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Snow Protection - a car cover or Portable garage?

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naturoses

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Friends, I live in JP, Massachusetts. As you can imagine here we have lots of snow. I love snow. But, now I am worried because of my new Rav4 (my first car in my life)....I live in an apartment complex and we park outside in the parking space provided to me. How to protect my Rav4 from snow?. I am not going to drive that much too because of salt. Buying a car cover is probably acceptable according to the apartment complex policy. I do not know about a portable car garage. What shall I do? Please guide me. Today, I even requested my wife to ask in our street if somebody can allow us to put our vehicle in their garages for rent for the snowy season...

Please send me your thoughts...

Thanks
 
#2 ·
It's just frozen water. At least it's not hail.

Staying off the road and salt is good.
 
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#3 ·
I have an outdoor RAV (like an outdoor cat!). I get a free carwash when it rains, or snows. The dirt/grime comes off pretty well when above freezing. From December to April, road salt is another layer of protection here in VT. :(

I've heard some people say that cars rust faster when driven in salt & then parked in a heated garage, since the snow/ice melts in the garage and helps rust. Of course if you're not going to drive in snow/salt, then the garage is a very good thing.

Portable Garage vs. Car Cover: A Car cover might be easier to deal with - you can brush snow off of it, and should be waterproof. (I've seen posts here about waterspots on paint from shipping...wouldn't want to risk that)

Portable garage...cheap ones are flimsy, and heavier duty ones might take up more space in the parking area than you're allowed? I'd also be worried about your neighbor's F250 Crew Cab bumping into the support pole and having the pole crash into your car, or that Nor'easter that dumps a foot of snow and collapses the portable roof.

Now you've got me thinking of some sort of car cover that would allow me to pull it, and accumulated snow, off the rav so I don't have to scrape it off! Good luck on whatever your decision is!
 
#5 ·
A car cover on top of a dirty car will destroy the finish - it's like grinding sand into the paint. I'm sure you don't want that, and you can't always have a spotless car, even in summer. Car covers are best on a Corvette parked indoors for the season rather than on a dirty car on the street.

I seriously doubt if any apartment manager will allow a temporary carport - they have to be nailed down and they are an eyesore.

Why don't you call around and see if there is a mini storage place nearby? You can rent a garage sized unit and also keep some of your other "stuff" in it.

I know what I would do in your situation...... move to a complex that offered covered parking or garages.

Good luck.
 
#8 ·
How about a damn good sealant like Collinite Insulator Wax? Yes, it's called a wax
but it is a sealant with carnauba wax infused into it. If the surface is prepared properly no garage or cover will be needed for the entire winter.
 
#9 ·
I wouldn't worry too much about snow and drive less. For me, I'm going to give my rav a nice clean wash before snow fall and apply a nice thick coat of wax to protect all painted areas. For under body and wheels, i think taking her through one of those touch'less car wash every now and then to rinse off the salt before they damage anything. It should be all good, and try to enjoy driving her in snow! She's gonna like it.
 
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alexmadison
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