Airchamber or Carcoon Veloce?
Discussion
I am looking at getting something like one of the above products to preserve the Lotus. Its existing cover does not prevent condensation forming if the atmospheric conditions conspire during the winter months.
It needs to be rigid, rather than a bubble or another cover, as I still want to be able to use the car every now and then. Both of these items seem to cost about 500 quid for my size of car. It would sit in one side of a double garage with a regular electrical socket conveniently located on the back wall.
Is there any real difference between the two products? Any issues I should be aware of? Are they really that easy to use? How much bigger than the actual car dimensions should you get?
It needs to be rigid, rather than a bubble or another cover, as I still want to be able to use the car every now and then. Both of these items seem to cost about 500 quid for my size of car. It would sit in one side of a double garage with a regular electrical socket conveniently located on the back wall.
Is there any real difference between the two products? Any issues I should be aware of? Are they really that easy to use? How much bigger than the actual car dimensions should you get?
Thanks for the alternative.
However, it seems that all 3 designs are fundamentally flawed for use in my regular modern up-and-over 5.5 metre long double garage.
The Cair-O-Port in the size I need would be at least 2.41 metres high. With the garage door in the open position I have max. 1.86 metres of available height, so their product is out of the question. I have no idea why they need to make the product so tall. Even my large saloon car is only 1.4 metres high, so I am sure 1.8 metres would be ample.
So that leaves the Airchamber and Carcoon Veloce. Neither of these has a tapered entrance to facilitate the arc of operation of a standard Hormann up-and-over garage door (unlike the Cair-O-Port
). The Airchamber is 1.8 metres high but, at the length I would need, this would prevent the garage door being opened. If it was tapered away from the door like the Cair-O-Port, it would allow another 0.25m or so of clearance and so be a possibility for me.
So this just leaves the Carcoon Veloce which is apparently about 1.6 metres high but even that is going to be a tighter fit than I would like. My car is 4.8 metres long and the only size of Carcoon Veloce that would fit my garage and allow the garage door to operate is 4.88 metres long, which means I would have to park with surgical precision each time and it also leaves no room for me to open the bonnet to connect the battery conditioner.
Looks like I'll be sticking to my trusty old car cover.
However, it seems that all 3 designs are fundamentally flawed for use in my regular modern up-and-over 5.5 metre long double garage.
The Cair-O-Port in the size I need would be at least 2.41 metres high. With the garage door in the open position I have max. 1.86 metres of available height, so their product is out of the question. I have no idea why they need to make the product so tall. Even my large saloon car is only 1.4 metres high, so I am sure 1.8 metres would be ample.
So that leaves the Airchamber and Carcoon Veloce. Neither of these has a tapered entrance to facilitate the arc of operation of a standard Hormann up-and-over garage door (unlike the Cair-O-Port
). The Airchamber is 1.8 metres high but, at the length I would need, this would prevent the garage door being opened. If it was tapered away from the door like the Cair-O-Port, it would allow another 0.25m or so of clearance and so be a possibility for me.So this just leaves the Carcoon Veloce which is apparently about 1.6 metres high but even that is going to be a tighter fit than I would like. My car is 4.8 metres long and the only size of Carcoon Veloce that would fit my garage and allow the garage door to operate is 4.88 metres long, which means I would have to park with surgical precision each time and it also leaves no room for me to open the bonnet to connect the battery conditioner.
Looks like I'll be sticking to my trusty old car cover.
1.8 m seems very low for a garage door ? My garage has horman doors ( but is a barn type ) sure there bigger than 1.8m or is that interior height ?
With the cair o port there are two poles that make up the uprights, I am sure you could adapt them to fit, or more likely Hamilton classics would do, they have done for me previously
I will have a look at mine this weekend.
Phib
With the cair o port there are two poles that make up the uprights, I am sure you could adapt them to fit, or more likely Hamilton classics would do, they have done for me previously
I will have a look at mine this weekend.
Phib
Hi, I have and use two airchambers and they are quite simply excellent. I store both a Noble and a Tuscan in each and over the years they have provided both peace of mind and truly excellent protection to both cars - zero deterioration in condition. They protect from dust and condensation and you'd be suprised how much they also protect from bumps etc. I've accidentally dropped things from my garage roof storage area on top of them and have been barely able to look, but these things can fend off more than you think especially when inflated.
I have two sizes, i forget actual dimensions but the Noble is in a 'large' one and allows me also to keep an expensive and precious triathlon / time trial bike in there too. The tuscan is in an 'MGB' sized one which is much tighter but I have used pipe lagging on the struts to protect the car when moving it in and out. My neighbour has a carcoon and it's a pain in the backside, the rigid contruction and ability to drive in and out is a must in my opinion.
Dont be too worried about it fitting the garage and clearing the up and over door you can actually build the airchamber so that the front opening tilts backwards by adusting the length of the top struts (there's an adjustable section), and whilst this isn't to the letter of the assembly instructions it doesn't affect performance but means you can shut your garage door! :-)
The large one takes up the whole floor area of my 'standard' double garage and the small one allows space to walk down the side and back of the chamber including space for shelves etc.
In short, whilst not cheap, it's one of the best investments to protect my cars that I've ever made.
Hope that helps!
Simon
I have two sizes, i forget actual dimensions but the Noble is in a 'large' one and allows me also to keep an expensive and precious triathlon / time trial bike in there too. The tuscan is in an 'MGB' sized one which is much tighter but I have used pipe lagging on the struts to protect the car when moving it in and out. My neighbour has a carcoon and it's a pain in the backside, the rigid contruction and ability to drive in and out is a must in my opinion.
Dont be too worried about it fitting the garage and clearing the up and over door you can actually build the airchamber so that the front opening tilts backwards by adusting the length of the top struts (there's an adjustable section), and whilst this isn't to the letter of the assembly instructions it doesn't affect performance but means you can shut your garage door! :-)
The large one takes up the whole floor area of my 'standard' double garage and the small one allows space to walk down the side and back of the chamber including space for shelves etc.
In short, whilst not cheap, it's one of the best investments to protect my cars that I've ever made.
Hope that helps!
Simon
Heres an alternative suggestion that I used to protect my elan +2 which completly eliminates any condensation even in a concrete garage.
I used a cheap fitted dust cover, underneath the car a piece of ply covered in tin foil on the ply a green house heater like this:-
http://www.greenhousewarehouse.com/heat-elec-tube-...
Switched on when the temperature was low, no trace of condensation, total cost about £60
I used a cheap fitted dust cover, underneath the car a piece of ply covered in tin foil on the ply a green house heater like this:-
http://www.greenhousewarehouse.com/heat-elec-tube-...
Switched on when the temperature was low, no trace of condensation, total cost about £60
another thumbs up for airchamber. i just got one for my sunbeam lotus from Dave at dpn valeting
http://www.professional-car-valeting.com/
i had to get the smaller one due to the length as the next size up would have finished right at the up and over door, so i wouldnt have been able to open/close the door.
it fits easily within a single garage, and seems to be doing an excellent job of keeping damp/dust etc out of the bubble.
they are very well made, quite robust material with a heavy duty oil proof groundsheet, and the zipped sections open and close quite easily. the seals are all made with velcro on heavy duty material so dont look like they will rip/deteriorate over time.
i have put a digital hygrometer inside to measure humidity and temperature and also have one in the surrounding garage to compare against out of interest. the air inside the chamber is generally 8-10% dryer than the garage its in, and the temperature is usually a degree or so warmer peak, so the bubble is doing what they claim it does. the airflow movement is quite impressive from the 2 small circ fans and pushes out the walls/roof of the bubble quite well.
i've been working on the car quite easily today while inside the bubble swapping some spark plugs out so its easy for access etc.
all in all i would recommend it 100% so far.
http://www.professional-car-valeting.com/
i had to get the smaller one due to the length as the next size up would have finished right at the up and over door, so i wouldnt have been able to open/close the door.
it fits easily within a single garage, and seems to be doing an excellent job of keeping damp/dust etc out of the bubble.
they are very well made, quite robust material with a heavy duty oil proof groundsheet, and the zipped sections open and close quite easily. the seals are all made with velcro on heavy duty material so dont look like they will rip/deteriorate over time.
i have put a digital hygrometer inside to measure humidity and temperature and also have one in the surrounding garage to compare against out of interest. the air inside the chamber is generally 8-10% dryer than the garage its in, and the temperature is usually a degree or so warmer peak, so the bubble is doing what they claim it does. the airflow movement is quite impressive from the 2 small circ fans and pushes out the walls/roof of the bubble quite well.
i've been working on the car quite easily today while inside the bubble swapping some spark plugs out so its easy for access etc.
all in all i would recommend it 100% so far.
phib said:
My cair-o- port is extra large 5.8m Long and its 1.8m high
Phib
Thanks for measuring Phib. It seems that I have been a bit of a Joey: I mixed up the width and the height dimensions from their website! Phib
Nevertheless, they do claim that the frame is 1.93 metres high, compared to my max 1.86 metres, although the front third of the frame does seem to slope down nicely, so it may be just right to clear the door mechanism. I think I'll note down the measurements of my garage as exactly as I can and ask the vendor what will fit. The absolute max would be the 5.5m long one, but I might have to settle for the 5.0m option.
On another point, do people out there with any of these rigid covers just leave the end open and the fans off in the warmer months and drive in and out like a regular garage?
Good job I went to check the measurements. The recent increase in ambient temperature has started a layer of light condensation to appear on certain parts of the car. I have taken the cover off, opened both garage doors and dried it all away. That's giving me added reason to act quickly. My uncovered modern daily driver parked next to it is unaffected.
Anyway the good news is that the 5 metre Cair-O-Port will fit: the garage door mechanism is 1.94 metres above the garage floor, so I am OK there after all. Sadly the 5.5 metre version is too long to fit inside the garage at all.
Looks like Hamilton Classics will be getting a call.
Anyway the good news is that the 5 metre Cair-O-Port will fit: the garage door mechanism is 1.94 metres above the garage floor, so I am OK there after all. Sadly the 5.5 metre version is too long to fit inside the garage at all.
Looks like Hamilton Classics will be getting a call.
Well the Cair-o-Port arrived today and my Father-in-Law helped me erect it. It fits in the garage OK and the garage door opens and closes normally. There is perhaps a little too much width to be honest, especially when it's inflated. Length-wise the car is a tight fit with the protruding boot spoiler on the Lotus touching the fabric: I hope this will not cause any paintwork problems.
Does anyone know if the fan filters go on the inside of the cover to filter the blown air (as supplied), or should they be on the outside filtering the air being sucked into the fan? Also how can I best get my battery conditioner inside: I normally clip this on to the battery under the bonnet, since the power socket is at that end of the garage. I don't really want cables running all over the place and am nervous to cut a big hole in the cover, to feed the hefty crocodile clips through.
It's very early days, but it does seem a bit of a faff getting the car in and out. I can see the car getting used even less now for that reason. Maybe I'll leave it wide open in the summer with the fans off.
Finally, you should have seen my wife's face when she saw that I was building an indoor tent for my car. Contempt was the only way to describe it! TBH it's a difficult purchase to justify to a "normal" person!
Better picture to follow tomorrow in the daylight.
Does anyone know if the fan filters go on the inside of the cover to filter the blown air (as supplied), or should they be on the outside filtering the air being sucked into the fan? Also how can I best get my battery conditioner inside: I normally clip this on to the battery under the bonnet, since the power socket is at that end of the garage. I don't really want cables running all over the place and am nervous to cut a big hole in the cover, to feed the hefty crocodile clips through.
It's very early days, but it does seem a bit of a faff getting the car in and out. I can see the car getting used even less now for that reason. Maybe I'll leave it wide open in the summer with the fans off.
Finally, you should have seen my wife's face when she saw that I was building an indoor tent for my car. Contempt was the only way to describe it! TBH it's a difficult purchase to justify to a "normal" person!
Better picture to follow tomorrow in the daylight.
I'd guess filters are for incoming air - don't you get any users instructions with it ? - with the Carccon you could unzip it a little, in fact there was a vent just to do this to have the air moving so I guess you can get your battery conditioner wires through the open part of the zip - Carcoon comes with in built battery conditioner and instructions 
The filters go on the outside, keeping dust and debris out of the chamber and out of the fan workings.
As for battery conditioner: on mine I have it set up with an in-line snap cable. This means it can be driven in/out with the connector connected so you've more room to put on / take off. The cable I run through the bottom of the side door.
Last point: on mine I leave each window cracked 1/8'' and prop the boot open with a couple of cheap sponges - means the airflow keeps the interior spanking too. Have had mine as described for the last 12 months.
As for battery conditioner: on mine I have it set up with an in-line snap cable. This means it can be driven in/out with the connector connected so you've more room to put on / take off. The cable I run through the bottom of the side door.
Last point: on mine I leave each window cracked 1/8'' and prop the boot open with a couple of cheap sponges - means the airflow keeps the interior spanking too. Have had mine as described for the last 12 months.
I repositioned the fan filters and also took the plug off the battery conditioner and fed the lead through a tight gap between a fan and the fabric. I then refitted the plug and switched it on. That now works fine and I can fit it when the car is 90% of the way in and then move the car forward the last few centimetres. I am pleased with this solution, since I do not need an extension lead trailing through the garage.
Now you see it...
Now you don't...
This shows the angle of the uprights which helps clear the arc of the garage mechanism...
However, this angle also means that the fabric is tight against the boot spoiler...
Now you see it...
Now you don't...
This shows the angle of the uprights which helps clear the arc of the garage mechanism...
However, this angle also means that the fabric is tight against the boot spoiler...
for spoiler perhaps a bit of pipe insulation with a section cut out at the slit opening (of the pipe insulation that is) or glue a piece of soft cushioning material to the inside of the cover window where it touches the spoiler
for the power cable perhaps a close fitting hole cut or punched out at a non-stress point then a grommet glued in to stop the material fraying or hole enlarging and provide a tight seal to the power cable
for the power cable perhaps a close fitting hole cut or punched out at a non-stress point then a grommet glued in to stop the material fraying or hole enlarging and provide a tight seal to the power cable
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