Car Cover

[Dave Dyer]

Hi Chaps,

Can anyone recommend a car cover that fits a TR7 snuggly?
I've tried covers but they are always to loose and come off in a slight breeze! Plus breathable ones just let the rain through.
I only want a cheap one, one I can throw on and off between using the car. Or failing that a top half cover that stays in place.

Any pointers would be appreciated, as so far I can't find one.

Thanks, Dave

[John_C]

Maypole Breathable Car Cover - size Medium (13ft to 14ft length). This comes with a pair of eyelets so you can put a tie underneath the car. All covers let water through so I doubt this one will be any different and as I've just invested in one myself I don't know for sure yet. What I do know for sure is it's as though it was made specifically to fit a TR7 and costs around £15. Usually I spray the silver car covers with Fabsil (fabric waterproofer) but I expect this one will be okay for a while before I may have to resort to testing it out with Fabsil.

Please note: other water proofing solutions rot fabrics even when they say they are safe. Thompsons being the one I mistakenly tried after reading the claim that it was suitable for fabrics. The fabric in question soon went brittle and started falling apart.

[DNK]

I could really use a lightweight cover to keep the pollen off in late winter/spring.
And to keep the dust off in summer when it's to blazing hot to work on it.
I would like some recommendations from US carriers
It's so dusty I will have to push it out of the garage to wash before I even think of working on it

[FI Spyder]

Wow, that's a lot of dust. I don't get much dust here in PNW but I do live on a gravel road. It is an access road with three houses but one at the end does run a day care so there is some traffic. To keep the dust off while the door is open I keep it covered with three bedsheets. Easy to toss them in the washer and dryer every now and again.

For those wanting an out side cover, you are probably not going to find a cheap solution. I did buy a cover from Princess Auto for $20 for the Integra when I have to park it up top to keep the pine needles and Arbutus stuff (bark,flowers,seeds, berries, leaves) off it. Not water proof though.

I keep getting emails from this company, never bought their products but you might be able to do a Google search for revues of a particular product. They are not inexpensive but you get what you pay for? The more direct the sunlight (closer to the equator) the stronger the UV rays. Even up here (just south of the 49th) I've seen the sun deteriorate seat material in a TR7 in a couple years (it obviously wasn't UV resistant, not good for a convertible).

CarsCover. Com

[DNK]

Wow, that's a lot of dust. ...

9 months worth
And I live in a hi end housing development with no gravel roads

[DNK]

http://www.carcovers.com/covers/cars/triumph/tr8/1980/basic-shield-car-cover.html
$80 bucks, anyone ever used them
price seems reasonable

[nick]

I could really use a lightweight cover to keep the pollen off in late winter/spring.
And to keep the dust off in summer when it's to blazing hot to work on it.
I would like some recommendations from US carriers
It's so dusty I will have to push it out of the garage to wash before I even think of working on it

Try closing the garage door

[DNK]

Nick, tried that. Doesn't help when you don't have solid wall

[navydiver]

I bought one of these. It was completely weather proof through all of last winter and has lasted most of this summer, though it has finally succumbed to the SoCal sunshine. The warranty is worthless they sent me a n invoice for $31 for my warranty replacement. But overall it was cheap protection for a shell which has been outside for over a year. If you're using it indoors it should be fine. Fit is not wedge specific but comes down over both bumpers and below the sill line so good paint cover. http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-Layer-Car-Cov ... e9&vxp=mtr I'll probably buy another for this winter.

[Hasbeen]

Be very careful of waterproof car covers. I use one on a 7 I bought with a lovely paint job. I had a folded soft blanket under the cover. After a week of warm rainy weather, [very humid here] I found the paint on the roof & boot lid pockmarked when I pulled the cover off. I believe this was from sweating, & probably imperfect preparation or paint job. None of the rest of the car ever exhibited a problem in the next 5 years before a bare metal paint job.

The only really successful system I've found was a cover with a waterproof top, & soft breathing material elsewhere. I used this in a car port, suspended along the centre, so the top which had ventilation flaps, was above the car & not touching the paint. Suspended anywhere would also work.

This had 2 under body straps, & another one under each bumper bar. These stopped it flapping around, rubbing dust into the paint.

It worked quite well, but was a lot of mucking around when getting the car out or putting away.

Hasbeen

[saabfast]

I used a number of 'cheap' covers from ebay and other sources when my car only lived outside through the summer (to stop the pigeons bombing the mohair roof). These were the fairly thick grey plastic finish on a sort of linen base, some claimed to be breathable, others not. I did not find much difference with them and they normally lasted only for a summer before falling apart, presumably from the sun.

I have now lost my winter garage facility and the car has to stay in the drive all the time. Last time I looked for a secondhand one on the bay and found a Coverzone Voyager Indoor/Outdoor cover for a BMW 1 series which is a similar size in plan area, although obviously higher so it is a bit big really, but thought worth a try as it was cheap. It is a much lighter/thinner material with a silver finish and I wondered if it would last. It has now been on the car for over a year and still in good condition. It has elasticated ends and two clip buckle straps to pass under. I did find that these could come undone in high winds letting it flip off so now use stationery 'fold back' clips to attach it to the sill flanges and bumpers. I have not seen any damage to the car, maybe because it is a lighter material. These are quite expensive new but when this expires I will probably get a tailor made one for the 7, maybe even a higher grade, as they do seem to last much better.

[FI Spyder]

I bought one of these. It was completely weather proof through all of last winter and has lasted most of this summer, though it has finally succumbed to the SoCal sunshine. The warranty is worthless they sent me a n invoice for $31 for my warranty replacement. But overall it was cheap protection for a shell which has been outside for over a year. If you're using it indoors it should be fine. Fit is not wedge specific but comes down over both bumpers and below the sill line so good paint cover.

This is probably what they charged for shipping and handling, replacement is free like if you went and picked it up. If you have a spot off the street you can get portable car sheds for a couple hundred bucks if your local codes allow. I had an odd size so rather than cut down a manufactured shed I made my own out of 1 1/2" plumbing pipe reinforced by angled 1"x 3" boards with roof made by garden shed kit with 2"x 2" rafters and plywood strips with tarp over. While it seemed it cost less it was about the same (everything was cheap except the joints which add up). Width is adjustable but roof would have to be modified a little. it's a one man job.

[saabfast]

If you want a cheap cover to get by Lidl are doing them for £11.99 next Thursday. No idea what they are like though.

[scribe]

I bought the appropriate sized cover from Halfords and I can't complain one little bit.

My TR7 sat under it for more than 12 months through rain, shine, sleet, 3 inches of show and countless gales. I removed it only last week thinking the car would be a mess but it was exactly as I'd left it.

The ends are elasticated to grip under the bumpers and there are 3 straps to secure it under the car. I think it cost about £45.

[andyf]

I bought the appropriate sized cover from Halfords and I can't complain one little bit.

My TR7 sat under it for more than 12 months through rain, shine, sleet, 3 inches of show and countless gales. I removed it only last week thinking the car would be a mess but it was exactly as I'd left it.

The ends are elasticated to grip under the bumpers and there are 3 straps to secure it under the car. I think it cost about £45.

Exactly the same as me then. I have had mine about 12 months and it has been fine, I even leave the roof down and get no water penetration.