Guest Eagleyes Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Has anyone had any experience of buying and owning a caravan cover? I'm looking for a good quality cover which will protect the caravan over the winter. Any ideas, advice or suggestions would be warmly received. EE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Doodlebug Posted March 20, 2006 Share Posted March 20, 2006 Hi Eagleyes, Thanks for your query about caravan covers. I've tested and reviewed a number of caravan covers over the last few years - I even have two in my garage at the moment. Before talking about the covers in general I need to make the point that caravans are designed to be left in the open. Ideally, the best way to protect any caravan when it's laid up is under an over-height carport which allows the air to circulate round it but keeps off the worst of the elements, bird droppings, and the sun's UV rays. If the van is to be kept under cover, it should be in a large barn where the air can circulate freely; confined spaces tend to cause the mastic to dry out. Now to consider caravan covers: any cover should be made of lightweight, waterproof and breathable material. Before putting the cover on, the van must be thoroughly cleaned because any dirt will get onto the cover and will then be very difficult to remove; also as the cover 'flaps' against the van, the dirt will act as a grinding paste and as the paintwork is only a few microns thick there is a risk of damage as a result. But more importantly, no one has yet come up with a successful way of preventing the cover from rubbing against the windowswhich can cause scratches and even crazing. And replacing caravan windows is a very expensive business! One idea which definitely should not be tried is covering the windows with Clingfilm. There have been several reports over the years of the chemicals in the film reacting adversley with the chemicals in the plastic of the windows. Having used covers myself, I found them only worthwhile when laying the van up for a long period. Otherwise it's just too much hassle - washing the van, fitting the cover - which despite what cover manufacturers say needs two people - then doing up all the securing straps. And when you take the cover off you have to fold it on a large clean surface before packing it away. So I have come to the conclusion that if you can't store the van under an over-height carport or in a large barn, the best thing is to fit a roof cover. This will keep off the worst excesses of the weather, birds, and UV rays while being easy to fit, remove and store. There are several companies who manufacture covers including Specialised Accessories, tel: 01943 864828, and Pro-Tec Covers, tel: 01274 780088; email: protectcovers@yahoo.com. Hope this is of help. Regards, Doodlebug Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Tyke Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 The down side to ANY cover is 1) the collection of condensation 2) abrasion due to grit inside the cover and tha action of wind 3) access if you want to go inside the van at all the best solution is a car port type construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbuoy Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Hi we bought a Protec caravan cover specific to our caravan model at a caravan show, best thing we have ever bought,its breathable and protects the body from the harsh winter weather, not easy to put on, thats the downside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmike Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I am so glad to find others that share my views on caravan/motorhome covers. I have seen some very sad examples of what damage an ill fitting / badly fitted cover can do. The worst example was a motorhome where the cover had worn right through the gel coat, leaving large areas that were just bare GRP. So my advice is always if you must fit a cover (some people have no option) then make sure that the van is very clean and the cover is fitted very tightly so that it can't move in the wind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Covers have both their supporters and detractors, as with many things. If well made and designed specifically for the outfit, the can work extremely well and dare i suggest that most of the 'scare' stories can be attributed to either poor fitting or lack of care, so to blame the cover is not always accurate. The advantages/disadvantages are (in my humble opinion): They do protect the bodywork and stops fading of the paint, however, do not leave a cover on in hot sunshine, as heat can build up and melt sealant. I personally have had no problems with windows scratching, again I feel this is due to having a good fit. My front window slopes and here I put a white sheet over the window first, it stops scratches and also keeps the window cooler. Polyplastic can buckle in extreme heat. A small side benefit is you do not have to close the blinds. Putting the cover on can be an issue but we have found that a set of steps and a long handled brush instead of the poles supplied, does the job pretty quickly. Yes, it does eventually tear and mine has some on it, but after 8 years of use I am not too surprised, however it still does the job. It stops green mould starting to cover the outfit and I have seen some fairly new outfits in my local storage area that will take a good length of time to clean, and of course have affected the sealant. It certainly makes the outfit look tired and neglected. Yes, i have seen a fine layer of dust on the roof but a hose soon removes that without damage. Where I live there is a lot of dust in the air anyway and so without the cover, it would be even worse. Access is easy as, if the cover is designed, then a door panel is always included. So, if you do fancy one, you will get a good return provided you go to one of the good dealers such as Protec. Cheap covers usually mean problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirage Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 From my experience of a Breathable Cover they still result in increased damp inside the van demonstrated by additional black mould spots - fairly easy to wipe off, did keep the van clean. Take care if storing in a garage, vermin made a large hole in ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave225 Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Cannot think why that should happen. Assuming you have closed all the windows the only vents left under the cover are the roof ones, and as the cover is breathable then air can circulate. The main vents are in the floor and will allow air to enter regardless of whether the cover is on or off. In hot sun then the inside can warm up and possibly a little condensation may occur on cold surfaces but i suspect if there is a damp problem, it is not related to the cover. Just looked inside mine after a long cold, and still cold winter and all is well apart from cushions being cold. However one thing to check is the contents of lockers. If, like many of us, these are jammed full of items then this may cause extra moisture to collect. Again they need space for air to circulate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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