Ron:
I tend to agree with Max. Unless you can keep the sun off them, none of
the materials is going to last much longer than 3 years. Out of all the
cover materials I have used the Duravent type material with the
perforated holes held up the best, but I have an Ultralon on my Rover
now which so far is doing well after a year. Ultralon is very prone to
cat claws though, so it is more easily damaged.
There is a big difference in material life, cheaper covers tend to start
falling apart after only a few months.
I live up in Ojai where the covers get a lot of abuse from sun and wind.
Making sure that there are no sharp corners under the cover really helps
and I've started adding additional plastic tarp grommets to my covers so
I can run a perimeter rope around the entire edge of the cover.
The pins on top of MGA windshield frames really play havoc with the
covers. I've taken to installing a cockpit cover under the car cover as
it has thick nylon reinforced areas where the pins are and prevents the
cover from being torn.
Over the last 15 years I've probably gone through 20 or so covers. It's
nice to have the majority of the cars finally sheltered, now if I could
just get enough room to move around them to get some work done.
Kelvin.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgs@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Max Heim
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 1:58 PM
To: MG List
Subject: Re: Car Covers
Personally, I think 3 years is as much as you can expect, with SoCal sun
exposure. The sun is what kills the fabric, whether cotton or synthetic.
Maybe you could try one of those reflectorized silver ones.
But I've tried four different types, and even in the Bay Area, in
partial shade, they are definitely pretty tatty after 3 years.
I think a lot of people expect too much of car covers. There is no
solution that is waterproof but breathable, dustproof but harmless to
paint surfaces, and that will last indefinitely in all weather. IMO,
keeping sun and bird/tree droppings off is about all they're good for,
but in that application they should be considered expendable. Obviously,
they last longer in a garage environment.
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires
on 7/20/06 8:58 AM, Ron Fine at RonFineEsq@earthlink.net wrote:
> I am looking for opinions on the best out door car cover. I live in
> Southern California and must park one of my LBC outside. The last
> cover I purchased from Moss (Ultralon) lasted about three years before
> it started to tear apart from sun and weather damage. Does anyone
> have an opinion about California Car Covers? or any alternative
manufacturer with a good product?
> Ron Fine
> 61BN7
> 66 MGB (the one outside)
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