Swapped heated storage for a dry barn and saved $200 a month

I had my 69 Camaro in a climate controlled unit for 3 years at $350 a month. Last winter I moved it to my buddy's pole barn out in the countryside for $150. No heater but I threw a dehumidifier in there and wrapped the car in a breathable cover. So far so good after 6 months, no rust or moisture issues. Anyone else downgrade storage to save cash and regret it or was it fine?

3 comments

3 Comments

alexbennett1mo ago

That dehumidifier thing is a good idea but you gotta be careful. A dehumidifier pulls moisture out of the air but it also puts out heat, so in a barn that's not sealed up tight it might actually just be wasting electricity. I'd say check the humidity level with a cheap gauge first before you assume it's doing anything. If the barn is drafty and gets a lot of outside air, the dehumidifier is just fighting the wind basically. Also wrapping a car in a breathable cover is fine for dust but if the cover gets wet from condensation it can trap moisture against the paint. You might be better off with just a good car cover that breathes and skipping the dehumidifier entirely. Been there with a car in a shed for a winter and learned the hard way.

paul_taylor211mo ago

Did you actually measure the humidity levels in your shed before and after running the dehumidifier that winter? Because I'm curious if it made any real difference or if it was just a waste of power. Also, what kind of cover ended up working best for you - one of those breathable cloth ones or something else? I've got a similar setup with a car in a pole barn and I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to keep moisture off it without running up the electric bill.

lindag331mo ago

Read somewhere that adding a fan to move air around actually works better than a dehumidifier in a drafty barn, @alexbennett.