10 Second Install - Custom Car Side Protector

[ron123]

At work my parking garage had 3 empty spaces which the Camaro parked in the middle of. Recently, a mid-sized SUV was assigned the spot beside me.
Had some left over parts from plumbing project and hot water heater install.
Built this custom car side protector for the Camaro. Takes less than 10 seconds to pop from trunk and install on the side of the car.











The bottom of the left pipe section connects to the top of the right section via CPVC pipe coupling.

At the bottom of the right section it shows end cap which keeps water out of pipe in case it is ever used outside.

Runs along the widest part/body line on to the back wheel flare.

Part list: 10 foot 3/4" CPCV Hot water pipe, Pipe Insulation largest size at Home Depot, Tee, two 90 degree elbows, coupling, end caps optional, soft rope.

The size of the protector makes it easy to fit in the trunk. The middle pipe coupling is only glued on one side - the other joint side without glue connection allows pulling the two halves apart in a second. Added a thin plastic rod near the mid-joint to ease pulling the two sections apart (last picture at bottom left).
Ron

[J-Crazy Camaro]

i admire your ingenuity and passable obsession with avoiding paint dings. They will appear at the worst times :( Its why I avoid the student parking lots at college, too many crappy civics with worse owners

[hazy]

I like it. Ghetto as hell, but wicked functional. Reminds me of my window shades!!

Good luck with the dings - looks like they don't stand a chance now!!!

[JLSuperfly]

Nice. Very creative.

[Demon War Horse]

Nice!

[KaBoom1701]

lol

This ranks up there with aluminum foil in your house window to cut down on heat. Works but it's looks like hell.

You should try some of these:

https://www.zl1addons.com/index.php/...rguards-detail

[$inferno]

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

lol

This ranks up there with aluminum foil in your house window to cut down on heat. Works but it's looks like hell.

You should try some of these:

https://www.zl1addons.com/index.php/...rguards-detail

They look better than the round tubes that I have seen online. They used magnets also. Thank You for posting them!

[Red2014SS]

Well.... at least no one will steal them.

As long as they work, doesn't really matter how they look. I'd be worried that someone might try to ding the car just for spite.

[its a syn]

I may have to hack this. Will use something else for the hangers that won't scratch after repeated use.

[vroomapunk]

Looks good, but from a detailers point of view, I wouldn't use this on a dirty car. The bare PVC pipe on the doorhandle can scratch/rub. The foam material itself isn't soft enough, the rope probably isn't soft enough either.

Any amount of wind blowing it around will lead to some scuffing, magnified if there is already any dirt/sand on the car.

Still possible for some doors to come in under that foam.

Not knocking it, those are just the cons I see.

[EnzoR]

Awesome!

[two_wheel_mayhem]

If that was my assigned spot I would request a different one. Nothing screams "go ahead and rest your door on my car" more than that device.

[ron123]

Thanks for all the feedback ...
The final version of door handle hook piece does have 3M foam tape wrapped on it to eliminate the possibility of any scuffs behind door handle from repeated use (and clear Xpel on car). The tape was left-over from conversion van running board treads I cleaned and re-attached on another vehicle.



The main pipe insulation is a much softer variety compared to what is found on the swimming pool noodles (that type is rough). Home Depot sells various softness levels in this black/grey color depending on taste and what thickness of padding is desired. Think there are 4 choices.

The rope is super soft and chosen out of my stock because of that.

This device I only use in the parking garage at work - no wind in there (even in wind I don't think it would move around).
Car is kept very clean, have other options for parking but really like this enclosed parking garage best, $10/month subsidized, won't reveal all security in place

For the one vehicle that started to park beside me in assigned spot a few days ago, I've already checked out their door and no chance of it hitting the Camaro car body when the device is on.

Will see how much longer luck holds, bought this (second) Camaro new in December.

I'm really careful with trying to prevent scrapes and dings, full-sized conversion van just sold after 14 years with no dings on the door sides.
Panel metal is in same condition they left the factory in. Same with 1st Camaro.

Often take the motorcycle when I know I'll be about town in congested areas and limited parking options. When going to stores, etc. in cars, I park out in the middle of nowhere.
At Camarofest for Chevy Factory Tour, my son and I parked Camaro in the last row all alone in the end of parking lot. When returned from the tour, found dozens of Camaros all had landed nearby like a flock of Geese. Posted pic of that in the Camarofest forum (someone commented they were acting as a protective buffer).

Next trip is to Shark Tank, if they invest maybe can get a Z28 with the profits to use as a demo vehicle, ha ha!
Ron

p.s. This is Flowgaurd yellow CPVC, 3/4" hot water pipe left-over from house plumbing project. The cold water white PVC will likely work as well but the PVC pipe and fittings are slightly larger not sure how well that would fit behind door handle (did not try it, I do not use white PVC for indoor plumbing supply lines).

[PalmerGA]

Nice repurposing of leftover parts. I just have one question, in the form of the immortal words of George Carlin...

Originally Posted by ron123

Had some left over parts from plumbing project and hot water heater install.

Why would you need a hot water heater?