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Storing a Locost outside
JAG - 22/9/08 at 10:53 AM

Hi All,

I'm moving house and it looks like I won't have a garage for a while

I don't want to sell the Locost but I need to store it outside in a car park and a standard parking space.

What's the best way to do this and keep the car in good condition?

I've thought about buying a cheap covered trailer, anyone got one to sell?

Any other suggestions? Please?


tegwin - 22/9/08 at 10:57 AM

Box trailer would be a good idea,...could even fit an extractor fan to draw out moisture...

Can you get an old container and plonk that in the carpark?


meany - 22/9/08 at 10:57 AM

are you talking a public or private carpark here?.
what about finding a garage to rent short term?.


stevebubs - 22/9/08 at 11:05 AM

While a box trailer is a good idea, it is a target for theft in itself.

TBH It's probably best to spend a few hundred quid on a proper custom cover for the car and make sure it receives regular preventative maintenance.


stevebubs - 22/9/08 at 11:05 AM

PS Contact local council - they may have a garage you can store it in.


graememk - 22/9/08 at 11:11 AM

is there no one on here that could help you with storage >?


Dick Axtell - 22/9/08 at 11:26 AM

G'day, Justin.

Why not buy a 2nd-hand furniture van? Then you could move house yourself, and have somewhere to store the Locost!

LoL
Dick

P.S. Oh! I forgot the bit about "standard parking space". Not big enough for a pantechnicon?

[Edited on 22/9/08 by Dick Axtell]


smart51 - 22/9/08 at 11:58 AM

One of those fibreglass trailers for carrying race cars to the track would be ideal. Perhaps a knackered one with the wheels removed, or maybe even the chassis removed.

What about building a 6x12 shed on the parking space? Or making something out of ply with ribbed insides and shed roofing felt on the outside? Bizzare ideas maybe, I'm just thinking inside the box.

Could you make soemthing out of wooden panels, hinges and padlocks that could be broken down and stored in the back of your tin top whilst you're out in the locost?

Or maybe all you need is a lockable hard cover for the cockpit and boot plus locks on your engine cover? The boot cover could be permenant and the hard top could be left in the tin top when not locking the locost up.


smart51 - 22/9/08 at 12:09 PM

Perhaps a roof box like this with some straps underneath to hold it on. Some nice sponge rubber to stop it chaffing the bodywork. Rescued attachment roof box.JPG
Rescued attachment roof box.JPG


angus.d - 22/9/08 at 12:17 PM

I had a similar storage problem , as I am in the process of designing a new garage to be built on my house, and my part built Locost was not under cover.

I felt that I couldn't put the storage onto the shoulders of a mate or fellow Locostbuilder for that length of time, and I was unwilling to rent anywhere as I knew the storage would be longterm and therefore expensive/dead money. Fortunately my parents came up trumps and said I could leave it at theirs in their garage free of charge so result. Only thing was a 200 mile round trip and the hire a of a car trailer but you cant have everything.

Cheers

Angus


JAG - 22/9/08 at 12:46 PM

Thanks for the suggestions and drawings (Colin)

It's a private car park but on view to the public. It's in a picturesque town/village in North Devon (so no containers etc...) and they have very few garages locally and they're in high demand.

Anyone had any experience of folding garages HERE

I'm running out of options but as we can't sell our current house we're having to think of buying a 2nd property and, for the money we have to play with, there are none with garages on offer


philhoward - 22/9/08 at 12:46 PM

I built a Polytunnel for about £150.00. Have a look at my photo archive. It keeps the car bone dry and allows air movement around it.


JAG - 22/9/08 at 12:57 PM

Thanks Phil, I like that.

How do you get the car out? Does it just lift off?

Can you get white plastic, so no-one can see what's inside?


philhoward - 22/9/08 at 03:06 PM

I have two wooden legs on one end, so that when I lift the tunnel up the legs drop down and act like stilts. I just drive the car out. You have to be careful though on windy days as it can blow over when left up.

It is also good if you want to work on the car when it is raining.

I have gone for clear thermal plastic to stop condensation build up on the inside. This has started to go a misty colour over a period of a few months. I am sure that you can get different colours of plastic

[Edited on 22/9/08 by philhoward]


l0rd - 22/9/08 at 03:08 PM

what about one of theses?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7053445/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CGarden+and+DIY%7C10198728.htm


Dave Ashurst - 22/9/08 at 04:07 PM

Just a thought. How much is a decent fitted car cover and a bag to stuff it in? I bet your car's pretty durable really.

Perhaps pay a farmer to store it indoors over winter?

Scottoiler is quite effective on alloy against salt.

best
D Image deleted by owner


Meeerrrk - 23/9/08 at 03:28 PM

i got a cover from hamilton classics. absolutely fantastic. try it.