[19scatpackwidebody]

Hello fellow Challenger owners. I just picked up a 2019 Scat Pack Widebody. It has 2 hood vents and a hood scoop. I live in NJ, and sometimes the snow can be pretty brutal. And, I don't have a garage. I'm wondering what others do that store their cars in the great outdoors during the harsh winter months. I've read that covers can be bad for the paint, so I'm hesitant there. Is there a way to simply block off the hood vents with some piece of weighted plastic for the snow? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[hemi4us]

Depends on the cover (being bad for paint) and tte conditions.
High winds can cause them to abrate/rub on the paint as they flop around in the breeze. Good covers will have tie down or at least grommets for tie downs, but the tie downs, normally a webbing strap can also scuff the paint & lower plastic trim.
They do make covers that are flet lined inside and have a 3 or 4 season outter shell with front & rear lower elastic, in addition to a center tie down that runs under the car. I have one, and although it wasnt cheap, to me, having had several cheaper covers that rip, fray, or leak, its well worth it. One factor you may need to consider is the cover actually freezing to the car (had this happen), which can be problematic if you need to go anywhere....
Is it at all possible to errect one of the portable garages/canopy type shelters from costco or harbor frieght, to park it in when weather turns bad?

 

[Rockster]

My Hellcat hasn't been in snow but it has been out in the rain. I don't worry about it.

My Porsche 996 Turbo engine lid had louvers. When this car sat out in the rain -- and a time or two it sat out in the snow -- after being out in the rain upon cold start it was quite common for the serpentine belt to slip. I could tell this because the in dash voltage gauge read low. And as the belt/accessory drives dried out the belt would "chirp".

The belt would dry out in really not time. Maybe after at the most 30 seconds of just letting the engine idle.

I have not noticed any signs the Hellcat accessory drive belt or the supercharger drive belt slips after being exposed to rain or wash water.

They are just cars. The manufacturers are well aware of the car can be exposed to inclement weather.

My only acknowledgement to the fact the Hellcat hood has openings and that the Turbo engine lid had louvers was to when I wash (or washed) the car was to minimize the amount of water I aimed in the area of the hood vents or sprayed on the engine compartment lid.

With my Boxster which sat out in/was exposed to the most snow and even ice storms -- this when I lived about 30 miles east of KC MO -- I tried using heavy plastic sheeting to cover the car mainly the top/side windows. I bought a large sheet of heavy plastic -- painters plastic I think -- and draped it over the top and bunched the excess plastic sheet under the wheel wells. This worked reasonably well but then I had a very large heavy sheet of plastic to deal with. I carried a large plastic bucket in the front trunk and shoved the plastic sheet in that to keep the sheet from filling the bottom of the trunk with water.

After a few times with the plastic sheet I stopped using it. While the Boxster side windows could freeze and refuse to drop when the door was open I found a quick/easy solution to this and thereafter just parked the car and if the snow flew or the ice fell so be it.

 

[TA 392 YJ]

Hello fellow Challenger owners. I just picked up a 2019 Scat Pack Widebody. It has 2 hood vents and a hood scoop. I live in NJ, and sometimes the snow can be pretty brutal. And, I don't have a garage. I'm wondering what others do that store their cars in the great outdoors during the harsh winter months. I've read that covers can be bad for the paint, so I'm hesitant there. Is there a way to simply block off the hood vents with some piece of weighted plastic for the snow? Any insight is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Dodge figured snow into the equation.......don't sweat it. Nothing bad is going to happen.

 

[19scatpackwidebody]

My Hellcat hasn't been in snow but it has been out in the rain. I don't worry about it.

My Porsche 996 Turbo engine lid had louvers. When this car sat out in the rain -- and a time or two it sat out in the snow -- after being out in the rain upon cold start it was quite common for the serpentine belt to slip. I could tell this because the in dash voltage gauge read low. And as the belt/accessory drives dried out the belt would "chirp".

The belt would dry out in really not time. Maybe after at the most 30 seconds of just letting the engine idle.

I have not noticed any signs the Hellcat accessory drive belt or the supercharger drive belt slips after being exposed to rain or wash water.

They are just cars. The manufacturers are well aware of the car can be exposed to inclement weather.

My only acknowledgement to the fact the Hellcat hood has openings and that the Turbo engine lid had louvers was to when I wash (or washed) the car was to minimize the amount of water I aimed in the area of the hood vents or sprayed on the engine compartment lid.

With my Boxster which sat out in/was exposed to the most snow and even ice storms -- this when I lived about 30 miles east of KC MO -- I tried using heavy plastic sheeting to cover the car mainly the top/side windows. I bought a large sheet of heavy plastic -- painters plastic I think -- and draped it over the top and bunched the excess plastic sheet under the wheel wells. This worked reasonably well but then I had a very large heavy sheet of plastic to deal with. I carried a large plastic bucket in the front trunk and shoved the plastic sheet in that to keep the sheet from filling the bottom of the trunk with water.

After a few times with the plastic sheet I stopped using it. While the Boxster side windows could freeze and refuse to drop when the door was open I found a quick/easy solution to this and thereafter just parked the car and if the snow flew or the ice fell so be it.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

 

[dan harleyrench]

I'm also from NJ,,,and it's not the snow you have to worry about,,it's the brine they put on the roads,when Gov. Murphy calls a state of emergency before EVERY snowfall !!!! Last year they were putting it down once a week around here ( Jersey Shore ),,,,it takes about 2 good rainfalls to wash it away,,,,,my Dodge Ram truck is rusting away from it,....,I won't drive my Challenger after they spray the roads with it !! Really corrosive stuff !!!

 

[19scatpackwidebody]

Thank you for this info Dan. Luckily, I have a daily driver. But, my car will still be outside during winter months. I just bought the mopar hellcat cover. I'm hoping this keeps it clean.

 

[jpferry315]

I'm also from NJ,,,and it's not the snow you have to worry about,,it's the brine they put on the roads,when Gov. Murphy calls a state of emergency before EVERY snowfall !!!! Last year they were putting it down once a week around here ( Jersey Shore ),,,,it takes about 2 good rainfalls to wash it away,,,,,my Dodge Ram truck is rusting away from it,....,I won't drive my Challenger after they spray the roads with it !! Really corrosive stuff !!!

I live in Mercer County NJ and yes as soon as there is any chance of snow that brine is on every major road. My car will be resting in the garage. I do take her out in winter on clear days but they are few and far between.

 

[Dodgenovice]

I'm in a similar situation, but much less harsh winter. I debated a car cover. I think it replaces one problem (snowfall and rain) with a different problem (abrasive moving cover on the paint under high winds). Also, guess what likes to nest in a nice warm covered area. Rodents like rats and mice. If you make that sitting car a nice cozy place out of observation area, you might find a nest of mice has eaten up your engine electrical.

As others mentioned, the real enemy is salt on the roads.

Probably worth considering just to leave it uncovered, and turn check on it regularly and turn it over regularly and let it run a bit to inspect it, keep the engine in good shape, and keep critters out. Take it out on a nice day and give it a good hot wash.

Here's one possible option. I'm strongly considering a car port. They are inexpensive. If you set the lets in 5 gallon buckets of concrete mix, they shouldn't topple or blow away. At $90 temporary car port to keep a lot of the snow and rain and even sun directly off is not a bad idea.... https://www.walmart.com/ip/Caravan-...yAaye4sNuFUWQCHxy3F7U4BXjWs-yTMhoC1zAQAvD_BwE

 

[A Guy]

JLT High Performance Air Intakes - JLT An S&B Company

JLT - You need a huge tube for big air and JLT delivers. We offer tune required intakes and intakes that work with factory tuning for maximum horsepower.

www.jlttruecoldair.com

Not meant to keep water (snow) out, just off the filter assy, but might help with snow

A Guy

 

[RocketRob99]

I am looking into a car cover for the NY winters. I have to drive after the fact and dealing with road-salty is a serious concern. Only way to keep that at bay is regular car washes. As for road brine, I can't say for NJ but my understanding it is organic mostly made of Beet juice, not sure how that would be adverse to paint. As far as car covers go, so far my research shows in the Northeast looking for a 4 season custom fit felt backed cover seems to be the way to go. Prices I've found so far $169 to $289 which are custom fit but where to focus is on how it is tied down which is what has held me off from buying yet.