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outdoor cover options for power wheels

You bought your little one a ride-on car, but you're now confused as to how you should store it. You may also have a couple of ideas, but you're unsure about how to proceed with them or if they would even work. To you, it's crucial that the power wheel safely resides outdoors with a cover, so here's a list of some cover options for you.

Some outdoor cover options for Power Wheels include using old tables as a cover, placing the power wheel on your deck, creating a mini garage for it, or simply covering it with a tarp. Some ride-on vehicles may require careful handling and storage, while others may survive well without much care.

This article will talk about outdoor cover options for power wheels. It will also explain how you can implement those ideas, give product recommendations if you wish to simply purchase a cover, and answer a few frequently asked questions about ride-on cars and storing them.

Covers for Power Wheels: A Brief Overview

Some ride-on vehicles for kids may possess the ability to withstand the elements' beatings, but not all of them can. Likewise, you don't want to take any chances and allow your hard-earned money to go to waste if your kid's power wheel quickly wears out because you neglected to cover it outdoors.

Additionally, you may want to consider that most parents who leave their kids' ride-on cars outside take out the car's battery. This is a precaution against getting the power wheel's electrical components wet and corroded, but you may skip it if you're sure that your kid's ride-on car is safe and securely covered.

Use Old Tables To Protect the Power Wheels From Rain and Sunlight

If you happen to possess old tables lying around, you can turn them into a mini garage for your kid's ride-on car. It's best if your table is plastic, but any other old table would do, especially if you place a waterproof cover on top of that table.

Check out this Pinterest post to get an idea of how it should look like. With this, you can leave your kid's power wheel outdoors without worrying about its health. All you have to do is: 

  1. Find a table.
  2. Place it outside and ensure it stays in its place.
  3. Place a waterproof cover on top of the table if it's not plastic or waterproof.
  4. If your table is already waterproof, you may place a cloth long enough to reach the ground to cover your table and kid's ride-on.
  5. Park the power wheel inside.

Place the Ride-On Car on Your Deck

If you're looking for a stress-free and effortless cover option, try bringing your kid's power wheel on your deck. Your deck already bears a cover to protect it from the elements, so unless a strong storm occurs, your kid's ride-on car should remain safely covered under your deck.

You may buy a tarp for added protection so you can place it on top of the power wheel. This ensures that the vehicle is well-protected from everything else. However, some people also chose not to cover their kid's ride-on, and those ride-on cars still turned out fine.

Create a Mini Garage for the Power Wheels

The best thing about these miniature cars is that their covers don't need fanciness of spaciousness compared to regular car garages. Hence, you can make a miniature garage for them quite easily. All you need are some PVC pipes and joints, plastic wood panels, fabric, and some cement.

This is similar to using a table as a power wheel cover, except you'll need to cement the floor for a better cover option and more security against the elements. 

Here are the materials you’ll need:

  • Fabric big enough to cover your mini garage
  • PVC pipes size ¾ of an inch
  • PVC joints and elbows
  • Plastic roof panels
  • Curtain clips to hang the fabric with
  • Drill and Screws
  • Cement
  • Scissors and a saw

To create a mini garage for your kid's ride-on car, follow these steps:

  1. Prepare the materials.
  2. Create a frame using the PVC pipes and connect each pipe with your joints and elbows.
  3. Use your saw to cut the PVC and your scissors for the fabric.
  4. Secure the frame to the ground.
  5. Attach the fabric to the frame sides and rear using screws or heavy-duty glue.
  6. Use curtain clips to place the fabric on the mini garage's entrance.
  7. Place the roof panels by screwing them.
  8. Add cement on the mini garage's floor to secure it there and protect the power wheels.

Alternatively, you may simply buy an already-made portable garage. This saves you time and effort, and you wouldn't need to worry about much of anything else.

Cover the Ride-On Car With a Tarp

Of course, the simplest outdoor cover option for power wheels is to cover them with a tarp. Covering a power wheel with a tarp protects its outer and inner components from sunlight and rain. This ensures your kid's ride-on car doesn't wear out over time and retains its color. It also protects the inner components from rust and corrosion.

To cover your kid's power wheels with a tarp, simply buy a tarp from your local store or on Amazon. You may also opt for power wheel-specific covers, which are easily searchable on Amazon stores. 

Outdoor Cover Recommendations for Power Wheels

If you decided you'd rather buy a miniature garage or power wheel tarp or cover instead of starting a do-it-yourself project, here are a few recommended products from Amazon:

Bububee Large Ride-On Cover specifically fits large toy cars, but it's also available in a smaller version. It's water-resistant and created with PP/PEVA cotton fabric, too, which is the same fabric used for regular cars. Best of all, it's hand-made by a mother, who ensures her covers are double-stitched with an elastic hem.

Tonhui Ride-On Car Cover fits children's vehicles under 52 inches in length, 28 inches in width, and 24 inches in height. It's made with heavy-duty and waterproof Oxford fabric, which features a waterproofing ability. It's also not prone to tearing or color fading, so that you can use it for quite a long time.

Emmzoe Universal Toy Car Cover is as it says it is: a universal cover that suits most children's power wheels. It guarantees full protection against UV rays, dust, rain, snow, scratches, animal droppings, pollen, insects, and even spider webs. 

ShelterLogic Instant Garage is quite big, so you can use it for other purposes besides covering your kid's ride-on car. It possesses a pure steel build, which ensures its durability, stability, and strength. It's also paired with a powder-coated finish to increase its lifespan. However, note that it can be quite expensive and too big if you're only storing your kid's power wheel in it.

Tarpaulins. Some of Amazon's highly rated tarpaulins are Kotap Poly Tarp and Trademark Supplies Store's Canopy Tarp. They serve their purpose well, but again, they will exceed your needed size, so unless you'll use them for something else, it's wise to commence on a do-it-yourself project or get a ride-on car-specific cover instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Power Wheel Storage

  • Are children's ride-on cars waterproof? Plastic is waterproof, and most power wheels consist of plastic. Hence, ride-on cars are waterproof to some extent when you're talking about their exterior, but not their interior. This means their batteries are still prone to water damage and corrosion.
  • Can Power Wheels get wet? Ride-on cars can get wet, but they shouldn't be soaked. When its battery constantly or continuously receives water exposure, it's bound to have electrical shorts, water damage, rust, or some form of corrosion. This impairs its ability to work and may even compromise your child's safety.

Final Thoughts

As you witnessed, there are quite a few outdoor cover options for power wheels. You can choose whichever one suits your preferences, needs, and financial status. If you have the time, you can opt for a do-it-yourself mini garage project and turn it into a fun bonding activity time for you and your kids. 

However, you can also always simply buy a cover for your kid's ride-on vehicle.