HItch Cover is there actually a good one?

DrDerbyshire
DrDerbyshire Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited May 2019 in Parts & Accessories #1

Second one from me today! Having got our caravan (2006 Bailey Senator Vermont) out of storage at last (it''s been a long winter for us) we found the hitch cover had finally disintegrated. Looking for a replacement on well known online retail websites and all the reviews seem to be terrible! I am looking for a nice big one that will go over the jockey wheel and handbrake and electrics. Sturdy because our caravan lives outside all year and easy to put on and off because we normally use it a lot. Some of the reviews say 'x' item is flimsy, others that they fade in the sun, or are hard to put on, or are too small. Does anyone actually have a recommendation for something that actually works or is everything cheap rubbish made you know where these days?   

Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #2

    We always used a black bin bag. It did the job and was cheap and easily obtainable in numerous outlets. 👍🏻

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #3

    Ours is from the dealer we bought the caravan off. It is good quality and seems fit for purpose. Dealer ones do tend to advertise but visiting the dealer means you can check the quality which you cannot do with those bought on the web.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #4

    Way back in the past when I did the Club's towing course which also included an element of maintenance the course was advise not to cover tow hitches to avoid trapping wet and damp under the covers. It was best to allow a free fow of air over the parts. In 13 years of caravan ownership I never covered mine and never had any porblems at all but I never neglected the maintenance of the vans I owned.

    peedee

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
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    edited May 2019 #5

    Having had two caravans, and two hitch covers that mysteriously disappeared when the vans were taken out of the storage compound for us by the site wardens, we gave up and haven’t bothered to replace them.  Can’t say we’ve had any problems with the hitches being open to the elements all year round.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited May 2019 #6

    A lot of covers are too short, from front to back. How good are you with a sewing machine? or do you have a friend who can knock one up, they are a very simple shape with only two pieces.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #7

    We have a really large one which was quite cheap.  The problem is that it has a drawstring and it's a devils only job to put it on.......  the wife does it, but I think she's getting fed up with it.  I could get rid of the draw string and replace it with another system, I guess, but I am unlikely to get around to it before we need a new one.  It might be worth googling Extra Large Caravan Hitch covers and see what comes up??

    David

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #8

    David, just stick a spider around the cover. Works for us.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #9

    yes the ones with the string are useless, the string ends up wet, knotted and difficult to undo. We have one with a snap on buckle and adjustable strap, easier and quicker

  • DreamyD
    DreamyD Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited May 2019 #10

    Having had a couple of the cheaper ones disintergrate, I bought one from Bags for Everything - tow hitch cover extra large. Including postage it cost about £23, but so far seems to be lasting well. Held on with three adjustable clipped straps and various colours are available. Cheers Dd.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #11

    Frugality here in Cornwall too. I use a Levington garden compost bag - but turned inside out. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #12

    That’s far superior to a common bin bag. 😄

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #13

    We used to have a snap buckle type, but it wasn't big enough.  It was getting past it's best and then seem to disappear- not sure if a yone nicked it up the storage (unnlikely), or whether it just blew away.  We wanted a really large one, and the only one we could find was the string type.  It's now looking the worst for wear so I'm thinking it'll soon be right for a new one.

    David