Tips on storing bug body outside in wet climate

[Lessis More]

Maybe a silly question but I will be taking the body off my 66 bug to work on the chassis this winter.

The body must be outside in a wet sometimes snowy environment.

The body will be on wood braces elevated off the grass.

Could be out there for 6 months....... or longer if I know me.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[oprn]

If the body is complete and weather tight with all widows and doors in place I see no problem. The only thing I would suggest is keep it high enough to allow good air circulation and watch for rodents. Maybe a bit of mouse poison placed in the heater ducts?

[vwracerdave]

Cover it with a good quality tarp.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[Mike Fisher]

[Lessis More]

Thanks all!

I'll be getting a breathable car cover as well.... Nothing fancy but should do the trick for a few months.

By the way.. I just discovered a mouse living in my headliner.

[Abscate]

What kind of mouse? Or a Norway rat?
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[oprn]

Funny thing - in another storage thread I suggested a tarp and got jumped all over. I didn't on this one and it is recommended!

Opinions change.

A tarp does work but it must be in a wind free spot AND tightened up to stop it from rubbing. Car covers with a soft backing are better.

[scottyrocks]

There should be a way to prevent moisture from collecting on the inside of the cover. Not as much of problem in cold weather as in hot, but worth mentioning.
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“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'

[johnnyvw164]

Maybe consider cutting some wood to replicate the chassis and bolt it up, so that the body is sealed? Otherwise anything with legs can crawl into it

[Splitdog]

Any car covered outside in the wet weather will eventually collect mold and such on the inside.
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#notacallooker

[my59]

Folks here store boats outside in the winter by making pvc frames over the boat and covering with a tarp so the tarp sheds water.
The key thing is having a gravel pad, the boat is off the ground, and the frame is longer, wider than the boat. Tarp is not on the boat itself.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[calvinater]

Shrink wrap.
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"Albatross"!

[far rider]

I would put down heavy plastic on the ground and then plywood over the plastic. Prevent moisture from coming out of the ground. If the cover you put on is not breathable you’re better off leaving it open. Not sure but you might be better off leaving it uncovered. My 2 cents. Good luck
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67 zenith blue sunroof

Contentment; when what you have is what you want.

[Chickensoup]

[hitest]

Far rider is correct. If there's any factory paint on the roof it is better off shedding water than having a tarp slowly rub all your paint off. Tarps will trap water if in contact at all. When I hated myself and my '74 Thing had to live outdoors for 2 years I used PVC pipe to elevate a cover above the paint. Water still got through- and the car drained just fine. but no damage to the paint occurred- and no moss, mice or mold.
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[Q-Dog]

I have just a little experience storing things in damp environments. It needs to be at least a couple of feet off the ground so air can easily pass under it. If the windows are in it you really shouldn't need to tarp it.

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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[pondoras box]

Build a frame for the tarp, like a makeshift shed roof like mentioned here. Then spray the body down with a water displacing long term rust proofing coating. Don't know what you have where you are from but WD40 makes one that works well. Fluid Film into the heater channels and inside of doors and anywhere else you can get the straw to go in and coat it real well. If you have good paint on the car wax it with a ceramic hybrid style wax, Mequires makes a good one.


If your window rubbers are bad and leaking duct tape them over to seal them until you are ready to replace them.
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1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda)
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[Manfred58sc]

No tarp, apply WAXOYL to the exposed surfaces, good for about 8 mo. Its a marine grade protectant . Cheap dryer sheets for the mice.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[KTPhil]

...and a cat.

[calvinater]

Shrink wrap like they do on boats.
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"Albatross"!