Hi,just like to introduce myself as a new member and also glean some info off you T/Tent experts.Having just purchased aT/T (though have been avid frame tent campers for over twenty years)I now have to store it,unfortunately the size of my garage dictates that there is no chance of it staying indoors.Has any member had any experience of this,and what was the solution .I myself am thinking along the lines of building some sort of structure in the garden (i.e.frame large enough to surround the whole T/T and not cause a build-up of damp/mildew)on some sort of hard standing/gravel and obviously secured correctly so as to put off the sticky fingered bunch.
Other idea that I had was to scour the web in search of a metal fabricated d.i.y.garage or storage container with the vain hope there will be such an item already made just for the job-in-hand,looking forward to hearing lots of interesting ideas,Trev S-J.
Ours is stored outside on a concrete base and covered with a tarpauline,havent had a problrm with damp,also remove the wheels when im not using it along with a hitchlock.
Our old TT used to live out in the drive quite happily all year round. We put a second layer of heavyweight plastic over it and tied it down with a couple of ropes. Never had any problems with mildew. My local friend with a TT doesn`t even go that far...she just relies on the normal cover for protection. She`s done this for eighteen years now...not a speck of mould.
I have this theory that you can seal up a TT too well and it needs a bit of airflow round it. As long as the canvas is bone dry when you pack it up then in my experience there shouldn`t be any problems. That`s just my experience though...others haven`t been so lucky. If you build a structure to fit then leave some good ventillation holes and make sure you add some rodent bait as well. You can also raise the cover a bit by putting a washing up bowl upside down under it, and by making sure the footwell isn`t packed solid.
First trip of the season the cushions and mattresses will always feel a bit clammy, btw. If you can air the TT out a day or so before you go them this won`t be a problem, otherwise put them on the roof of the car or somewhere to air while you erect the TT. (Assuming it`s not raining!)
I had a folding camper for 2 years which I stored all year on my drive without any problems. In the winter, I took the canvas off and stored it indoors. I then put a layer of bubblewrap, coated either side with aluminium, over the top of the FC. Then a sheet of plastic which covered the entire top and went down the sides. Then put the usual cover on! I had no problems with damp during the winter.
Whether you keep the canvas on over winter or not, it is a good idea to open your TT up and air it regularly. Mould hates fresh air! I also cleaned all surfaces in the FC with a Flash wipe and hoovered it our thoroughly to remove any trace and smell of food to keep the mickies out!
I'm sure someone must have made a shelter for their TT or FC so you are sure to get some views on doing this. I would have thought it sounds a good idea to keep as much weather off the unit as possible.
Hi Trev and welcome to the site Lots do store outside, ours just fits in the garage but had to have a good sort out first!! Have to christened it yet?? There's a meet in Bala this weekend - not to far for you - if you and yours fancied to try it out???
Thanks marynov but unfortunately working that weekend ,arranging to "christen"the T/T May bank holiday weekend, at Parc farm ,Llanarmon-Y- Ial near Ruthin if it is not booked up already,otherwise it will be pot luck locally.(trial run for erecting purposes/organising interior etc.)before we start camping with a vengeance!!
we bought a cheapo £10 car cover from argos, loosely put this over (help by 4 bungee straps, end to end and across if you see what i mean). jacked it off it's wheels and it was fine for this winter. for this winter it's living on a farm, still covered up, but also under a lean-to.
we came to the conclusion that having it in the front garden, and then taking it away for days at a time, was an advert to come and burgle the house.
Have you considered side storage brackets - these worked well for me in my confined garage space with my Conway TT and only cost about £70(still rather expenseive for what they are)
Hi, MattyG,have been considering side storage brackets(Especially being inthe engineering trade, manufacturing the brackets myself ! I just need a couple of photos of an original and some basic dimensions to go from.)The problem still exists with regard to storage as my garage is a definite no-no(both sides of garage walls are shelved,).Has to be outside,on it`s side or on it`s wheels,I have even thought about putting a shelter cum porch at the rear side of the house if T/T was on it`s side, but she who must be obeyed is not too enamoured with that "idea".Never mind ,please keep ideas and suggestions coming, after all "rome wasn`t built in a day"or did they mean Wembley Stadium!!
It takes a fair amount of muscle power to turn a trailer tent on its side, you know. You have to lift it up and over. It`s much easier to leave it flat if you don`t have to fit it into a precise space. Also you don`t have to worry about what`s inside the TT...often if you`re turning it then you have to empty out anything fragile and perhaps remove the kitchen to lessen the weight.
When I was looking for a basic TT for my SIL I saw several storage areas...the most ingeneous one was a very low roofed hut for the TT, just high enough for it to roll underneath. The sides were made of trellis and there were pots of flowers on top. You could hardly tell there was a storage area underneath. I also saw one stored under the decking area, one under a lean-to like you describe and several just at the end of gardens, under tarps.
The Conway Cruiser folding camper that I had years ago was almost 8 years old when I got it and it had been outside with nothing but it's own cover for all that time. The canvas had never been removed for winter storage and the whole unit was spotless and bone dry, as it still was when I sold it 3 years later, having also stored it outside. Keeping the canvas in good nick when a unit is stored outside is just a bit of common sense - make sure it's absolutely dry before being folded for any length of time, consider opening it up (no need to fully erect or tension it - just open it) for an hour or two if you get one of those gloriously dry, sunny winter days, and possibly put a moisture trap or dish of salt in it (change/dry out the trap regularly). And remember to position the unit nose-up so that water runs off and doesn't pool on the cover (if your cover is a little loose and collects puddles, but something under the middle of it).
I think Val`s observations when looking for a T/T are probably the way to go in my humble opinion,the idea of constructing a low roofed shelter with trellis work to soften the exterior will also disguise the T/T behind the 4ft high Copper Beech Hedge I have in the back garden.Time to get the graph paper out!!,again thanks for the help and very constructive advice, it is much appreciated.
Hi. Having just recently bought a Raclet Solena f/c, I had the problem of where to store it. My solution was to evict my poor Nissan Micra from the garage to the driveway and put my gleaming new f/c into the garage. The f/c takes up the same amount of space as the car so I have enough room to walk through the garage.
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Topic: Trailer Tent Protection
Lots do store outside, ours just fits in the garage but had to have a good sort out first!! Have to christened it yet?? There's a meet in Bala this weekend - not to far for you - if you and yours fancied to try it out???
