Considering a carcoon

[clk208]

Recently moved into a house that has an unattractive, but functional concrete pebble dashed detached single garage with steel roof. I will post a photo later but I'm sure you know the type. The garage was recently rewired along with the rest of my house and has power & light.

Overall integrity of the garage is pretty good, it doesn't let in tons of water, but then again isn't 100% water tight either and being of single skin construction etc there is lots of condensation on the inside of the roof in the morning.

I'd like to make it a home for a (non-MB) classic car I own as it's too narrow to easily park the CLS in. Only plan to stay here a year or two and who knows if the next house will have a garage so I was considering an outdoor carcoon for future flexibility.

My classic measures approx. 483cm long according to google. As I've not got masses of space to spare and would like to keep bikes in the garage too (& be able to open the door) I was looking at a size 4 carcoon which apparently houses cars 470cm long. Is this a firm limit, or being a flexible structure would it happily house the extra 13cm? The size 5 carcoon is 505cm which is a bit of a leap.

Not really a deal breaker I suppose providing it will fit. Anyone any general experience of the carcoon and using the outdoor model in a garage etc?

 

[janner]

Why use an outdoor model inside?

 

[clk208]

Why use an outdoor model inside?

Outdoor and indoor models are pretty much the same price.

When I move in a year or so, if the next house doesn't have a garage (or if I've accumulated more cars) I would still be able to use the outdoor carcoon, whereas an indoor model would be useless. Being £500+ I want to get a few years use..

 

[MCFastybloke]

I liked mexico.

 

[janner]

I imagine a carcoon (especially an outdoor one) would be a faff to put up and down. For 500 quid you could clad the roof in cellotex, buy a dehumidifier and run it for many years. You just have to seal up the gaps.

 

[rk100]

I got an outdoor carcoon last November and I have to say it is brilliant. The only down side is you can't get near the car unless you take it down - fine for me this winter but hoping to have a garage up next year. If you have a garage I would try and seal it up as suggested in other posts that way at least it will be easy to get in to check on it etc without the hassle of a carcoon. if your not worried about getting near the car for extended periods the carcoon is perfect.

 

[jaymanek]

I have several outdoor cArcoons and I think they are fantastic. Yes it's a faff to unzip and take off the electrics but If you don't plan to use it everyday then I don't see the issue.
The cars always come out fresh and the airflow stops any moisture settling so keeps rust at bay.

 

[clk208]

I imagine a carcoon (especially an outdoor one) would be a faff to put up and down. For 500 quid you could clad the roof in cellotex, buy a dehumidifier and run it for many years. You just have to seal up the gaps.

Dehumidifier was my first thought but car forums are full of tales of lack of success getting them to work adequately in garages, I've yet to see a report of a happy install, particularly in a horrible concrete slab garage like mine. Not ruled out entirely though - what sort of dehumidifier do you think would work well?

Edit - I've had a lack of success with a dehumidifier in a London flat that suffered with a little damp.. Seemed to get anything effective happening, a combination of dehumidifier and heat needed..

Insulating the roof definitely a good, cost effective idea, thanks.

I got an outdoor carcoon last November and I have to say it is brilliant. The only down side is you can't get near the car unless you take it down - fine for me this winter but hoping to have a garage up next year. If you have a garage I would try and seal it up as suggested in other posts that way at least it will be easy to get in to check on it etc without the hassle of a carcoon. if your not worried about getting near the car for extended periods the carcoon is perfect.

Great - I wasn't aware of the effort of accessing the car, useful to know. I'd be happy to let the car hibernate for a few months if I knew if was working properly in keeping everything bone dry though.

I liked mexico.

Bit cryptic, you've lost me. Care to share the joke?

 

[rk100]

Great - I wasn't aware of the effort of accessing the car, useful to know. I'd be happy to let the car hibernate for a few months if I knew if was working properly in keeping everything bone dry though.

I don't mind the effort of accessing my carcoon as I put the car in November and won't be taking it out till March time. So if your like me the carcoon is the way to go as I highly recommend them.

 

[janner]

I guess the Mexico joke is Cancun...

You mentioned bikes and opening the door so I think it does depend how you want to use it.
If you decide to insulate the make sure you have airflow behind (above in the case of the roof) the insulation. A desiccant type dehumidifier is probably best in a garage in winter.
If you go down the carcoon route I'd go for in indoor one and sell it if I moved to a house without a garage. They hold their price quite well.