Finally put the X and the Miata away in their winter cocoons which declutters the driveway for snow removal and easier parking.
We had an early-ish winter storm which dumped over 2’ of snow (and therefore heavy salt on the roadways which stops all fun car driving) in my locale before Thanksgiving adjusting my normal time table. It isn’t unusual for me to drive into December but not this year. Unfortunately my cars don’t have an indoor winter home so they are stored alongside the garage, outside.
The process is:
- Add Sta-Bil to the gas tanks and then fill them.
- Choose a nice dry day and airing out the cars
- Wash the cars and open all doors/hoods to air the cars out
- Apply a variety of anti mouse applications (peppermint oil and sachels with a variety of herbs) which does sort of work.
- Close the HVAC cowl intakes.
- Drive the car onto a large tarp (I use a quality tarp they used to sell at Costco) minimum of 12 x 16
- Put a soft indoor car cover on followed by an outdoor breathable car cover)
- Put three shipping blankets over the car such that all upward facing surfaces are covered.
- Put interlocking foam workout floor tiles over the top surfaces of the car.
- Using nylon or similar rope, tie the tarp up onto the sides of the car and up over the front and rear bumpers.
- Using a brand new 12 x 16 tarp, put it over the car gathering the front and rear and tying off with rope through the eyelets. In my case it isn’t windy where the cars sit so I don’t have to secure the sides very much.
This creates a reasonably well isolated set of surfaces so fabric is always against the paint and there are impact absorbing materials lest a branch be blown onto the cars. They are close to the side of the garage so protected for the most part against most of the blown weather.
I am sure my neighbors love me…my wife certainly does.