To Cover or Not to Cover?

[American Muscle]

My Magnum is being transported to Atlanta this week and I am debating on dropping some cash for a car cover. I am pretty sure that it is a open car transporter and have some concerns about road debris amongst other things, like someone trying to yank my wheels. But this will probably be the ONLY time I would ever use the cover.

Now the other thing to think about is that the car is fully insured while it is in transport so if anything bad does happen it will be taken care of. Granted after miles of red tape but I know how to get things like that taken care of.

So what would you do?

[wheelife]

Cover it!!!!

[GoofyTimL]

Definitely cover if you're not gonna ride with it.

[MattRobertson]

if you cover it make sure the cover is secure from blowing off while on the back of the truck. I recently sprang the big bucks for a car cover at Costco ($29.95... yeah I know). In a good wind it pops off unless I use the cable to secure it. I prolly need to add some grommet holes in the front and back to help secure it with something non-abrasive on the ends (I wrap the cable with a microfiber towel on each side where it contacts the rocker panel).

[Charg-um@BMC Performance]

Speaking as a painter.. I would be nervous of sand or other particles working their way loose or being blown under the cover. If that happens, it will be like taking a scotchbrite pad to the areas where the cover is moving back and forth from the wind.

If I had to suggest anything at all, it would be the sticky film they use from the factory to dealer to prevent nicks and scratches (which we all know doesnt always work either).

The only factor is really how far your baby is going.

Hope my input was usefull.

[Hurst Equipped]

i wouldn't cover it. the cover blowing in the high speed wind may cause more damage than no cover at all. maybe some white pvc wrap on the leading edges, but i wouldn't use a car cover for transport.

[American Muscle]

Man I didn't even think about the cover flapping against my paint for 780 miles. Hmmm, maybe this is an easier decision than I thought.

[MattRobertson]

Wow good points. I change my vote. Instead, do what fatchance did with his front end on the way to AZ: Cover the thing in blue painter's tape.

'atsa lotta tape for the whole car. Maybe you can get away with just the forward-facing surfaces. The front end (all of it, like in the picture), the A-pillars, the leading edges of the roof line (front, right and left). I have a lot of scratches on the right/left edges of the roofline so don't overlook it.

(pic stolen from bobf)
http://thefrancas.com/2006-04-29%20016%20%28Medium%29.jpg

[American Muscle]

That's a good idea. I will have to see which way they load it. I may tell them I want it on facing backwards. That way less curves to tape up.

[wheelife]

Me too, i change my vote, i like the tape idea better.

[SDMagnumRT]

We shipped my buddy's 69 cutlass from pennsylvania to south carolina on a open car transport and what actually worked real well was a really thick coat of wax of the front, hood and windshield. It will get a bunch of road grime on it but it will wash right off with a pressure washer

[MikeEast]

You can ship it to my house if you'd like... :-)

Mike

[SmoovC]

I was wondering about the painter's tape: how long was it on, how hard was it to take off, & what effect does rain and / or sun have on it?

[BrilliantBlackHemi]

That's a lot of tape. Why did bobf do this again? I missed that.

[American Muscle]

You can ship it to my house if you'd like... :-)

Mike
Wow! A volunteer to wash and wax right off the transport thanks man.:thumbs_u:

[American Muscle]

That's a lot of tape. Why did bobf do this again? I missed that.
I think he drove a long distance to go to a M&G in Arizona. Probably had to drive throught the desert, sand can wreak havoc on a paint job.

[Token]

Put a good thick coat of Zaino show car polish on it and don't remove it. THis stuff can stay on for days and if it gets wet it doesn't hurt it. When the car arrives just clean off the polish and any bugs etc.. that are stuck to it.

[MooNDoGGie]

Geez what do ya do when you drive the car? Just leave it and wash it when you get there :)

[MAGFX]

I just recently drove from AZ to Toronto, CA with the FCP (Fat Chance Protection). I saw his car at the Scottsdale M&G, so I thought that I would give it a try since my front paint was less than a month old. I also put on clear packing tape over the blue take for a tougher protection. Over 2400+ miles I would have to trim a piece of tape or two that would come loose from time to time. I did hit alot of rain. The tape was on for at least a week. It was not to bad to remove it. Just needed to clean the surface from the tape goo. I did notice a bit of road grit in between some of the layers where it got wet and separated a bit. Stick with the blue painter's tape and do not use the clear packing tape over it. It did not want to stick to the blue tape.

When I went to the Montreal M&G last weekend, someone mentioned a spray-on protective product that will come off with a pressure hose. Rain??? Maybe there was more to it. Not sure.
I had a horror story once with a car transport company. Just find out who the insurance is with and cover yourself. Good luck!

[Todd RT]

The blue tape will come off in wind or rain.

How 'bout those giant rolls of saran wrap that you can wrap furniture in for moving???? Wrap the entire thing up!

[MooNDoGGie]

The blue tape will come off in wind or rain.

How 'bout those giant rolls of saran wrap that you can wrap furniture in for moving???? Wrap the entire thing up!

The windshield wipers don't work well on that wrap :grin:

[legmaker72]

My Magnum is being transported to Atlanta this week and I am debating on dropping some cash for a car cover. I am pretty sure that it is a open car transporter and have some concerns about road debris amongst other things, like someone trying to yank my wheels. But this will probably be the ONLY time I would ever use the cover.

Now the other thing to think about is that the car is fully insured while it is in transport so if anything bad does happen it will be taken care of. Granted after miles of red tape but I know how to get things like that taken care of.

So what would you do?


AM,
I have been contemplating having my Mag transported to Florida next month and if it was an open transport..I was going to get a cover. Not worth the aggravation if something small happens..paint chip or rock door ding etc...I'd assume to just prevent the small things from happening, as it would end up being a long and lengthy fix.
Can you tell me who you are going through for the transport and if your car is the only one on it or is it a multiple car. PM me with some info if you can..I'm still looking for a transport recommendation.

[gn300]

Just drive the thing and enjoy a road trip!

[magnum lover]

Have you checked into an enclosed trailer? We have one for the racecar and it would protect it totally. Haven't checked to see if mine would fit in it but the Camaro does.

[legmaker72]

Have you checked into an enclosed trailer? We have one for the racecar and it would protect it totally. Haven't checked to see if mine would fit in it but the Camaro does.

Thats what I was thinking..A covered trailer would be best..I'm sure they charge ALOT more for the covered transport though.

[Bubba's Dragon]

Some times moving companys will ship cars also. The dudes that moved my stuff from Seattle to Lawton Oklahoma had a car in the truck also.. That would be your safest bet.

[American Muscle]

The moving company is doing the transport, It was going to be on the truck with my stuff and I was very happy with that. But my new house will not be ready upon arrival and because I need to have wheels while I am waiting the car is being shipped seperatly. I thought about driving it but would rather take the wife's SUV, it has XM Radio. Also I sit higher up and being 6'4" find that more comfortable on long drives.

[MAGFX]

This was after 1550 miles with alot of rain along the way. I drove another 850 miles after that. No problem. It definitely protected my car. It was on for about 10 days.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j312/jonnfx/25d67f7b.jpg

[Jaak]

Hmmm... No one's mentioned if it gets wet and it's held in by a covering, the paint's clear coat could fog.

Think bra... Even Mopar says, take it off it's wet. (I keep telling my wife this, too and pointing to the instructions!)

I like the "load it up with wax and leave it on" idea.

[northeastern08]

I think Im also fond of the "tons-o-wax" idea...If it were me, I would probably first look into those clear bras that just peal off first then second choice would be wax...Guess my real first choice would be covered trailer