I am thinking about winter storage and could use some input.

It is an 1980 with no rust and a long term project that is finally coming together and I am worried about the car deteriorating over the very wet winter here in Vancouver. My daily drivers have always lived outside and they seem to survive well with just he usual maintenance.

We have lost of rain, very high humidity, limited snow (maybe 3 days/year) and the car will not be driven when the roads are salted.

So...... who has a Spider that is an outdoor car?

What special precautions do you take?
Car covers, portable shelters, nothing, fall wax, other secrets?
Pros and cons of any?
Best bang for the buck?

Thanks in advance,

Jordan

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:55 pm

you've got to figure out something besides outside. I parked mine in my backyard in Eugene covered with tarps. Mine was already a rust bucket, so wasnt terribly concerned. storing it this way took its toll very quickly. Vancouver has to be worse than Eugene.

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:01 pm

Jordan, any room at the side of the place you are living? I was 17 and living at home and my dad and I made a simple "lean-to affair on the side of the carport for my long turned to dust 70. Car still rotted out as it was a daily driver 12 months of the year in Vancouver but kept the rain and snow off it when parked.

georgeramos · Post by **georgeramos** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 10:42 pm

How about one of those "tent" carport things? im considering one myself here in Portland. Long term I want to build a "lean to" type thing off the side of my house but as fall is swiftly approaching I may go with the former for this coming season(s). ALSO a car cover (water resistant but breatheable)

If you do go that route having the car on concrete rather than dirt is best as moisture from the ground will certainly rise into the car, under the cover...

SunnySideUp · Post by **SunnySideUp** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 12:28 am

If you have space and local ordinances allow, why not buy/rent a cargo container? An 8'w X 8'h X 15'l will nicely store a Spider! A bit tricky to get in/out of it unless you have a side door on the container, but it can be done. There's quite a few places that will customize a storage container with vents, skylights, power, various door configurations, etc. Or you can just rent a plain-Jane for a few months to get you through the winter. Nice thing is that they are pretty weather-resistant and have great security. If you move you can take the whole thing with you or sell it off. They can be a bit spendy, but I'll bet you can find a relatively cheap one being in a port area like Vancouver.

burgandy81 · Post by **burgandy81** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 5:50 pm

Thanks! Great responses! Love this place.

I live in the city on a narrow lot so I am limited to a shelter on the driveway (neighbours will love it!).

The best thing about the tent-thing is that I can assemble it against the garage door and have the tent opening at the opening to my shop! Winter projects!

I like the storage container idea. Will keep that one in mind for the future. Nice way to store cars in a large open space which would traditionally not have enough security.

So thinking about a shelter......a local company sells poles, connectors and tarps to make almost any shape shelter. Anyone have any experience with these? Pros or cons.

I like the idea of custom shape to keep it as unobtrusive as possible and also some element flexibility in set up.

georgeramos · Post by **georgeramos** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:24 pm

The custom shape thing sounds cool. Let me know if there is a configuration that makes it invisible to neighbors...lol
I think it might be a small improvement to the vintage travel trailer I restored that sat in my driveway for several years...they all grumbled under their breath over that one...

My friend used these awesome looking cast alum "joints" and made a ustom sun shade over his deck. They would allow some flexibility in the design.

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:25 pm

Jordan, I bought one from Prince's or Costco for around $280-350.00 I believe. Set up in about 4-5 hours and worked until we had a hellish wind blow through. I saw the tent with the weights and everything blow a couple hundred yards into the neighbors yard

Works well otherwise., I'd re-enforce the roof with a bit more than what is offered as having lived in Vancouver, I can remember the wet snow that will cave the thing in if left without beefing it up. have to check with any neighbors as there is likely a by-law regarding temp structures. Hate to see you go through all the effort and then be told it has to come down as it does not conform or something like that. By-law usually only reacts to a complaint though.
Good luck.
A container (20 footer) delivered is around $1500 to $2500.
Chris

burgandy81 · Post by **burgandy81** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 1:26 am

Thanks Again!

I will continue to explore the idea of a small custom shelter.

With all of that in mind (costs, snow loads, by-law issues, unhappy neighbours, etc) what does everyone think about hard tops?

My existing soft top is aged vinyl with shrinking and tears. It leaks, especially in rain storms with driving rain which is a Vancouver specialty for 7 months a year.

I can probably find a local hardtop for a reasonable price. There are 3 locally that I know of and could probably find more. There are all aftermarket units.

Assumptions are;

1. A hard top will seal better around the windows and rear body work keeping the interior dry(er).
2. Hard Top will by a little more pleasant on occasional winter drives. It may be a little depressing on sunny winter days when a hat scarf and hot coffee are ideal!

So I guess my new line of questioning is "How is life with hardtop?"

Do they seal well?
Anyone care share experiences of driving one in the winter?

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 2:35 am

On my 70 124, i used the ragtop for 2 years of the 22 years i drove the car has a daily driver. The car sat outside in Eugene all those 22 years. By the 2nd year, the ragtop dripped like a cave. I found a factory pininfarina hard top. It was heavy and made the car handle like a coupe. The top was very high quality with a lined interior and a glass back window. It did drip at the corners of the windshield and i never really solved that one. Even with that, the interior stayed dry and much warmer in the winter. I had a fiberglass shop at the time and used the hardtop as a template to make a targa top. That was the cat's meow. Very light weight...about the same as the ragtop. removable section for the sunny days. with the back remaining, it acted as a wind buffer the same as the rear screens. You will love a hardtop in the cooler months. When the weather gets warm, you will really miss the convertable. Even with the hardtop, you can't avoid the relentless attack of moisture on the metal.

JEEPER · Post by **JEEPER** » Sun Aug 25, 2013 8:35 am

Why not rent a storage unit? I rented a 30x12 with a 9' door for $74.oo a month in Ohio. No matter what you do you need to let it breath or the moisture can cause mold and rust. I've stored mine like that for 35 years with only a chip monk family that I had to evict. No damage. They got in through the holes in the trunk under the battery when you remove it.

burgandy81 · Post by **burgandy81** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:27 pm

By way of a little update here is my solution for this winter.

i found a Shelter Logic 10*20 canopy on Craigslist for $75 so I thought i would get it an have a go.

I left out a 3' section on the roof to get the total area down to 10' * 17' which is a nice overhang on both ends of the spider. The support posts were installed with one of the two supplied pole segments. The result is a low shelter that covers the car well and hopefully is not too intrusive.

I can still get in both doors. The car is on ramps now with lots of room. When on flat ground I will be able to open the hood.

Cheap, effective and allows for some flexibility in size as well as dis-assembly in the spring.

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 12:05 am

Looks good...BUT... my opinion....more wind-proof. Any wind or gust could get inside and lift and off it goes... Perhaps a low wall of cinder brick around the perimeter for when any snow slides off and sluffs inside the structure.
I'd figure a way to tie the thing down or anchor it better to the ground. When those November/ December storms come in at 60-80 k's.... things move.
Looks good otherwise
Chris

burgandy81 · Post by **burgandy81** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:29 pm

Hey Chris,

Yes, wind has been on my mind since i put it up.

Currently I have a couple of cinder blocks tied to the upper cross bar adding a little weight.

Some options I am considering;

A series of those molded hooks that allow for hanging 2 Liter plastic bottle full of water around the perimeter. A little ugly and not sure about the weight.

Parking the car on a 2*10 and using that to anchor the canopy. Lots of weight but annoying to have some thing under the car which would interfere with a creeper.

More cinder blocks. Good weight but with reduced access to car and questionable aesthetics.

A rope wrapped around each tire at pavement level and tied to the upper cross bars.

Thoughts, suggestions?

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Mon Oct 07, 2013 10:14 pm

On my temp tent I anchored/(lagged) the side posts to a 2 X 10 that ran the length of the shelter. On that I added weight. I thought I had plenty with steel, concrete blocks etc. It still blew away in a 50+ mph gust...oh-well.
Bolt the posts to a plank and secure the plank. Short cables and tent pegs for example??? I suspect you are more sheltered than I am and wind won't be so severe.
You'll find the top and the grommets won't stand the weight of a water filled jug for long.
Hurricane anchors??? wire cable over the top and anchored on each side???
The wood planks will give you an option to screw a 2 X 10 vertically(with a small brace) to the outside of the plank for a bit of a wall/snow protection