I asked the advice of a professional caravan valleter that works for a well known dealer. His advice was not to touch them as if you have any grit or grime on your van when you put the cover on, it will froever be on the inside of your cover. Over time, it will move thousands of times against your van and eventually effect the paintwork. He said that he could always tell when a cover had been used.
Now we both discussed this later at home but decided a cover was right for us. 3 years later, I definately regretted it, I had several small panels on the paintwork where it appeared very scuffed, the paint was very difficult to restore.
Your choice but if your only using a cover to avoid cleaning it, not so sure. If it's an old van and not quite as watetight as it once was, I'd say go ahead.
Just my experience
Simon
To help preserve the exterior of your unit and ease the chore of cleaning before the first spring outing you may wish to consider either a breathable cover or the use of a protective coating, such as Fenwicks Overwintering fluid.
When choosing a cover it is important for it to be breathable, soft enough not to damage the caravan surface and tough enough for longevity. The alternative of a waxy protective coating has the advantage of low cost and if left on all winter it is relatively easy to wash off in spring because of the natural degradation of the coating. All caravan covers have a limited life, but some inferior products can last little more than one season. The main problem is ultra-violet light degradation. Consider the cover as sacrificial – it’s better the cover degrades rather than your GRP panels discolouring.
If you use your cover throughout the year and so expose it to summer sun, expect its life expectancy to reduce. Generally, you get what you pay for here – from cheapest imported products right up to premium, custom-made items – but do ensure it’s the right size for your ‘van with the doorway in the right location and provision for the protruding external fittings such as a roof aerial and gas flue.
Another life-shortening aspect of caravan construction to covers is the sharp ends of aluminium awning rails and roof joint strips. The cover needs to be protected at such points with robust material to prevent premature wear.
Before fitting a cover it is essential that the surface of the unit is clean and dry, otherwise even with the softest of covers a surface layer of dirt and grit will damage your paintwork as the cover moves against the side of the unit.
Take particular care to ensure the windows are clean as the soft acrylic material scratches easily. Ignore any advice to protect the windows with cling film before fitting the cover as this is not wise and may cause cracking to the windows.
We just use a std one, the generic type. Caravan is on the drive so I can keep an eye on flapping etc. This Spring was great. Pulling back the cover to find it gleaming white underneath & no mammoth cleaning task ahead. Checked for damage but found nothing, but van was spotlessly clean when it went on.
Also, & probably the best aspect, is that it cuts down the impact of the caravan on the eye. Would love a tailored one but starting at 4 x the price, they are expensive. Getting in / out of the van is fairly easy. After the first outing the van was washed & cover went back on again till next trip. I'm happy we bought one. Ours is 19 - 21ft & was just over £90 from Walsall Tent Hire.
Hmm, Peak-Outdoors not a good company to quote as it has not got a good reputation on this forum. Mainly the mail order side. On saying that I did get my caravan cover from them and it was good value and I'm very happy with it, but I did collect it.
The question Cover or Not = I'd go for cover everytime.
Maypole cover went on yesterday, nice snug fit obtained from http://www.skidrive.co.uk/caravan-camping/caravan-covers.php
Comes with straps which pass under the van and pull tight, in addition I added cheap buggie straps linked together and passed over the roof of the van in strategic locations to stop the sides and roof flapping. The bungies clip onto the existing strap fixings and this works really well.
Will only use a full cover in the winter, summer months I use a roof cover only and mainly to keep the roof clean but with the added bonus of protection.
Just bought our new second hand caravan home...it has a tailor made cover used once and in immaculate condition...but...we are selling it..the last van we had 7 years ago we had a tailor made cover and we put it on for the winter....we..personally found it more trouble than its worth and if you dont clean your van before hand it can cause problems..according to our local caravan dealer not many peaople have them ..if you wash and wax your van properly it cleans easily ready for the new season ..but each to there own..we have one for sale.....
------------- Coming home back to a caravan
2013
Whit week Kelpie Manorbier
July/Aug Carpenters Farm Isle of Wight
I tend to agree with Vonc each to their own, I have beem tempted a few times but at last minute decided not to buy one. Personally as I keep the van on the drive, I find that if we have a nice mild or sunny weekend in Dec and January without the forecast of frost or ice in the evening, I will go out and give it a wash and chamois with Autogymn.
The caravans that I have had over the years always stay looking new, no risk of scratching or retained moisture under the cover, or marking of the windows. I also think a clean caravan looks better on the front driveway than a massive green cover that starts to fade after a while.
If I had the van in storage however and couldn't clean it once or twice during the winter, I would probably be tempted to go for the cover and try it.
we bought a purpose fitted caravan cover from protec that is for our model, i also bought the wheel covers & a front towing skirt, the front towing skirt is a god send, no dead flies of mud from the car wheels up the front of the caravan when you get to site. the amount of full caravan covers you see that are too big or dont fit is unreal, its worth while paying extra to protect your investment. my brother in law never bothered with a cover for storage for his van, it was a white van, its now a cream colour with faded decals for 5 yrs old it looks terrible.
so covers for me are the way forward.
------------- Haggerston Castle - May
Hendra newquay- july
Rudding Park - July
We have always put our caravan cover on from Protec we brought our van from new and it is 4 years old now and we get alot caravanners asking us is it brand new .
The cover went on in the middle of October and it will be taken off at the begining of April 2013....
As Philip22 says they really do preserve your van, however a non specific vinyl cover is a waste of time, get a properly tailored, breathable cover from protec, they don't flap as they are fitted, we have a green one which blends in the hedges round our garden and we keep the van covered all year round, so no black streaks down the sides. When we return from a trip, we wash the van and cover it. We also use a front cover when towing which has eliminated stone chipping to the front quarters
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Caravan Covers???
