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MG MGB Technical - rain covers

Hi all,
I run a mgb roadster as my everyday car and it has to live outside on my driveway all year. With the wet weather we've been having things are getting a tad damp inside even though I now have the hardtop fitted. I have therefore been thinking about getting a rain cover but since a good fitted one costs in the region of £150 I would rather know how other people have got on with them first. Do they trap water underneath encouraging rust? Damage paintwork? etc. All comments gratefully received.
steve
Steve Coulson

A friend of mine used one which didn't seem to allow air to circulate. The result was that after several weeks of use over the last winter, there was bad dulling and discolouring of a hitherto beautiful paint job. The discolouration was patchy and seemed to me to be at the points where the cover came into contact with the car.
Marc

Steve,

The following remarks are copied from a web site that I found using a Google search.
"The use of a car cover is a double-edged sword, as they are both protective and possibly damaging. A cover that does not fit properly may be more damaging than no cover at all. If it is too loose, wind may cause it to flap against the paint, causing severe scratching. To obtain the best fit, order a cover that is custom fitted for your year and make of car. The "one size fits all" are cheaper, but will not provide the tight fit needed. If the car is not clean, the dirt trapped between the paint and the cover can also cause scratches as the cover is installed or removed or is moved around by the wind. The key to avoiding these problems is to put a proper fitting cover on a clean car. The best types have a bottom locking system that allows a plastic coated cable to hold the bottom of the cover snugly. This will help prevent wind movement of the cover and thieves from taking a peek."

Do you have the possibilty, space, to build a timber frame and cover it with a boat plastic cover? This would keep the plastic away from the vunerable paintwork which you will never be able to keep grit free.If you used two layers you would avoid the dripping condensation problem as well. Leave the ends open to allow air to pass through to ventilate the system while keeping direct rain off the car. The sides of the plastic are held in place by the use of plastic 5 litre bottles, windsceen washer fluid bottles for example, that are tied to the plastic and allowed to hang just above the ground.I use this system for my boat every year without problem.

Angus

Angus

I should have also said that the plastic bottles should be filled with water to give mass... but the system got away from me....

AJ
Angus

There are fabrics available that prevent water from penetrating but allow air to pass. I have a cover from California Car Cover that does just that. I use it year round to protect from dirt, leaves, water etc... There are different grades of fabric. I bought the best for around $180 USD. Check out their website for more info. -Brian.
Brian

I use a cockpit cover when away from home and rain is likely, it does stop rain driving in round the hood seams. A full cover will trap dampness and may fret the paint in wind. But I suspect even my cover would cause some marking of the paint if used on a daily basis.
Paul Hunt

You might want to consider building a free-standing canopy from steel electrical tubing (EMT)
and a tarp.

Example, here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1573487685&rd=1
Daniel Wong

Does the hardtop leak? Perhaps some adjustments or additons to the seals would help.
william fox

Steve,

Years ago I used a canvas car cover to put my MGB away for the winter, here in California. It was the worst thing I ever did to it. It did more damage to the paint than the previous 20-years. Bubbling and discoloration. It also slowed the drying out between rainstorms, so I saw alot more corrosion on cad plated bolts and my instrument bezels. I'd be tempted to use a cockpit cover like Paul suggests, after a thorough effort to eliminate all the sources of water ingress. I found that on my MG, most of the water entering the cockpit, was coming past the wiper bases, windscreen washers, and at the windscreen surround. I was using a factory hardtop. If you do go for a full cover, I definitely wouldn't buy cheap.
Terrence Goodell

Hi Steve

In my part of Australia we don't have the extreme weather issues that you do, but when I bought my 68B', I still wanted to ensure that the car did not suffer whenever there was inclement weather....although I now have a covered carport (which may not be an option for you) I had an idea of building a 'Weather Canopy'(c). Depending on the situation, you could build a freestanding, movable steel or timber/polycarbonate structure that is not very tall, wide or fixed that may cover your car during wet weather - without touching the car anywhere. This of course depends on your driveway needs as well as local Council Development regulations and for that matter, if there is another car that you are trying to fit into a small area..(In my case, the brand new Mitsubishi Lancer lives in the weather..the B' is under cover!)

Cheers
Mark
Mark

Hi Steve,

I have a similar issue with my '80B and its hardtop seals... although the front seal of the top and the seal under the windshield have been replaced, I still get a damp car.

I just purchased a "Rhino" cover from Proper MG (www.propermg.com) in Mass. this past week, which only covers the top, not the paint. It's pouring rain right now ... on Monday (when the weather is supposed to clear) we'll see how well it works!

Regards,
Kevin
Kevin

I too must leave the car outdoors 24/7-365. I have a breathable water repellant composite cover and a vented loose fitting cover over that. The latter is supposed to be breathable, due to the vents, so it says on the box.

Cheers,

Gary
gary n.hansen

Thanks all for your comments. I shall have an investigation and see what's what. I heard a rumour over the weekend that Practical Classics magazine are curently doing a long term test on these covers. Might wait until this is published before choosing. A free standing cover would be best (as several people sugested. Unfortunately for me this is not an option.
cheers,
steve.
Steve Coulson

Just noticed you have a hardtop fitted anyway. My GT didn't get damp even though it lived outside for eight years albeit under an open sided (to the prevailing wind and rain) carport at night. While you are waiting find what is getting wet then where it is coming from.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 15/11/2002 and 18/11/2002

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