Front Cover - best practices
We've recently bought a new Elddis Crusader Zephyr and a cover to go on the front when we're travelling. Having read the instructions, it's not something that is designed to be on the 'van all the time
The front of the van has to be clean and dry when we fit it, but the question is - what happens if it's raining when we pick the van up from storage? Do we dry as far as we can and then fit the cover? Does it really matter if it is wet under the cover?
I know the cover is designed to keep stone chips off the front, so presumably there''s no issue with it being wet? The cover was expensive and we want to look after it as well the van. Didn't realise there were so many "do's and don't's" with a front cover!
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'Didn't realise there were so many "do's and don't's" with a front cover!'
At the risk of appearing to be a smart a---e we decided against a cover for those very reasons!
Our van is kept in storage on a farm site the road to which can be extremely dirty, especially in winter time, and the biggest problem we envisaged was what you do you do with a filthy cover when arriving on site, or back at storage??
Without wishing to tempt fate have only ever had one minor issue with stone chips despite probably being more likely to pick up debris etc on the cars tyres due to the reasons above.
If we did not have the issues above still think that the faff factor would put me off but friends who use one are very happy with it.
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These covers are not waterproof, and even if they were rain would seep in from the sides. I think the concern is more about dirt in the water being trapped between cover and paint/window and the cover moving as it does having an abrasive effect. Just wash it down before fitting if you have a concern.
Wet cover goes underneath when removed.
Not just stone chips but bird strike, brick strike, and as recently appeared in another thread, air pressure wave pushing outer layer of plastic window against the inner layer and causing marks inside.
If you think a cover of too much faff, look up the cost of replacement windows!
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Hi Alan 1406, I’m sure you will get many opinions on a front towing cover but I will add that we have used one for many years (we are on our 2nd one) with no issues. We do make sure the front of the caravan is clean before it’s fitted. If it’s raining it’s given a thorough wipe over with a microfibre cloth but it doesn’t need to be dry! If we can, during a dry, dusty spell, we will wash over the front and a give a quick wipe down before fitting. It has never taken long and we have not experienced any scratches.
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We have a Pro tec towing cover and I phoned them asking about the van being dry. They said it is not important tho to make sure it is clean is important.
We started using a cover after a few trips out 8 years ago when first van had a stone chip and we have never encountered stone chips since thankfully.
Having even a porch awning is helpful to store the cover if its wet and a garage when back if it needs drying before storing away.
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That's fine if you can fit them - but on my Touareg, with plastic wheel arches etc, there's nowhere to give a secure fixing - and if the car is used off-road, as mine is, they don't last five minutes before being ripped off.
I have always used a towing cover except for when we brought our latest van home - 200 miles from the dealer in December (before I had ordered a new cover). The front was absolutely plastered with muck and gunge and whilst, fortunately no lasting damage was done, it isn't something I would want to do on a regular basis.
The Specialised Covers Tow Pro that I now use takes less than five minutes to fit - it has elasticated sides so doesn't move about and providing you ensure there's nothing gritty under it when you put it on, gives a more than adequate level of protection and doesn't cause damage at all.
Having, in the past used a 'universal fit' type of cover, I can't say I'm as impressed and did find that all the straps could cause abrasion marks which although they could be removed with a spot of polish, was a bit worrying long term.
My advice would be to fit a cover but spend that bit extra on one made specifically for that caravan.
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If ours is wet or dirty on arrival on site I hang it from the awning rail and wash off and leave to dry. Can also fit in the bottom skirt rail if windy, we do have awning and skirt rails on both sides of the van, some don't.
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Yes wouldn't be without one having encountered a road in Kent where the tar on the road had just been laid with no chippings on it and no warning notices. Thankfully we had the caravan paintwork protected with a sealer, still it took nearly three hours to clean front. First thing we did was order a cover, excellent decision, use it all the time,minutes to fit.
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We have had our Pro Tec cover now for 3 years , we bought it because first time out with our new caravan we got hit with a stone from a passing car and made a small hole in one of the front windows ,replacement cost £400 .We now use the front cover for all trips out. So easy to fit and easy to clean I wouldn't be with out it.
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Used our new Tow Pro cover this last weekend. Fitted quickly, no mess. Quick dry of the front prior to fitting, glad we have got one. Will be using it every time from now on.
Can see how the standard "adjust to size" ones are a pain to fit - the specifically made one for our caravan was more costly but a good insurance against the issues some of the contributors to this thread have seen
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Uploaded the pic in the correct orientation, but the site insisted on keeping it sideways on. I really can't be arsed faffing about uploading again (having had to reduce the size to a level the site can cope with, and rotating and saving in the correct aspect ratio), so there you have it. Very happy with the cover, not so with the html code behind the website ;-)
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