Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Hello Everyone,
I posted many months ago asking about whether a Model T is a good "starter car" for a newbie to the collector car hobby. Several of you kindly replied; thanks to you all! And I've spoken with a couple of "T" enthusiasts who were very friendly and helpful. I hope to eventually go with a Touring car, as I'd like the capability of having more than one passenger. I'm leaning toward a '14 model, one with gas headlights (for the "wow / really different" factor), just a little brass bling, and the most technological improvement up to the end of the gas light era.

The issue is, due to garage space, insurance, and budgetary constraints, a Touring car "toy" would have to be kept outside. It would be driven off the driveway, around the side of our house and parked on grass in the back yard just a couple of feet from, and parallel to the house so the house could act as a wind break from any storms that blow in from the west. We might be moving in 2-3 years anyway, so any storage protection doesn't have to be permanent, but I don't want to wait for something that may or may not happen to buy a "T Toy". There's too much fun to be had, and I'm not getting any younger, LOL.

So, how would you store a Touring car outside pretty much year round if you lived in Northeast Ohio (the Youngstown area)?

All thoughts and ideas are very much appreciated.

--George K.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Don't park it on grass. Use a waterproof tarp at least on the ground. You can buy a temporary carport to keep some of the weather off.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Touring cars prior to 1926 have a whole lot of wood - not a good idea to keep it outside !

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

J franklin, Thank you, yes, a tarp can be put down, and I'd wax / coat the metal with a light grease, Vaseline, oil, etc. I've looked online at those temporary garages that zip closed, but am concerned about how one would hold up against a heavy snow or high wind. Every brand has mixed reviews; some say "junk" and others, "I love it" for the same model. I've even considered trying to build my own crude shelter out of pipes and a tarp, and rope, using the house to somewhat shelter one side . Nothing pretty, just functional. Yeah, I couldn't leave any heavy snow on the cover, but I wouldn't want it to collapse (like during a storm late at night) before I could get to it.
Is there any way to seal off the car's open sides if period correct side curtains can't be used? Am I correct in thinking that the top must be up, that it will crack if kept folded down / compressed?
And put the car up on jack stands? I know that would make a spontaneous drive more difficult...
Thanks again for any input from past experience or whatever.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

stevests, I hear you. Outside isn't my preferred choice, but I've read that good airflow around / through the car will help keep it dry, or at least mitigate condensation issues. Plug the exhaust, and keep mothballs and / or dryer sheets tucked away inside.
I'm concerned about a car insurer (Hagerty / JC Taylor) denying coverage if the car is not stored on my property, like in a rented storage unit or garage. And I'd feel weird renting garage space and letting myself in to someone's private property when I don't own the place. But that's just me, overly cautious.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

The enemy of mankind's automobiles and any other item that stays outside, is the harmful affects of the sunlight, ozone levels in the air, and moisture levels in the atmosphere. If you cover it with a quality cover then only the cover will deteriorate but that may only be a protectant against the affects of the sunlight. Moisture affects wood and metal so water should not be allowed to permiate the area where the car is stored or it will rust and rot. Ozone affects rubber parts but there is not much that can be done to change that even if stored in a dry garage but it does help to keep the car out of the weather with constant temperature changes and the like. It will minimize ozone effects.

Even storing stuff in a shipping container will harm a motor vehicle kept inside. With no roof to control heat, the humidity inside a container will fluctuate a lot due to the high range of temperature changes during a 24 hour period. I've opened containers in the morning after a hot day and a nightly cool down and found it raining condensation inside the container. Containers need a roof over them to control the daily temperature changes and condensation. Many of them leak after a long life loaded and unloaded on ocean going vessels. The crane operators are good but they still have accidental drops on the tops of containers rendering them unusable. The worn out ones are generally what is available from the folks that purchase and sell them.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Whatever you do keep the wheels/tires off the ground

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Hi rotorwrench, Question(s):
I see that car covers for Model Ts are available, but it seems they're suited for an enclosed car unless I'm missing something. Can one be put over a touring car with the top up, and if so, can the irons and top bows withstand a heavy snow? We don't regularly get really dumped on in this part of Ohio (30-40 south of the snow belt), but a couple of heavier, 6-12 inch snowfalls a year isn't impossible. I'm not saying let snow lay on the top for a long period, but if a storm hits at 2am can the car be reasonably safe until later that morning when it can be knocked off?

Another question: Is it realistically possible to remove the top cover, or the entire roof apparatus, fold down the windshield, and cover the car that way? Or just remove the cover (I'm not sure how permanently it attaches to the top bows), fold down the bows and irons, and cover the car?

One option I've considered is to pull the call right up close and parallel to the back of the house. It will be oriented north- south. The house will largely shield the west side. I can make a sturdy, partial "tent" out of PVC pipe with 6 cross sections over about a 16-18 foot length. An 8-9 foot tall "back" side would go next to the house. The 7 or 8 feet- long cross pieces would slope downward to the front side, which would be about 6 feet tall. A tarp can be draped over the frame so the top, "front", and much of "back", house side will be covered / shielded. The ends would be open. The raised car top would shield the interior from rain or snow that might blow in from the North. The engine end, which would face South, might be left open, or I could rig a shield of some kind. If I make this "car port" so to speak about 16-18 feet long, it would take a pretty strong wind to blow any rain or snow horizontally far enough to even think about reaching the open, cockpit area. There would be plenty of airflow, that's for sure! Last, as suggested, a cheap poly tarp can be spread over the ground for the car to stand on. It would be great to construct something that I know will be heftier than one of those portable garages without breaking the bank. Plus, this arrangement might be only for a couple of years.

Thanks again for all of your ideas / insights.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Can do. Thanks!

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Some car covers are just to keep dust off in a garage storage. Water resistant multi layer covers are as good as it gets but are expensive.

Shaded areas are good unless it's an area where rain water can come off a roof. Avoid any area that multiplies water exposure during rain storms. Trees can also shed leaves and branches during storms so I'd avoid proximity to them as well.

Tops should be stored in the upright position. Folding the material puts strains in the creases so it doesn't help to do that. Most model T windscreens are not foldable but they can be removed.

I would suggest leasing a covered storage that allows automobiles. Some mini storage places will allow car as long as the fuel is removed but that would likely require light oil in the tank as a preservative. The place should be insulated if it is enclosed. They don't like anything that can cause or propagate a fire.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

You should think about selling the car and then replacing it when you can provide a secure enclosure. It will deteriorate rapidly if exposed. Dampness, raccoons, spiders, mice, all will love to cause you grief!

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

If it is within your budget consider putting it into a storage facility most or all are climate control it is the best option in my opinion.It is better then storing it outside in the elements

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Well as a fan of renting garage space, first choice, I'll admit to only a few years
that I did not.
So, to borrow a couple of your words, You'll never do too much for protection.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Buy a cheap enclosed trailer to keep it in. Most antique insurance specifies MUST be garaged.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Thanks again, everyone, for all of your kind input. I'm noting all of your ideas / suggestions.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

George
Number 1....
It’s not a “toy” it’s a real car but only more so. Cars, all cars will kill you very quickly. They are not to be taken lightly. It’s a lot like a 200 year old flintlock musket rifle or pistol. Old fashioned yes. Old timey, but just as deadly.

You want to get a 110 year old brass era touring car and store it outside?

I have read that the average life of a model T was 5-7 years as a daily driver. Of course many are well over a century old but that’s when it was newer car used daily in the period. When it was beyond repair, you got a new car.

To answer your question, if driven regularly like almost every day, you could expect maybe 7 years of use....maybe.
Under a tarp, never driven? It will be ruined in less than a year. By ruined I mean needing major repair especially to the wood sheet metal and upholstery.
It may be different if you live in the desert.

If you want to kill a car, even a late model, tarp it and don’t drive it.
Best case of course would be a garage.
2nd best, some type of permanent carport with a real roof.
If you have to store one out in the open it needs to be on concrete or pavement. Dirt and grass kills a car.
It may be best to wait on a good place to keep it.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Just to echo some of the other posters, I'd recommend waiting to buy a "T" until you can store it properly. Outside storage is simply not a good idea.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Sounds like you need to put the wife's car outside and put that great Model T in the garage. Good luck. Let us know how that works out.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

I don't think that would fly. This whole Model T thing is my idea, and I doubt she'd be up to cooperating! LOL. Both my wife and son are spoiled, and I don't blame them When I lived at my parent's house, my car very seldom saw the inside of the garage.

Re: Touring Car Outdoor Year Round Storage Ideas
 

Guys, I appreciate your thoughts. I was playing with the idea of keeping the car under a pipe and canopy cover, and not just sitting out in the open, but that arrangement surely wouldn't be 100% weather and critter-proof. I'm liking the idea of any form of outdoor storage less and less. I've been reading about those portable pipe and tarp garages that can enclose a car on all four sides, however, their durability seems to be questionable. Being in Ohio (but not in the snow belt), we can still get some pretty good snowfalls and gusty winds.
As far as my comment about a Model T being a "toy", I meant that in the respect that such a car is for 100% enjoyment, driven only for fun and not out of daily necessity. I totally get it that any machine weighing almost 2,000 lbs. and moving along at 30 MPH can cause some serious damage if not taken seriously. I used to fly Cessnas and know all about taking machines seriously. ANYTHING can kill you if not treated respectfully.
I only equated "toy" with "fun".