Parked out side all year?

[Andy_sheff]

not posted for a while, I've still being reading tho!
So, who leaves there bus out on the front of the house or on the road every day of the year? Have you notice it getting any more rusty? We're moving house and all I will have is a parking space on the front!

 

[Webbaldo]

I don't have a garage and my van is outside under cover this winter, only cause it doesn't run

Soon as its running, it'll be in a classic car storage place next winter,

I have a beetle/bus and ideally I keep both outside on drive under cover april-sep then in a mates garage or storage the autumn and winter.

Some people may argue not using it in winter is not enjoying it, but lets be honest with the cost of vans etc these days your risking a big investment leaving it out to the elements/rust/theft

 

[Alex VW Heritage]

I would always try and find some inside storage, be it a rented garage, or a car port / garage built off the side of the house?

I have really noticed the difference in speed that things worsen when they are left out, its dramatically different than when stored in a nice dry lock up.

The one owner original paint vans you find have been kept in garages and well maintained, I have never heard of one owner beauties living at the side of a road

 

[gninnam]

mine is outside all the time, but as it's a resto, I can't properly comment on how it is degrading.
I have noticed that over the last few years, under the gutters is starting to look a bit worse for wear though......

If/when it is on the road, I will look to sort out something to protect it better (but not a cover as not good long term)

 

[Julesx]

I have only had my bus for a year but it has lived outside and will continue to do so. No garage and I don't want to buy or rent one at the moment. It lives on my drive.

I have had other classic cars over the years and they have all lived outside.

They were all nice running cars but far from mint/concours. My cars from the 70's and 80's (purchased by me in the 80/90's) that I left outside had some rust on the body work and underneath and without exception they got worse. I guess it's the simple case of being wet that encouraged the tin worm.

With this in mind I still went ahead and purchased my bus that (as usual for me!) had some minor rust imperfections and in the last year they have got slightly worse but nothing horrendous. It does not live under a cover as my last car did as I found that the cover trapped moisture on the bodywork on that one and caused micro blistering of the paint).

My thoughts are that if my bus was in a garage miles away - would I use it as much? Probably not. I'm fortunate in that I dont drive to work but when I'm going somewhere I use my bus. I'm now planning on getting rid of my modernish daily driver and then I will use my bus daily.

Apologies for rambling but, IMO, if your classic lives outside you do need to make sure you clean it regulary and use it often as everything will seize/rust and daily ish use prevents much of that. Yes, it may well degrade a little but for me I wanted a bus and not having a garage was not going to put me off owning one!

Having said that if I could garage it, I would, and as someone has already said, as the prices of our vehicles continue to rise I may well change my mind and get a garage to protect my investment.........................

 

[Andy_sheff]

Good posts, There is a local place where I can take my bus for winter storage which is ideal for the 3 or 4 months of the worst weather, but the rest of the time I'm gonna have to live with it outside. As you say, when it's there your inclined to use it more which is great. I always keep it waxed and clean, I guess some ankor wax or alike in the door shuts and around window seals etc will help and just do what I can. It's not a show winner and it can all be fixed I guess! The main thing is keeping the thing water tight, i have a couple more seals to change.

 

[Moseley]

I guess the real answer to the question is that the best storage place is the one that can be kept driest. Garages and car covers are great at trapping moist winter air, and as the temperature drops at night, this will condense all over your pride and joy. The difference between this and having the van outside in the winter, is that as a new day comes along, being outside the airflow will help to dry it out faster than when it is undercover.

So I'd argue that a garage or cover isn't necessarily the best option - different designs will give different results. For me, I choose to run a dehumidifier in the garage at this time of year, as it can get a lot of condensation build-up otherwise.

 

[sparkywig]

Yes

 

[monkeyvanwestybike]

No
I keep mine in secure dry storage
Best money I've spent
I offset this against body shop bills
And
It won't turn a wheel until the weather improves

 

[chad]

We found that a cover seemed to make it worse and often couldn't be put back on as it was raining when we go back.

I think that part of the decision depends on the state of your seals - if they're not leaking then don't have a cover and the bus will soon dry off.

 

[mister]

Mines been outside for six years, driven all year round, though I do avoid salt & ice.
It is slowly getting worse, but its not that bad. If I had stuck it in storage for 6 months of the year, that would have been 36 months @ £100/ month = £3600. Thats quite a lot of repairs.
I'm also not too precious about it, I haven't restored it and sweated blood and tears like some people on here, I think that would make a difference.
My view is that if you keep it outside, wax it loads, use it as much as possible, driving it keeps it working better, dries it out, stretches its legs. Drive it, ENJOY IT, fix it, it just a Volkswagen... ENJOY IT!

 

[Andy_sheff]

There is a lot to be said for that!! I think your right.

 

[monkeyvanwestybike]

40ish years on
As we have found out we are knee deep in Rhd uk buses
You Decide!
There are plenty of restorers/specialists
Waiting to take our hard earned

 

[58paul]

My bus is outside all year in all weathers we live close to the coast so the salt air is something that can be a problem but I clean and wax it twice a year with Collonite wax and it stays just fine, you can't own one of these CAMPERS and not use it through the bad times they love it.

 

[Alex VW Heritage]

Storing something inside and safe and dry and warm, doesn't not preclude you from using it.

The decent unwelded RHD busses that still exist are rare and when you find them they have been well looked after but also stored inside.

Surely observation and learning from what the last 60 odd years has done to type 2's living in this country is enough to prove that actually the ones kept inside last longer in better condition.

It may add ten mins to the end of each journey unlocking and opening a door but surely that isn't enough to stop you using your pride and joy?

Also out of sight out of mind, the number getting stolen these days means I much prefer mine is out of sight and has added locks and protection of being inside.

 

[Clem]

Storing something inside and safe and dry and warm, doesn't not preclude you from using it.

The decent unwelded RHD busses that still exist are rare and when you find them they have been well looked after but also stored inside.

Surely observation and learning from what the last 60 odd years has done to type 2's living in this country is enough to prove that actually the ones kept inside last longer in better condition.

It may add ten mins to the end of each journey unlocking and opening a door but surely that isn't enough to stop you using your pride and joy?

Also out of sight out of mind, the number getting stolen these days means I much prefer mine is out of sight and has added locks and protection of being inside.

This is all absolutely true. Theres no question that a bus kept indoors will survive much longer than one stored indoors. There are measures you can take in either case to improve things but ultimately the cold and wet will damage your bus. I dont say you shouldnt have one if you dont have a garage, or that they musn't be used in bad weather but there is no point being naive about it.

 

[Alex VW Heritage]

This is all absolutely true. Theres no question that a bus kept indoors will survive much longer than one stored indoors. There are measures you can take in either case to improve things but ultimately the cold and wet will damage your bus. I dont say you shouldnt have one if you dont have a garage, or that they musn't be used in bad weather but there is no point being naive about it.

Well said, being aware but still using them as they were intended!

I use mine in all weathers:

But I spend lots of time cleaning it and keep it inside as much as possible.

Still in the 7 years I have had it painted I have seen bits deteriorate and come through.

 

[moj_dub]

Mine is out all year, but I can't even afford a house let alone rent a garage (I'm 28).

Once I've got a place with a garage it'll be kept in there. You notice rust appearing/spreading a lot faster out in the elements.

A good, breathable cover will help, but won't stop rising moisture/humidity.

 

[Pickles]

One of the reasons for moving to this house was the double garage and eventually I cleared all the stuff to ensure I could get it inside.

 

[Tofufi]

Storing something inside and safe and dry and warm, doesn't not preclude you from using it.

The decent unwelded RHD busses that still exist are rare and when you find them they have been well looked after but also stored inside.

Surely observation and learning from what the last 60 odd years has done to type 2's living in this country is enough to prove that actually the ones kept inside last longer in better condition.

It may add ten mins to the end of each journey unlocking and opening a door but surely that isn't enough to stop you using your pride and joy?

Also out of sight out of mind, the number getting stolen these days means I much prefer mine is out of sight and has added locks and protection of being inside.

This is all absolutely true. Theres no question that a bus kept indoors will survive much longer than one stored indoors. There are measures you can take in either case to improve things but ultimately the cold and wet will damage your bus. I dont say you shouldnt have one if you dont have a garage, or that they musn't be used in bad weather but there is no point being naive about it.

Well said both

I kept mine outdoors for 6-7 years, and comparing how it looks now with when I bought it is quite an eye-opener!

For me, keeping any older car under cover is pretty much a must - even if it's just a car-port.

All mine get used all year round, but at least now when it rains they don't get wet unless I'm driving them. Cars under car-ports dry out very quickly, and are protected from frost too

I bought my house primarily based on how much under-cover car storage there was/could be :lol: