Winter storage for VW Bug?

[2tracey]

HI,

We dont have a garage to store our VW Bug. I am going to get a car cover from jc whitney. Anyone have any tips for storage outside?

Are there places that you can rent to store your car for the winter.

I am new to the "bug world" so any tips would be great.

Thanks to all who reply. This is a great site!
Tracey

[DrDarby]

There are "U-Store it" type places all over. While a cover is better than nothing having it in out of the weather is best. I'm having the same dilema this year. I'm three cars over capacity and one of the nicer ones is going to have to winter outside.
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Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Crystal Lake, IL

[ed stanley]

After a lot of rain, or a fast warm up that makes condensation, or snow, it's a good idea to uncover the car and let it air dry. Just leaving it covered with condensation/moisture all over it can give you some unpleasant surprises in the spring. And you wouldn't want to park it on bare ground - best to have it on hot top, wood, or something. Moisture comes right up out of the ground and turns everything to rust. Moth balls inside to keep the mice out of it. I try to store with a full tank of gas to avoid condensation in the tank. Start her up once in a while when it warms up to keep the engine limber and oiled. Good luck.

[roadog1]

I'm with Stanley. I have to store my bug outside over the winter and refuse to allow it to sit over bare ground. I put down a plastic tarp first, then park the car on top of it. Then I use a good quality car cover. Be sure to fasten it good. Before I put the tarp on, I top off the gas tank, mothball the interior, trunk, and engine compartment. Then I give all chrome and bare metal a good coating of "Fluid Film" (best stuff known to mankind). After that I disconnect the battery to keep connections from corroding. I think that about covers it. Happy Hibernation!

[2tracey]

what is fluid film for , where do you get it?

[gipper]

If you can swing a 3 month deal with a storage garage you can get that bug in those smaller units. Might be worth 160 bucks for 3 months plus you can put other junk in there over the winter to make room to get your cars in YOUR garage. gipper

[conrad1468]

my 68 beetle has been sitting outside over the winter for the past 10 years. i would suggest disconnecting your battery. park it on concrete or black top...no grass or dirt. leave it out in the elements.. no need for a cover. if you have a good paint job it shouldn't be ruined by sitting outside. i would put it in a place where you don't have to start it. so it sits and chilles until summer. i would cover up the vents in the deck lid to stop any water from entering your engine compartment. if you have a newer beetle. just so no water sits and freezes.

i have stored it in a self storage. rent a 10x15 storage area. it's cheaper then the 10x20 that most cars get stored in. it will fit in the 10x15 no matter what they say. i even fit my split bus in a 10x15.

that's my 2 cents
good luck
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[Gouie]

I don't store my beetle but did store a mustang for years. If you are going to use a cover, be careful of rubbing. I had a huge problem with the cover rubbing the paint during windy days. Left ugly marks in the paint.

[julrich366]

If you leave gas in (or top off), be sure to add StaBil to the tank and run it to get it throughout the system. Otherwise you may have a gummy mess in your fuel lines and carb come Spring. May wish to put tin foil over the exhaust pipes (take off if you start it!) to keep any critters out...mice can find the strangest places in winter to nest!
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- John
'74 Vert ..lot's to still do.

[olivhed]

Something you might want to look into. Our local fairground has winter vehicle storage. My DC sits in the rabbit barn over winter for 1/3 the cost of any storage unit I've found. The only downside is that I can't work on if the weather's nice. Just a thought.
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'56 Single Cab
'71 Hardtop Westy
'07 Rabbit

[roadog1]

2tracey: Here is a link that gives you some info on Fluid Film:
http://www.eurekafluidfilm.com/globals/faq.html

I got turned on to this stuff by my mechanic guru. I love this stuff. It costs around $6.50 for a spray can. You can buy it in larger quantities also, but the spray on style works for me. It has other uses as well, but living smack dab in the middle of the "RUST BELT" makes a person find the best stuff they can just for rust issues. Only other thing I use almost as much is something called "B-LASTER" (blaster). this works excellent for rust penetration and breaking rusty nuts and bolts loose. It's not a good rust preventative only because it evaporates after a while.
I also use "PRI-G" fuel stabilizer for all my gas tanks, atv's, motorcyle, etc. This is right up there with Sta-Bil.