Date:         Sat, 9 Sep 2006 11:13:52 EDT
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      storing vanagons (was Re: Parking Matilda ..non-waltzing matilda
Comments: To: thorgk@ACCESSCOMM.CA
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 9/9/06 10:42:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
thorgk@ACCESSCOMM.CA writes:


> Try and fing some where under cover to keep Matlda.  From my experience
> nothing ages these cars faster than sitting out in the sun and weather without
> being used.  All the plastic, fiberglass and rubber parts seem to deteriorate.
>  The canvas and the inside of the pop top get damp and discolour.  Westies
> like to sleep somewhere dark and dry.
>
>

i second this.  my 2 keepers i store indoors in my folks huge barn..  the
parts vans sit outside, and i have watched them rapidly deteriorate from the
elements.
for example, it have a 90 GL parts van i have gutted and now use as parts
storage shed.  this is a Bordeaux (burgundy) color.
the van had been rearended with 65k miles when i got it as a pars car about 6
yrs ago. the paint was in excellent condition when i got it, and there was no
seam rust.

now the clearcoat is totally baked off the roof, and the clearcoat on the
sides is all crazed/spiderwebbed from the UV rays.  i have also watched seam rust
appear in the rear 1/4 panels where the horizontal seam is, and the seam
above the front bumper rebar - which had none when i parked it.   this is rust
just from sitting outside. not to mention the mold and critters which call it
home now..wasp nests in every orifice..

parking a vehicle outside 24/7 accelerates deterioration rapidly.. invest in
a good quality breathable car cover or one of those pre-fab aluminum carports
they can be had for under $900) if you dont have a garage..

chris