Hail is a short-term and infrequent phenomenon, but a real one can cause damage to a car. There are no special tricks to protect the car from hail, but it is worth knowing a few simple actions that you will not immediately remember in case of a sudden natural disaster.
1. Once hit by hail, it is important to act quickly - it rarely lasts more than a quarter of an hour, but the damage it causes to a car is almost independent of duration.
2. Don't panic. Hailstones with a diameter of about 1 cm do not leave dents on the car. But if the size of the hailstones approaches 2 cm, you should think about protecting the car.
3. In any case, it is better to stop, because when falling hailstones collide with a moving car, the speed of their movement is summed up, aggravating the consequences.
4. Look around. The simplest thing is to drive a car under one or another shelter. This can be a canopy of a gas station, a tire fitting or parking lot, an awning of a roadside restaurant, a large bridge or an overpass - of course, with an eye to the rules traffic and the safety of those around you. In extreme cases, a tree is suitable - its crown will not delay hailstones, but at least partially extinguish their kinetic energy. True, old trees are dangerous because in the event of a strong squall they can “drop” one or two branches down.
5. If there are no options with an external shelter, think about what you can cover the car with from the things you have at your disposal. As a rule, interior floor mats and a trunk tray provide good protection, a blanket or blanket, a beach mat, a towel will also work - the thicker the better. You can quickly put things from the trunk on the car - bags, clothes. If your car has backseat made easily removable, you can hoist it on the car and it.
6. But before you run out into the hail, figure out which parts of the car you will cover. It usually makes sense to salvage painted body parts first, since straightening and painting them in many cases is more expensive than replacing glass. And of the body parts, the most valuable is the roof, since it is a non-removable part.
7. It is better to completely cover one detail from hail than in parts - several. After all, if, for example, there are at least a few major damages on the same roof, it will still have to be repainted, regardless of the number of dents.
8. If hail does damage your car, keep in mind: today there are technologies that allow you to level small dents without subsequent repainting. Therefore, start your search for repair options by contacting the masters of the so-called “paintless straightening”.
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What should a motorist do if a meeting with hail is inevitable? Reasonable "road lovers" will say that the first step is to seek shelter, any durable structures, bridges, canopies of gas stations or supermarkets will do. And what about those who are caught on the road by bad weather? What to do in this case? Here are some practical tips that will save your dear and beloved car.
Situation 1- "City in the" open field ". Yes, indeed, the situation is unpleasant. If bad weather caught a motorist in an open area, then you should rely only on yourself and your thrift. Rubber mats can be used as improvised protective materials, they will soften the blows of hailstones. A plastic pallet, which many people have in the trunk, will also help save the car. Fabric mats in such a situation, bad helpers, because the first impulse strong wind will take them down. However, if they are fixed, for example, with tapes with rubber inserts and hooks, then the damage caused by the elements can be minimized. An air mattress can also protect the car, however, firstly, you must have a compressor that runs on the cigarette lighter, and secondly, you still have to run in the rain.
Situation 2- "The hail found near the trees." It seems to many that you don’t have to worry about driving a car under a tree, but let’s face it, not every tree will become a faithful defender. Only a strong tree with hard wood can simplify the situation, hiding a car behind it, you soften the impact of hailstones, however, even this method is effective only in a headwind. Do not hide under trees with soft and thin branches. With a strong gust of wind, fragile branches will fly along with hailstones to the car, which will deliver more more hassle. Important point: do not cover the car with a cotton blanket, as it gets wet quickly, fits snugly on the roof of the car and thereby “helps” deform the body.
Situation 3“The city is on the move.” During rain with hail, stopping the car is obligatory! Look around (if possible) and look for shelter, if there is nothing suitable nearby, pull closer to the side of the road, however, do not forget that during heavy rain the edges of the road can be washed out. Do not drive into places where hail has accumulated, you can lose control of the car.
Before long trip check the contents of the trunk, mark on the map the location of gas stations, shops, campsites, etc. By the way, it has been noticed that the average duration of hail is about 6 minutes, in rare cases “ freezing rain” can last about 15 minutes.
The summer season is fraught with hail for motorists. In a short time, hail can ruin even the most durable car. Therefore, it is worth taking care of hail protection for the car in advance. There are ways to make it from improvised means.
Basic ways
Hail protection for a car is one of the most important things that every motorist should take care of. There are several methods that will be effective both in the parking lot and on the road.
1. Protecting a moving car is more important, as hail can cause more damage to the car when moving. Therefore, it is best to hide under a reliable shelter, if there is one nearby.
2. Even if there is nothing similar nearby, you still need to stop the car.
3. On the way, do-it-yourself hail protection for cars can be made from improvised materials. Will go great:
- rubber mats;
- pallet from the trunk;
- trunk lining (if it is really quickly removed);
- clothes, covers.
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It is necessary to protect the roof first of all, since in the case of repair, it is its replacement that will cost the most.
4. The windows must also be covered so that water does not get into the cabin.
5. Bubble wrap is the best hail protection for your car. It is inexpensive, light in weight, and therefore easy to carry with you just the right amount to cover the entire car. By the way, it saves even from very large hailstones.
6. Foam underlay for laminate flooring - this is also good protection for cars from hail. Its advantage is the price.
7. Protection of the car from hail in the parking lot can be provided with a special inflatable cover. You can buy it at any auto supply store.
8. Ordinary thick carpet, pile down, will also provide required level protection.
9. A regular tarpaulin cover will also help. Such a means of protection against hail for a car can be made with your own hands. The main thing is to purchase the right fabric and sew it correctly. The advantages of quality fabric are:
- ease;
- strength;
- resistance to a large range of temperatures;
- water resistance;
- ease of maintenance.
- immunity to sunlight.
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10. It is possible to build a stationary tent over the car in a country stay. An awning can be bought at the store and installed over the car. Or they will be an extension-visor on the wall of the house.
11. In the city, a stationary awning cannot be installed, so it is better to use fabric and inflatable covers.
12. Anti-hail protection for the car must be carried out only with suitable items. It is impossible to protect the roof of the car by the fact that the car owner lies on it. Such actions carry a great risk to human health.
13. Another option is to fix the screen (for watching movies) on the rails at the back. After pressing the button, the canvas will close the entire car. You will have to modify only the retractable parts for the rear and front windows.
Summing up, it should be noted that for the greatest effectiveness of protective equipment, several rules must be followed:
1. Prepare possible material in advance - even a blanket placed on the back seat can save the situation.
2. Be sure to stop vehicle.
3. Cover the roof first, then the windows. The rest of the details, if anything, can be changed inexpensively. If the car was damaged by hail before the planned sale, then it is possible to objectively assess the condition of the car.
4. In conditions of increased risk of hail (especially in the southern regions), it is advisable to purchase a special protective cover.
Following these simple rules will help protect the vehicle in case of bad weather.
The topic of car protection from hail is gaining more and more popularity among car owners in Russia. If earlier only the southern part of Russia suffered from hail, now news of a large hail in other regions flickers every now and then. At the end of the summer, I myself got hit by hail, so I know what it's like to look at my car, which is battered by hail, but you can't do anything. But, at that time, the car remained without damage, but the cars of acquaintances were well beaten. Before you start talking about how to protect your car from hail, I note that do not forget about your safety. All the same, a car is a piece of metal that can be repaired, but your own life is more expensive. Hailstones that leave dents on the body of a car, hitting the head, can kill. But let's not talk about the bad.
So, hail can strike at any moment. As usual, it happens suddenly. If you are on the road, you should immediately slow down and assess the direction of the hail. It is best to try to get away from the city in the other direction. If this is not possible, then shelter must be found. The ideal option would be a covered parking or shed filling station. Stopping in tunnels or under bridges should only be a last resort, as this is prohibited by traffic rules and can cause an accident.
You should not hide under the trees, as in a strong hail it is unlikely to help, but it can also harm even more. A strong wind can break a tree and cause even more damage.
If there is no way to find shelter, then we immediately stop. While driving, hail causes even more damage to the car than when it is parked.
How to protect the car from hail on the road?
So we stopped. We assess the situation and protect ourselves from hail. First of all, you need to protect your head. Hail happens only in the warm season, so it’s unlikely that you will have a hat in your car. And hardly anyone carries a helmet with them. So don't be afraid to improvise. We take, for example, a cover from the headrest, put something airy inside (bag, newspaper, paper), put it on our head and only then go out into the street. Before you protect your car from hail, take care of your safety!
Good protection from hail rubber mats. They act as a damper and hailstones ricochet from them. And the barrack's rubber mat can even cover the entire roof of the car! By the way, about the roof. You need to save it first of all, since it is the most expensive to repair body part. We cover the trunk and hood with floor mats. Don't worry about glasses and save them in last turn, because it is not the most expensive detail and it can be easily replaced with a new one.
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Next good option car protection from hail are pile carpet of the trunk and hood insulation. The trunk mat on most cars is attached with Velcro and can be easily removed. The hood insulation is attached with clips that can be torn off very quickly. After all, you can always buy new ones. It's faster and cheaper than fixing a car body.
Life hack to help protect your car from hail
I peeped this life hack from a friend. Its essence is very simple. He always carries in the car pimply protective film. Such a film is sold in hardware stores and costs mere pennies. When folded up in the car, it takes up little space. And folded in half, it protects the car very well from hail. In the event of hail, she can very quickly cover the car and not be afraid for its safety. One end of the film is clamped by the hood, the other - by the trunk. And that's all. The car is reliably protected from hail.
That's all! I hope reading this article, You understand how to protect a car from hail. And hopefully you never need it. Not a nail, not a wand!
Alas, the weather lately likes to present unpleasant surprises. Somewhere there is a flood, and somewhere there is hail the size of a chicken egg. Many, like us, simply sympathize with the victims while watching TV reports and do not think that this can happen to them.
And we didn't think… We weren't ready for the fact that hail the size of a chicken egg could fall in Ryazan.. rubles.
To prevent this from happening to you, we have prepared the following instructions based on an analysis of the situation and conversations with people who survived the hail.
Main What you want to pay attention to: Remember, Your life more expensive than the cost cars. Do not leave the car interior or run out to protect it without taking measures for your own safety! So let's start with that.
A construction helmet, a hat with earflaps in this situation will not look stupid. Hail that leaves dents on a car is capable of killing a person if it hits the head, but it leaves severe bruises on the body. Winter waterproof (because hail is often accompanied by rain) clothing (preferably sportswear, so as not to hamper movement) will be very useful. Umbrella does not save from hail, but only hinders.
If you are in a car
If you are eating and understand that hail is starting, slow down, evaluate the direction in which the hail is moving and try to get away from it. Those. at the nearest intersection we turn 180 degrees and leave to seek shelter. You should not look for shelter right in the direction of travel - for sure it is already occupied by other motorists.
Close to ideal shelter are gas station sheds. When escaping under bridges / overpasses and in tunnels, remember that you are violating traffic rules and can provoke an accident. The ban on stopping in these places was introduced for a reason. When escaping, do not block the passage of other vehicles, it may be necessary to pass to save someone's life.
Escaping under the trees is an extremely dubious option. Trees, of course, extinguish the energy of a flying "projectile", but under the influence of the wind they can break. And instead of a heap small dents you will get even more, possibly with damage to the power elements.
Avoid questionable polycarbonate designs - it will not help.
Car rescue from hail
If it is not possible to leave the hail zone and no shelter has been found, then it is necessary to stop. Inspection of the cars of the victims shows that the car in motion receives more severe damage. We remember physics about speeds and impulses.
We remind you, starting to rescue - protect yourself. If there is no headgear in the car, then we make it ourselves from the headrest cover of the seats and laying it with something airy (crumpled newspapers, bags, etc.). It's better to look stupid than dead.
In a critical situation like this, it's hard to think. If you put a pan on your head and start knocking on it, then you won’t add up 2 + 2. In the car under a hail of sensations the same. Therefore, we will immediately designate what to save and how to save a car from hail.
First of all, it is necessary to save the roof and other non-removable elements. The hood and trunk lid can be changed and, accordingly, we save them, if only there is something. With what? A picnic blanket from large ice floes will help little. Let's use it last. We protect the roof rubber mats from the salon. Forgot about them? So the majority of those surveyed by us also forgot about their presence. But in vain. This the best remedy. Next, we start up the hood heaters and trunk lining. They are thick enough to help. Do not waste time on seat covers, as a rule, they are very well fixed and you will take them off more than once, especially if you do not have the opportunity to go outside. Remember, in a tilted state in a doorway, you can get a strong blow to the spine.
Saving car windows is the last thing. It costs 3,000 rubles to replace the glass. Repair of one body panel with painting from 5 thousand rubles. It is worth saving the glass only so that water does not get into the interior and then you do not have to dry-clean the interior.
That's all. We will cover the topic of repair in the next review.
You can tell us your thoughts and ways of protection in the comments.
