How waterproof is a caravan cover?
I've been a member for several years and this is the first time I have visited the discussion site. Looking at the content, I should have visited a long time ago.
I bought an Explorer Deluxe caravan cover and fitted it in October, I needed to check my dehumidifier and unzipped the cover to gain access. I found the exterior of the van running wet and in some areas the cover was clinging to the van as it was soaked
through. I never saw this with my old cheap cover I had used for some years, I thought I should invest in a better quality cover as my old one was getting on in years.
I have e-mailed the Caravan Cover Shop from whom I purchased the new cover and await a reply. In the meantime can I ask if anyone has had the same or similar experience. Many thanks.
Comments
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Like you we have a cheap cover, green outside, gray 'fluffy' material on the inside, and it's never wet under the cover. We have to open up the caravan regularly during the winter, and always check. It stays dry even though the outside of the cover appears
wet through.0 -
If you brought the cover as a waterproof cover it should be waterproof !
Speak to the supplier , write to them , email them and ring them , or if local go to see them .
I have a protec cover , pricey but waterproof and easy to put on , don't give up, keep at um !
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Hi Wye, thanks for the comments. The actual wording that was used to describe the cover was "water repellent". My old cover would have been described as the same but I didn't experience this problem with it. I'm still waiting for a reply from the seller
and will chase them up in a couple of days.0 -
Think this 'Cover' might have had the same treatment as my £2-50 solid gold Rolex watch from Crewe Market !! Totally & utterly waterproof, until I took it out of the wrapping paper { Sentinel Newspaper, Hanley Edition } . but then came trouble 'cos once a drop of the wet & briney got into it, then it was utterly IMPOSSIBLE to get it out again !
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If you don't get a good response from them via ebay, then see if they have a Facebook page. If they have then ask your question on there. From personal experience I've found that posting something questioning, on a Facebook page, leads to an almost immediate
reply - and in the case of Vax (who had totally refused to do anything about a faulty product) an immediate offer of a replacement. My daughter in law got a replacement iphone when she posted about their 'insurance rip off' on Facebook and Twitter.I've just found the Facebook page for a company whose product I'm not happy with, and posted my complaint. I'll wait and see what happens! Complaining so publicly isn't considered good publicity and they're usually keen to shut you up!
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We have never used a cover and not had any problems. However, we are currently selling our caravan as we need a larger one with fixed bed and I am wondering about getting a cover. For the first time in almost forty years of caravanning we have found that
our van has suffered a degree of damp this winter, nothing serious and nothing that a good clean up will not deal with. We have winter storage on a property belonging to friends but there is no access to electricity there so we cannot use a dehumidifier.
Now I am wondering if a cover might prevent damp from getting in. What is the experience of others with this?0 -
I've used a cover for the past 6 years and also used damp absorbent crystals, I then decided to use a dehumidifier. Based on the amount of water absorbed by the crystals, I wouldn't chance relying on a cover alone, but that's my experience. I'm sure there
are other cover users who will give their views0 -
Hi ValDa, I made the decision to keep off Facebook when I saw some of the rubbish that was on there, so Facebook is out. I purchased off their website. They have 084 phone numbers which I won't use especially as it will cost me money trying to resolve
the problem caused by them. If they don't want to respond to my e-mails, they are only giving themselves a bad image. I intend to give them a few more days and will get a letter to their head office requesting a refund and that they then collect the cover.
As they have ignored my e-mails, they have just put themselves in a weaker position if I have to issue proceedings. I suspect even though they have the e-mail message facility on the website they never use it, I've come across this before.0 -
I used a quality cover (breathable) once kept the exterior dry and clean but increased the dampness inside, demonstrated by the mildew spots. It all cleaned off without too much of a problem but not totally convinced that they are beneficial unless under
trees etc.0 -
Cover for me in the winter I stor my van in storidge lot by a railwaytrack and the disel smoke frome the passing trains and the smog on bad air days setel on the van the cover keeps the roof clean and the black streaks a way so Idont have to wash it
J&I0 -
We have never used a cover and not had any problems. However, we are currently selling our caravan as we need a larger one with fixed bed and I am wondering about getting a cover. For the first time in almost forty years of caravanning we have found that
our van has suffered a degree of damp this winter, nothing serious and nothing that a good clean up will not deal with. We have winter storage on a property belonging to friends but there is no access to electricity there so we cannot use a dehumidifier.
Now I am wondering if a cover might prevent damp from getting in. What is the experience of others with this?Write your comments here...We bought a maypole 4 ply breathable cover of e-bay for approx £90 even when raining and wet if you unzip van is dry.
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We have a Specialised Accessories cover and rain water lies on the roof of the cover, but the van itself is never wet. You'll notice that the cheaper covers say "water resistant" whereas Specialised and Protec both say "waterproof", and breatheable, and
they are.0 -
We have never used a cover and not had any problems. However, we are currently selling our caravan as we need a larger one with fixed bed and I am wondering about getting a cover. For the first time in almost forty years of caravanning we have found that our van has suffered a degree of damp this winter, nothing serious and nothing that a good clean up will not deal with. We have winter storage on a property belonging to friends but there is no access to electricity there so we cannot use a dehumidifier. Now I am wondering if a cover might prevent damp from getting in. What is the experience of others with this?
Write your comments here...We bought a maypole 4 ply breathable cover of e-bay for approx £90 even when raining and wet if you unzip van is dry.
Our cover is a Maypole too, and still going strong after more than five years! We now use it on our van at a site nearby, where it's fine all winter and just as clean when uncovered as it was when we covered it up.
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I've been a member for several years and this is the first time I have visited the discussion site. Looking at the content, I should have visited a long time ago.
I bought an Explorer Deluxe caravan cover and fitted it in October, I needed to check my dehumidifier and unzipped the cover to gain access. I found the exterior of the van running wet and in some areas the cover was clinging to the van as it was soaked
through. I never saw this with my old cheap cover I had used for some years, I thought I should invest in a better quality cover as my old one was getting on in years.I have e-mailed the Caravan Cover Shop from whom I purchased the new cover and await a reply. In the meantime can I ask if anyone has had the same or similar experience. Many thanks.
Write your comments here...Hi we also bought an Exployer Ultimate cover for our caravan and we are devasted at the water ingress from this cover onto our caravan exteria roof and walls. We sent photos to the company that supplied the cover and the answer
was to quote*it must have rained heavy.* Further attempts at getting our problem acknowleded have proved fruitless. In my opinion the cover is a complete waste of good money,The supplier is consistant in its failure to come back to us and as far as we can
see the five year warranty is i as much use as a chocholate fire guard.0 -
If you brought the cover as a waterproof cover it should be waterproof !
Speak to the supplier , write to them , email them and ring them , or if local go to see them .
I have a protec cover , pricey but waterproof and easy to put on , don't give up, keep at um !Write your comments here...
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Hi I have had an email back from the supplier of my ultimate exployer cover explaing how it is not in the least water resistant and have been told that if it was waterproof it would make my caravan and the cover mouldy, how is that for getout. All I can say is dont buy from them.
Moderator Edit:
Upper case text removed as this is considered shouting and is against our T&Cs.
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Hi I feel like i just been well and truly spanked. the caravan cover shop said that the cover is not meant to be waterproof and if it was it would go moldy. good luck with yours. we can post it back at our expence and if they find a fault they will replace
it. lol . what do you think.?0 -
Hi again,
I can update you with the latest on my cover problem.
Getting nowhere, I took the seller, the Caravan Cover Shop to the small claims court and won. Guess what? they went into voluntary liquidation. This happened just before my court hearing and they didn't attend. It took 4 e-mails, 3 letters and 6 months to get them to reply to my original complaint. How's that for service and they are still trading, but now have a new parent company name and with the original sole director!!
Anyone who bought a cover from them before liquidation will not now have a warranty. They liquidated in March 2017.
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These "phoenix" companies really get to me. It's time the law was strengthened in this area.
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I know it's too late for bernice, but the caravan cover shop claim that all their covers are waterproof, look on their FAQ's page. They also claim that their Explorer Ultimate cover has the highest resistance to water penetration, with a hydrostatic head of 3,000mm. This rating only gives protection against light rain and dry snow. For a comparison, Helly Hanson has a rating of 20,000mm and Gore-Tex has a rating of 28,000mm!
I am considering carrying out a test on my Explorer Deluxe cover, if the video quality is good enough, I'll post it on Youtube, but not until the autumn.
In addition to the above, the Caravan Cover Shop is in breach of the Consumer Contracts Regulations, 2013, where they do not provide a standard rate phone number for existing customers.
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I ordered a cover from The Caravan Cover Co. last October. I had reason to make an enquiry about my order so I phoned them using their advertised 0843 number.
I waited ages listening to a noise [music?] waiting for someone to speak to me. Unbeknownst to me at the time the 0843 numbers are premium numbers which have an additional surcharge which goes to the called party [The Caravan Cover Co in this case].
When I got my next phone bill I realised that I had been charged £6 plus for this call.
Companies quoting premium numbers are required to add a note to their advert to advise callers of the additional cost for using the premium number. This the Caravan Cover Co did not do.
So I reported the matter to the Advertising standards Authority who upheld my complaint and required the caravan cover co to add a note to their advert. This they eventually did. I then reclaimed my excess phone charges from The Caravan Cover Co and was repaid in full
Needless to say I would not deal with this company again.
squip
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I have a specialised caravan cover and had it 3 years, cover the van up every year and when I take it off for the new season the van is as good as the day I left it. its on from about October to April never any problems but of course its made for the specific caravans so costs more but would recommend
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