Oldhens Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 Does anyone use something such as this? Looks like a great idea to protect the car but it’s accessible enough for the car to be used regularly on dry winter days. I’m aware of Carcoon but their outdoor bubble looks like it’s more for long term storage and isn’t very easy-access. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 I’m just wondering about the size of the owner, based on the massive striped bed sheet placed under it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 Images of bouncy castles being blown away, come to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euan Hoosearmy Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 We've been using carcoons for at least 6 years. The westy spent it's first year in one before promotion to the garage. As long as you've enough clearance to walk all the way round, getting a car in or out is easy. With the Westy I used to unzip 3/4 of the way round (back, side and front), flip the top part over beside the car, jump in and drive off. Once you're home, park on the bottom part, throw the top part over the car (not difficult with the lack of height involved) zip up and connect power. The bubble will re-inflate in about 10 mins. With one of my other cars that's in a Carcoon in the front garden, I unzip 90% of the way round then flip the top onto the grass behind the car before driving off. Keeping just a little bit of zip attached makes life much easier. There are three challenges with a Carcoon: 1) How to stop it blowing away when there's no car in it. We've used everything from other cars to wheely bins and bags of potting compost. 2) Doesn't apply to Westys, but getting the top part over the car if it is wet is a right pain, as it sticks. 3) Getting one - it's that time of year when demand goes up... if you buy new, go direct to Carcoon as they'll have an accurate view on lead times. Certain other suppliers.... despite what they may say, rarely have stock. The other advantage is that if you go direct, they're helpful if you have any issues. The zip failed on one of ours and they collected it, repaired it and sent it back to us. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhens Posted September 3 Author Share Posted September 3 1 hour ago, Captain Colonial said: I’m just wondering about the size of the owner, based on the massive striped bed sheet placed under it. Clearly a beach towel 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewan Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 I have an airchamber (recently bought from another forum member). The advantage over the carcoon is that it has a frame, so doesn’t deflate when you drive out. You simply unzip the front and drive out. When you drive back in, zip it back up and turn on the blowers for airflow. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhens Posted September 4 Author Share Posted September 4 2 hours ago, Ewan said: I have an airchamber (recently bought from another forum member). The advantage over the carcoon is that it has a frame, so doesn’t deflate when you drive out. You simply unzip the front and drive out. When you drive back in, zip it back up and turn on the blowers for airflow. The Carcoon Veloce has this feature but can only be used indoors. Can the Airchamber be used outdoors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euan Hoosearmy Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 I don't think they can be used outside or I'd have some... the frame would make some aspects easier. The outdoor carcoon is quite different to the indoor ones as they're double skinned to create an insulating layer to stop condensation inside. That's probably what stops them from having a "front" door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrzej Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 On 03/09/2024 at 15:41, Euan Hoosearmy said: We've been using carcoons for at least 6 years. The westy spent it's first year in one before promotion to the garage. As long as you've enough clearance to walk all the way round, getting a car in or out is easy. With the Westy I used to unzip 3/4 of the way round (back, side and front), flip the top part over beside the car, jump in and drive off. Once you're home, park on the bottom part, throw the top part over the car (not difficult with the lack of height involved) zip up and connect power. The bubble will re-inflate in about 10 mins. With one of my other cars that's in a Carcoon in the front garden, I unzip 90% of the way round then flip the top onto the grass behind the car before driving off. Keeping just a little bit of zip attached makes life much easier. There are three challenges with a Carcoon: 1) How to stop it blowing away when there's no car in it. We've used everything from other cars to wheely bins and bags of potting compost. 2) Doesn't apply to Westys, but getting the top part over the car if it is wet is a right pain, as it sticks. 3) Getting one - it's that time of year when demand goes up... if you buy new, go direct to Carcoon as they'll have an accurate view on lead times. Certain other suppliers.... despite what they may say, rarely have stock. The other advantage is that if you go direct, they're helpful if you have any issues. The zip failed on one of ours and they collected it, repaired it and sent it back to us. I have the same exact experience with Carconn (s - I use two) . Only will add- unzipping and zipping takes longer than open and close garage doors... 😕 When I drive back let the car - exhaust with catalisator especialy cool down before drive on cocoon floor and close./ Also - last few weeks we have weather with no drop of rain, hot, and used frequently my road Westfield, so did not zipp it , just cover from top , not connected to power. Easier and faster get to car then next day - just uncover without unzip. Bu also mus add - mine older carcoon bought jan 2019 now has(rotten? not sure its is proper word?) - weakend material due to nonstop expose to sun and froze/ice . Now it is easy to shatter outside layer . Fixed with McGyver tape , but, it gets old sadly . And snow - there is not much pressure inside cocoon and snow need to be shoveled with some broom or sht to allow carcoon to inflate again and work not as a regular cover with snow on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euan Hoosearmy Posted September 4 Share Posted September 4 @Andrzej - Agree on the snow and lifespan. We had to replace one last year as the top failed, was about 7 years old. Cat attacks - leaping down onto carcoon from high fence, don't help.... the snow is a minor thing here in Southern England, it's a rare event, so children think brushing the snow off a carcoon is an exciting task..... For us, it's carcoon or pay for storage: at ~£600 for a carcoon vs £100+ per month for storage, the Carcoon pays for itself pretty quickly. Plus I don't have to drive to the storage site when I want to use the car. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewan Posted September 5 Share Posted September 5 21 hours ago, I-16 said: The Carcoon Veloce has this feature but can only be used indoors. Can the Airchamber be used outdoors? I think the airchamber is indoor only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Jackson 1975 Posted September 10 Share Posted September 10 I had an inflatable garage once, but it got a hole in it. Was a massive let down.... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhens Posted September 10 Author Share Posted September 10 4 hours ago, Mat Jackson 1975 said: I had an inflatable garage once, but it got a hole in it. Was a massive let down.... Oh dear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Jackson 1975 Posted September 11 Share Posted September 11 18 hours ago, I-16 said: Oh dear! Left me feeling quite deflated... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SootySport Posted September 11 Share Posted September 11 On 03/09/2024 at 13:11, I-16 said: Does anyone use something such as this? Looks like a great idea to protect the car but it’s accessible enough for the car to be used regularly on dry winter days. I’m aware of Carcoon but their outdoor bubble looks like it’s more for long term storage and isn’t very easy-access. Looks like a great idea to me. A few paving slabs will hold it down in the wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.