I am beginning to think I was ill advised to buy this cover, but as a newbie I had become petrified of any winter weather coming near her. She has been fully restored back to bare metal and then painted and waxoyled. As a California import she never really had any rust. Do you think I should just wash, polish and vasaline and then drive her through the winter when weather allows and ditch the cover over the fence.
That's what I'd do but I'd keep the cover. If the weather gets really bad and your carport is a bit exposed it might be worth putting it on for a while, checking under it every so often.
Covers are fine. Just open it up to give it a blow through every now and again, or take it out for a spin. Don’t bother with vaseline. It’s got salt in it. (No idea where I got the salt thing from but don’t bother anyway)
If there is a big enough hole in your bay for a cat to get in and use the litter, it's too late for damp prevention really isn't it?
I would hang on to the cover, and see how your bus fares with and without. Everybody's storage conditions are different; a dry but dusty barn would warrant a cover and the van could probably sit all winter with no effect. On a drive under a tree or against a hedge would also benefit from a cover but also need taking out for a spin occasionally to warm through and dry. If it's windy where your van is stored I'd be less keen on a cover as the flapping can chafe the paint over time. Car ports are generally pretty good on their own. Security is another thing to consider when stored.
What I’m saying @Luca, although the cover is fine without it you’re more inclined to take your bus for a spur of the moment spin, to the post office, school run, fish and chips, crafty pint, dogging you know the sort of things, I also find I get less condensation, ... just a tip don’t mention Vaseline on here
Once again it has taken Mr Haynes to succinctly crystalize the issues to be addressed and reassure with words of wisdom and experience. Surely now to reference him as the Lord Byron of Bay ownership would not be too verbose.
Good post. I think you'll gets loads of advise, all good, but often confusing as everyone has their own ideas. At the end of the day you have to take it all on board then make your own decision. A lot depends on location. I've had my van for eleven years. Rust free Arizona import. It's always lived outside but comes off the road in October and gets put under jk cover. Battery removed and put on tesco £10 trickle charger. Two or three dehumidifier boxes from the pound shop makes it smell nice. Comes back out to play at the end of March. I never touch it in between. Never had any issues.
I use a JK cover when it gets really wet and wild. I have a well ventilated open space and the cover can flog unless well strapped down with the cross straps crossed over underneath to keep the front and back of the cover tight and covering the bumpers. In fact this is the second cover as the 2010 vintage JK cover didnt have as good a design and flapped to death. This one I have had to re-proof with tent waterproofing due to flapping and reinforce the attachment of the straps to the cover. The bus gets a little damp externally but also dries quickly. Even without a dehumidifier and the windows opened a crack under the cover it does not get as damp inside as the condensation some days without a cover . Days with no cover I stick magnetic covers over the engine bay vents to keep rain out ... also acted as a damper when I set fire to it..
Maybe you should have bought a "corgi still in box" Mine is used all year , I'd be mortified if I could'nt use it when I want....
My jk cover lasted eleven years but I've just replaced it yesterday by a Maypole one. I'll do a review soon.
Only time I've used a cover is when the bus had no windows in for a while or to sleep under on the pickup. I can't actually remember having to scrape frost off more than once last winter and that's in the northish westish of this fine country, as for seeing a gritter out on the roads no chance except a few motorways usually a day to late!
