I've always found that even breathable covers aren't always enough—especially if the garage itself has moisture issues. Had a similar headache storing my '69 Camaro; ended up installing a small dehumidifier and a cheap digital humidity gauge to keep an eye on things. Made a huge difference, honestly. Curious if anyone's tried those moisture-absorbing packs instead? Seems like they'd be easier than running electrical gear all winter...
Yeah, breathable covers alone never did much for me either. I tried those moisture packs last winter—honestly, they helped a bit but weren't a complete fix. Had to swap them out pretty often, and costs added up quicker than I expected. Still better than nothing if you can't run electric gear, but I'd probably stick with your dehumidifier setup if possible...
Yeah, I feel you on those moisture packs. I gave them a shot myself last year, and while they did cut down on some dampness, the constant swapping got old pretty fast. Plus, like you said, the cost sneaks up on you—especially if you're trying to keep things budget-friendly. I've been lucky enough to run a basic dehumidifier setup in my garage, and honestly, it's been worth every penny. Not perfect, but definitely more effective overall.
If the city rules are tightening up storage options, I can see how that makes things tricky, especially if electric setups get restricted or complicated. Hopefully, they don't push things too far—it's already tough enough keeping classics in good shape without extra hoops to jump through. Hang in there though... sounds like you're doing all the right things to keep your ride protected!
Totally agree about the moisture packs—they're fine for short-term fixes, but quickly become a hassle (and expense) if you're looking long-term. I tried them briefly, but ended up grabbing a used dehumidifier off Craigslist for pretty cheap. Took some patience to find one that wasn't sketchy, but it's been running solid for two years now with minimal fuss.
As for the city's new rules, yeah, they're getting a bit much. My apartment complex recently banned any electric setups in our assigned parking spots, so my garage rental across town just became essential instead of optional... not ideal when you're trying to save money. Seems like these rules are made by folks who don't really get what goes into maintaining older cars. Hopefully it doesn't get stricter from here—it's already tricky enough juggling storage options without more restrictions piling on.
"Seems like these rules are made by folks who don't really get what goes into maintaining older cars."
Yeah, that's exactly it. My landlord recently banned any kind of oil changes or minor repairs in our parking area—apparently someone spilled once and now we're all paying for it. Ended up renting a friend's driveway on weekends just to keep my old Mustang running smoothly. Feels like we're jumping through hoops just to enjoy our hobby... at this rate, we'll be hiding spark plugs under floorboards soon.
