To cover or not to cover that's is the question
yes another newbee question, just bought our first caravan, 2002 4 berth to start out but that might to do with cashflow unlike some of you rich people....lol, i was thinking of getting a cover for the hash winter times, do still plan to use caravan through
the winter time but while sitting there at the storage yard what with rain, snow, frreezing water is it worth getting a full cover or just a roof cover, or not bother....i will keep it clean and polished but still thinking of future when i come to sell as
every penny counts so resale value does play a part, ok time i come to sell her but only get £1.......i am talking about the caravan and not the wife, but saying that sounds good caravaning without the wife....lol, just like to get views on what others think,
breathable cover going cost about £140 for my caravan...thanks in advance for you views on these full....part or none cover....
Comments
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Unfortunately I think you'll get as many people swearing by them as not bothering!
Personal view, we had a ProTech tow cover for winter months and found water and then mound accumulated under it. As such we now don't bother, my view vans are designed to be outside.
We also use our van throughout the year and even with a towing cover decided a full cover was too much faff
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If your funds are short why are you even considering a cover?
Personally never used one nor will i in the future, why don't you find storage under cover?
My first caravan had no insurance and was kept on my drive and was bought privately for a bargain.
That's the only two years where caravanning saved me money compared to the boarding houses and holiday camps we used previously.
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Hi Campbell. I, like you, am a new caravanning as we picked up our first van a month ago. I also looked into a cover but from what I've read it seems as though it's not really worth it.
As mentioned, they can actually promote mould growth due to trapped moisture and caravans are built for the outdoors. Do we cover our cars for example?
One last bit, the storage facility I keep my van at has close to 1000 vans and so far I've seen exactly 0 of them covered!
Mike
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We brought a cover for our last van and never used it. In fact when we sold the cover it was still in its original wrapping. The reason we didn't use it was that we are all year round vanners and it just never seemed important to pop it on. If you stop
vanning between say October and March then good idea0 -
We don't have one for all the reasons listed above.
In addition.
I have never seen on our a front cover on a continental van, they seem a uniquely British invention.
They seem a pain to put on and off so are likely to deter us from using the van
A couple of vans on our storage site had them on and over the winter they seemed to get blown all over the place. This means they must rub on the vans particularly the windows.
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We have a motorhome so not qualified to speak really. We keep our external silver screen on in storage, keeps the windscreen clean . As others have said, and we are on our second storage site, we see few covered and those that have been, covers blow around
however many times they're lashed on. Wouldn't like think it would do paintwork any good.0 -
I've never used a cover. In winter I do park the van with a good slope to the roof to ensure a good runoff for rainwater.
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Many thanks for replies now made up my mind not to bother as totally agree especially in high winds can't do caravan Body work any good, I just keep it clean and polished, just wished I had a drive to store at home, but only 30 mins away so during the hash
winter time I pop down to check on her, there is indoor storage but been told it's very dirty and dusty in there and many pulling there caravans out or getting a cover to protect from all the dirt, I look after her thanks for great advice and info....0 -
As no-one has advocated covers, I'm putting ours on this week! As you intend to caravan through the winter I wouldn't bother either but ours will be laid up till March I suspect. Drained water today, put van on axle stands, removed battery and washed it
down with cold water to get dust/muck off front and rear before we throw the bag over. Never had any problems with mould or mildew.0 -
I'm glad someone on the other fench has come forward....lol, i am hoping to use over winter time but still depends on work as very busy time of year, but storage not far from work so easy to check up on her and good to hear you havn't had issues with mould,
fingers cross you dont have that issue..0 -
Ok to cover or not to cover still remains open as it all depends on a matter of choice, and how long caravan being store over certain times of year.......I won't cover mine and see how things go, but could change mind next year as I will see how dirty it
becomes in storage as in an ind est, so lot of traffic coming and going, yes it's a secure storage yard and they have never had an issue with security, of course I would still pop in every week just to make sure no issues starting to arise, ie leaks etc.....so
at moment saving pennies to enjoy the week end breaks away,.......thanks for replies great to see different views on subject....happy Caravanning.......0 -
Write your comments here...We had a pro-tec roof cover only used it once and it did mark the front windows and the roof. In the instructions it says remove when windy, how many times does the wind come and go. So the wind picks up I try to remove the cover in the wind. I can just see me flying through the air never to be seen again. Gave it away I think they use it to cover garden furniture.
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We considered a cover until we saw people putting them on! Also, if you have a solar panel you will need a transparent cut-out and, if not, you need to partially remove the cover to get the battery out to recharge.
Having said all that, it probably takes longer to wash a really dirty van than to put cover on and off.
Your choice!
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Well, contrary to the other posts, we've used a cover for about ten years, a cheap and cheerful one, which initially was used on a wet and windy Yorkshire hillside, then inside a dusty barn in France, and now on a very hot and dry site in southern France. We always put the cover on before 'winter'. Admittedly we don't use the caravan between October and February, so we're not taking it on and off all the time, but we've never had a problem with mould or rubbing on windows (and the wind on a Yorkshire hill can be ferocious).
Like others you soon develop the knack of putting the cover on, and getting it off - and like the post above we also use broom handles!
Some other threads on here are much more of a balance with regard to the use of a cover than the replies in this one.
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Put ours on today - laid it on the ground to rear of van and we both took a side. I initially heaved it up onto the back and OH held off side and I took the near side while on a step ladder to lift it over roof lights/aerial etc. Walked it forward and took
around 10 minutes to complete zipping it up and fastening the straps underneath and away we went. I know its safe and sound till March when it'll come off after being protected from the worst of the weather and birds! £15k worth of caravan protected for £100.
To me its a no brainer.0 -
update on cover or not to cover, I've had a setback on my first caravan after doing our first trip to test everything found a leak after a heavy downfall, stripped back and found been leaking for some time, so be doing work myself but with work will take
some time, i have no choice to cover her up will be using soft sheets over windows then caravan cover to stop any other water ingress until completly sealed but lots of work to carry outwhich has already been started, now i been converted to cover wellduring
winter times to ensure my purchase doesn't rot away, many thanks for your views and interesting to see what others think, why do they use wood in caravans.0 -
I use a cover when the vehicle is off duty. After some practise I have found a relatively easy way to fit it. I roll it up on the lawn like a carpet roll, climb a step ladder adjacent to the van, flop it onto the roof and unroll it and it drops into place. takes me about 10 minutes.
I've used covers on all my vans/caravans over 27 years and touchwood as yet never suffered any damage to the van. I believe they provide some weather protection as well as protecting from bird dirt, tree sap and UV. They also prevent prying eyes (mine is on our drive)........
But when I am too old to climb a step ladder I will come on here and say "No, no, no, you don't need one.....".....
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Wished I seen that comment about rolling up cover as took me about 20 mins to work out what's front then another 30 mins getting it up the front bit only to find the straps are still connected, will remember that in future and when I put it away after water tight I will roll it up ready to put on top thanks for that tip....
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