Check this idea out!

[fordman]

Unfortunately, my MM has to stay outside for a couple of months due to some remodeling, and the garage is the storage area. I have been shopping for a car cover, but one that protects against hail. We all know the last thing we want to do is get are hoods, roofs, etc. repainted or whatever to get the dings out. There are no covers that are made for this specific problem, so I am thinking about inventing my own. I am going to buy a regular waterproof cover, and some how or way attach pading to the inside to absorb impact!! My wife thinks I am officially crazy, and need help. She said this face fits me perfect:help:. She then said this is what the members here will think of you:lol:. I told her shes coming up with the deductable each time then to get it fixed. Any ideas here, if you don't think I'm crazy, would definitely help me on this, in my opinion, great idea. thanks.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I have seen car covers do more damage than good. Because you can never have a truly dust and dirt free surface, anym and I mean any, movement of the car cover shifting due to wind, will abrade your paint. I got massive swirls on one of my cars from having it covered outside, using an expensive cover, for a few weeks. It is going to have to be buffed very aggressively to get them out. I would rent a storage space and just park it before putting unknown materials on the paint.

[fordman]

Excellent point! It did cross my mind briefly, but I was thinking of getting one of those dusters before putting on. Again, not the answer though. If I did cover it, it would be brief, just until the storm passes.

[Mest30]

Just build a canapy in the drive way and park it under that. You can even use plywood and make some walls. Should be pretty cheap and easy to build.

[offroadkarter]

ask a friend if you could keep it in his garage.

[BigCars4Ever]

I keep my car covered at work to protect it from the bird crap. Bird crap + hot Florida sun = major paint damage. I can buff out some light scratches.

[Raudermaster]

That is why you wrap bungee cords around your car on top of the cover so it doesn't shift from winds.

[dpotter]

Egg crate design or bubble wrap design or whatever you can think of. I recommend using some other POS as your test mule. Stay on track, you may just hit paydirt someday.

[CRUZTAKER]

I park the Focus (with car cover) under a 10x20 canopy tent modified to 10x17x8 and it works fine.

$250 and a lot less brain cells wasted.

[fordman]

The temporary tents and what not are all great ideas but I live in Chicago, my driveway is about the size of my car. Cant really "set up shop" if you will, with temporary garages and one car canopy's. Only way possible is if there is some type of quick connect canopy or fold away canopy. Something I will be able to put up in a few snaps and then take down and store. Plus, wouldn't a bad enough storm just blow that way? This would all be set up on concrete.

[PhastPhil]

Go to California Car Cover's website, and look up the Car Capsule. My friend's father invented it many years ago. I had one of the original working prototypes, and the longest running unit. Mine lasted ten years, and they have improved the design many times over since mine.

First, you lay the unit out on the ground. then you drive the car on to it. Then you put a regular car cover on the car. (adding the car cover was my own idea, and not mandatory, but a good idea) Then you pull the top part of the capsule over the car, and zip it closed. Then you plug the unit in and a small fan gently inflates the capsule. Once inflated, your car has a nice cushion of air around it. Air seeps out of the zippers to keep it from over inflating. The fan runs constantly. Mine cost about ten dollars a month to operate. This will protect it from hail. The air cushion is strong enough to support a cat, without the cat contacting the car. Only the heaviest snowfalls would lay on the car. During early testing, my friend took a piece of bare metal and cut it in half. He put one half in the capsule, and the other half in his garage, which was attached to the house. After a few months, the piece in the garage showed some signs of surface rust. The piece in the capsule had none.

I paid seven hundred dollars for mine, and it was big enough to hold my 1970 Mercury Cyclone. They can be made in any size you want.

[Aren Jay]

They make car tents. It is like a gazebo only made for your car.

http://www.carportstation.com/screen-canopy-carkit.htm

the car capsules are a bit pricey, but would work great for displays.

http://www.carcapsules.com/products.html

[Lowndex]

Buy this

http://www.carcapsule.com/

and your problems are solved. Of course, you need an enclosed space to store the car. Rent a storage locker and whallah, you're home free.

[PhastPhil]

That is the indoor version of the one that I described. California car covers carries an outdoor version as well.

[fordman]

That car capsule is the coolest frickin thing Ive ever seen. IT WILL DRIVE MY WIFE NUTS!! Im in. Calling tommorrow to order. Thanks again everyone.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I wouldn't get a canopy tent thing, we get some pretty interesting storms round this time and around august, I wouldn't want the damn thing to collapse onto the car. My car sits out all the time, yet I was complimented at the last chicken meet about not even having swirls on the paint. :)