LagondaNet

[Keith]

Hi Folks

I seeking people's advice on the best way to garage a Lagonda.

After talking to several people at the Potters Bar meeting and a dehumidifier expert, (well, sales person really), I have purchased an X-Dry humidifier which I hope will maintain the Relative Humidity percentage, (RH%), at a reasonably constant 55% - 60%.

I do not have a garage long enough to store my car at home so I rent a circular corn silo which is made of galvanised steel. There is not any form of heating in it and although it is dry, I do get rain water seeping under the main shutter doors occassionally

Am I doing the right thing for my particular circumstances or does anybody have any further advice on what I could/should do. The last thing I want is for my car to start either growing mold because it is to damp, or, conversely, that the leather should start drying out because there is not enough moisture in the air because the RH% is not enough.

I noted with interest Tim's cocoon tent for his Lagonda and I wonder if this could be an option where I could control the storage environment even more so than I am doing now. However, my car only just fits in the garage as it is, (being 6 metres in diameter), so I do not really have any room to the front or rear of the car.

[Lagondanet]

Keith

I think a Carcoon might be a good idea or an equivalent. I am sure that there is a rigid framed one on the market too which is recommended by some people. The name eludes me at the moment. Ask Tim-C for his advice. Get the exact measurements from the manufacturers.
Your baby deserves nothing less!

[Lagondanet]

Keith

I think this might be it

http://www.airflow-uk.co.uk/index.php?view=section&order=name_asc&section=carchamber

Anyone have any experience of these?

I might be interested myself?

I'll ask around.

[Keith]

I should have added this web link which I found to be quite influential in making my decision when choosing the humidifier.

Having just read some of it again, there is an section on plastic enclosures for cars which I think has a relevant point to make about the RH%.

http://www.dry-it-out.com/car-storage-faq

[Lagondanet]

Keith

Yes, interesting section on 'enclosures'. I understand that some of these can be used outside as well.

One comment on the subject from an AMOC member:

A very effective way of spreading any damp spores from any part of a car that isn't thoroughly dried to the whole car I've been warned.

[Keith]

These air chambers seem quite good from the given descriptions, especially as they also tackle the RH% problem as well.

I think a couple of phone calls to them is now on the cards to check out if a special unit can be created or adapted to cater for circular ends which I will need to be able to fit one into my corn silo garage.

Thank you for your help Roger.

[Lagondanet]

Phil states:

I have a couple of Airchambers, and two dehumidifiers in the garage (plus a third in the back of one Airchamber but it isn't needed). The chambers are great, don't inconvenience getting in and out of the car too much, and there is (just) enough room to work on the car when it's inside (although not enough to use a trolly jack). They stay upright when open. Providing you keep the air filters clean they work well. The humidifiers keep the garage at around 65% RH; the humidity inside the chamber is the same.


Jon states:

I have a Carcoon which I used for my DB6 one winter a few years ago. The problem is; cold damp air in, cold damp air out. And my wood rim wheel was incredible; it went completely green mouldy. It was unbeleivable. Obviously from perspiration. I suppose if you could rig it up with a dehumidifier inside the car, or inside the bubble it may be OK Or maybe run a fan heater near the air in port. Overall, I don't think the benefits outweigh the inconvenience.

[Keith]

I am not sure I could take it if I went back to my car and discovered that a lot of green mold had grown in it over a period of time.

Prevention surely has to be better than the cure. I think Phil's methods are more in keeping with my own thoughts.

Keith

PS. I have contacted Air Chambers and they are being very helpful in trying to resolve the problem of fitting a rectangle chamber into a circular space. My first impressions of them are that they are a good company who care.

[Mitrovic]

Great topic!

I am thinking about those problems for years!

I have two carcoons, for years now, and I think they are great and it is a great company, but it does not solve the problem of the humidity.

I have two dehumidifiers in my garage and I keep the RH at between 50 to 60%. I think this is the ideal for the combination: metal - wood - leather.

On the topic of heated garage, I have another opinion, but of course might be wrong: Warm air has the ability to store more humidity then cold air. Keep the air cold, you can keep it dry.

[Vincent]

Great subject, guys and friends !
IMHO : dust is ok because it causes 'patine' on the paint, drive your car when you want, even if it's raining...My opinion about cars is : if you want to keep them pristine, let them in the show room of the dealer !
My cars live with customer trucks in my company since months, some customers wrote tags on the boot...I was angry but never mind, a car is only made from steel, aluminium and other stuff, and as it is not a living object, it has to be used; and to use it brings it to life !
Not to say a collectible car has to become a trash-car...but I mean nothing replaces a certain 'patine' in french...
Only my own opinion...
_________________
Welcome to Paradise ! (FRONT 242)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS30BC3D5WM

[Lagondanet]

Nick H states:

I have a couple of Airchambers and I really like them. They do the job and are not a pain in the backside to get the cars in and out.




I think they might be useful as much for keeping the cars clean as anything else, but I agree with you Vincent about using the cars, as I think everyone here does too.
Let me know what you decide Keith.

[Tim_C]

[Keith]

Hi Folks

Many thanks for all the responses and advice. From the result of which I have decided to buy an AirChamber to store my Lagonda in.

The car will need a 5.7 mtr long unit but this will only just go into the available space I have, front to back, I will probably need to use a little bit of "persuasion" to squash it in. I will also go for the wider 2.2 mtr unit, just for ease of getting in and out.

Thank you for all your help.

Keith

[Keith]

Oh Poo. I need to re-think this project.

I went today to measure the silo with a larger tape measure, (rather than my little office tape measure), just to be sure of the sizes and I have found that my estimate of 6 metres diameter was a bit off. The silo is, in fact, only 5.65 metres in diameter. However, this is not the main issue as I still think I can squeeze a 5.7 metre chamber in with a bit of "persuasion".

The main problem I now have is that the door way is only 2.35 meters wide. As the chamber will literally fit wall to door leaving no space at all, a 2.2 metre wide chamber will fill almost the entire width of the doorway, leaving me with just a 150mm gap to squeeze through into the garage. Even if I choose a 2 metre wide chamber, it would still only give me a 350mm gap, which is still not a lot of room.

I think I am now back to square 1.

[Vrije]

I would sugest to put the silo into the biggest availeble airchamber, but I should inform you of this possebility a week ago

Harry

ps remember that nothing of iron is safe to me