Which Car Covers Are Portable?
By John Funk, October 27, 2020
No garage? No problem! While having a dedicated garage for your precious ride would be nice, not every car owner is blessed enough to have one. Only 80% of owned houses and condos in the United States have a garage or carport, but this number is effectively much lower, as many of these households use the space for anything but its intended purpose. Many American garages are filled with boxes, knickknacks, and junk – not cars.
Does this describe your current situation? If it does, there’s something you can do to solve the problem without breaking the bank. If you’re thinking along the lines of portable car covers, portable car canopies, car umbrellas, and the like, you guessed it right!
Your Car Needs Protection
Every responsible car owner knows that exposing their rides to the elements for prolonged periods can lead to disastrous results. Extreme heat, snow, and rain can do a number on your favorite ride, leaving faded paint, cracked interiors, hardened rubber seals, and corroded metal parts in its wake.
Moreover, you can expect additional damage if you allow leaves, dirt, and bird droppings to pile up. Falling leaves can damage your car’s finish, leave nasty scratches on your windshield, cause water leaks as they clog the drain holes, and block the flow of air into your car.
Allowing dust and dirt to accumulate has very much the same effect. It can impact your car’s paint and clear finish, cause rust to start, scratch the windshield, and reduce airflow to the engine. It can also pollute your engine oil, necessitating the need for more frequent maintenance.
Then, there’s the problem with bird droppings. With its highly acidic and toxic nature, bird poop can easily ruin your car’s finish. In fact, leaving it for just a few hours is enough to burn the topcoat.
Your car is being attacked at all fronts. Isn’t it about time you give it the protection it needs? It would be ideal if you can keep it in your garage, but if you don’t have one or if your garage is too cluttered with things that don’t belong there (read: excess, seasonal, and unused household stuff), then you can go for the next best thing – a portable car cover.
Portable Car Covers: What Are Your Options?
You have several options to choose from. Aside from installing a fixed or retractable awning over your driveway or renting a garage space, you can choose to install a portable carport or car canopy, buy a portable car umbrella, or invest in a good quality car cover.
Portable Carport
A portable carport or car canopy makes a good alternative for a garage. These structures are sturdy and durable enough to protect your prized possession from sunlight, rain, snow and frost, and animal waste, and are quite easy to install. You don’t even have to dig a trench and pour a foundation or secure a permit from your local government to install one!
Portable carports come in a variety of styles. You can go for a fully enclosed retractable car canopy with a steel framework and strong fabric cover for maximum protection, or choose a simple metal carport with a durable canopy cover.
As a bonus, portable carports are multi-functional. Aside from protecting your car against the elements, you can also use it as an outside canopy when hosting picnics and other outdoor events or as an extra storage space.
Car Umbrella
If you’re looking for something more portable, you might be interested in a portable car umbrella. Manufacturers claim that it can protect your car’s exterior from the damaging effects of UV rays, acid rain, and snow while effectively reducing the interior temperature by up to 45oF.
Car umbrellas come in different styles, colors, and features. While the majority provides full coverage for most types of vehicles, some can be remotely operated while others require manual installation and use every time you want to set it up. There are also some models that offer more stability during windy days while others can double as beach, fishing, or patio umbrellas.
In choosing a suitable car umbrella, you need to:
- Ensure its compatibility with your vehicle. Some are created for a specific model or make of vehicles.
- Factor in the ease of installation. Do you want a remote-controlled car umbrella or are you okay with putting it up every time you’re about to use it?
- Consider its versatility. Do you want to use it for something other than protecting your car?
- Think about ease of cleaning. Things get dirty over time. Car umbrellas are no exception, so choose one that is easy to clean.
Car Cover
When it comes to portability, nothing beats a good car cover. You can easily put it on your car, take it off when you need to, and fold it up for storage without breaking a sweat. And while a folded car cover is too big to say, bring on an airplane carry-on, most car covers fit neatly into the trunk of your car, so you can bring it anywhere.
Having trouble when folding a car cover? Here’s an easy way to do it.
- Release both ends of the cover from under the bumpers and fold up the sides onto the top of the vehicle.
- Fold the cover in three-foot folds starting at the front.
- You’re done!
Aside from its portability, a high-quality car cover prevents paint from fading, maintains a car’s interior, and delays the onset of corrosion. It also acts as an effective theft deterrent and reduces the risk of dents, dings, and scratches. And you get all these without spending a lot of your hard-earned dollars! What more can you possibly ask for?
Find Portable Car Covers at Seal Skin Covers
Seal Skin manufactures 100% waterproof yet extremely breathable Seal-Fit car covers at a great price. We’re proud to say that all of our products are of extremely high quality and virtually free from any defects so we’re confident enough to offer you a full 30-day return and exchange warranty with every purchase, at no additional cost.
Have some questions about our products, exchange, and refund policies? Give us a call at 800-915-0038 during our office hours (Monday to Friday at 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST) and we will help you find what you need!
