RogerC Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Hi folks, My wife and I recently became the proud owners of a new Rollerteam and are having a great time out and about. However over winter (when not out and about) it is kept, unfortunately where tree leaves/twigs etc drop on top of it. So our question is: From so many covers available which would the 'font of knowledge' that is the forum members recommend.......full cover or roof only? and (if permitted on the forum) any particular 'brand' to look for or avoid? Many thanks in anticipation of forthcoming enlightenment.... :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Two. First a full cab/bonnet cover, to minimise water/moisture ingress to the engine bay and reduce heat losses from this area. Second, a roof only cover to leave the habitation door and windows easily accessible for entry and ventilation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Windscreen Insulating Covers 3 main suppliers, I am aware of:- Taylormade, Silver Screens .both UK manufacturers (I think both only deal direct, don’t know of any stockists). Isomatten – German. UK stockist Van Comfort Another is Fiamma but this is a covers rather than Insulating . http://www.taylormade-covers.co.uk/acatalog/Longer_Length_external_windscreen_cover_.html http://www.taylormade-covers.co.uk/acatalog/Bonnet_Cover.html A guy& his wife, previous threads complain that delivery period can be hit & miss. They do attend most of the Shows, giving an opportunity if you want to have a look at their product. http://www.silverscreens.co.uk/index.html Always slagging –off Taylormade & do not attend any shows, so unless you know someone with their product you can’t determine the quality, but as Salesmen always say their's is the best product. Again from previous posts - Can be difficult to get hold of on the phone, also Hit & Miss whether they ring back. No prices on website. Isomatten http://www.vancomfort.co.uk/VanComfortFAQWebPageforscreens_000.htm Then click on Products. Prices appear to be similar to Taylormade. I am hoping to go & look at this product in the near future. http://www.fiammastore.com/Motorhome-Covers-and-Caravan-Covers-and-Shades/Fiamma-Coverglas-for-Fiat-Ducato but plenty of other sources Cheapest around £49.00 Windscreen covers rather than Insulation, but sufficient Spring & Autumn or if you only want to keep dirt off screen. We had one for our last Fiat Ducato Bessacarr & it worked OK, but I wouldn’t go for one, if intending to tour in depths of winter. Also check out the classified on here as there are often some for sale where people have changed Motorhomes. For Roof or whole Van covers, see http://www.caravancovers.org.uk/ Again other sources available, including classifieds. General views previously expressed on this forum, are that they need to be taut so they do not rub the Van panels or they can cause damage. I haven't used this so can't offer any advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Having had vans for nearly 40 years I have never bothered and I just wash it all over including the roof in the spring - or every other spring as I get older and the roof seems to get higher! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Could anyone comment on Finnigans Overwinter product ? does it seem to be of benifit and help to seal out any water ingress, and whats it like to remove come the better weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The wanderer Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 We've had our van for 10 years, now 13 years old. This year I purchased a full covering for £101.95, including postage. Why, we have a damp problem in the Luton, been rebuilt twice and resealed this year, so that is our reason for a full cover. Hope it dries out ready for further work next year. The covering was purchased from: www.campingandleisure.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadows Engine Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Whilst we are talking winter storage Does any one use a heater in the winter to sort out condensation? Does it work? Do you just leave it on "Frost Protect" or at a higher temp? What heater model/type do you recomend Oil filled, convector etc ? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 We use a FULL cover (ours is a Protec) and that would be my recomendation. We use our cover at all times that the van is not being used, winter and summer and it is not a big problem to put on and take of taking only minutes. Regarding leaving windows and doors uncovered 'to allow access and ventilation', if you buy a good quality cover from a reputable company the material will be breathable so ventilation continues at all times through the existing van fixed ventilation and they will put openings into the cover at door entry points. It is also easy to open windows, if you desire, whilst the cover is on and being breathable you will have air flow. Be aware some of the cheaper covers are not breathable. To answer Meadowsengine, we leave an electric blown air heater working on a frost thermostat in the winter months. Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Meadows Engine - 2010-10-29 5:47 PM Whilst we are talking winter storage Does any one use a heater in the winter to sort out condensation? Does it work? Do you just leave it on "Frost Protect" or at a higher temp? What heater model/type do you recomend Oil filled, convector etc ? John Do we use a heater? Yes.Does it work? So far as I can tell, yes. Is it set for frost protection? No such setting on ours, but it is set low.What to recommend? No particular type as regards oil filled etc, but a greenhouse heater seems ideal, will be cheap, and is what we use. Designed to work primarily for frost protection, their stats operate in the lower temperature ranges. Ours is 500W, not oil filled, and seems not to cost much to run. It just "takes the chill off" enough to prevent that slightly damp feeling when the weather warms up after a cold spell. In warmer spells it doesn't operate at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadows Engine Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 Thank you for your suggestions ,I am heading for a Dimplex cold watcher 500 watt with a frost protection setting which would seem to tie in with your experience. http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DXMPH500.html I supose the real answer is to park it some were warm......like Spain !! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted November 2, 2010 Share Posted November 2, 2010 do I need one of these? or am I better of leaving the Truma on low electric (900watt) with thermostat set low? :-S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Considering the cost of a stand-alone/ Free standing Heater is negligable in comparison to the cost of Truma spares, I would go for the Stand-alone. There will be a marginal difference in running cost, in favour of the Stand-alone/ Free standing Unit @ 500w v 900w. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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