Winter Covers

[Sunline Fan]

After 18 years, my trailer cover finally disintegrated itself last winter. It was a great cover, and I'm looking to get the same time out of a new one.

I see prices vary. Camping World carries Camco, Adco, and Classic Accessories, and they are currently having a sale on covers.

I'm in a climate where we see a decent amount of snow, but usually no more than a few inches accumulates on the trailer before it melts off. The trailer is parked in a spot that it doesn't see much sun and not a ton of wind. JohnB told me that there are different types of fabric for different areas of the country.

FWIW this is for the 2653.

Does anyone have any recommendations for:
- Brand?
- Fabric type?

Thanks,
Jon

[Sunline Fan]

I decided on the Adco All Climate + Wind cover through Camping World. It seemed to have decent reviews overall, even though you'll always find someone with an RV cover who has a problem. CW has a sale going on right now and with a 10% discount code on a pop up, it made the price better than Amazon or others.

I measured my 2653 to have a 24'3" box plus about 10" for the spare tire on carrier. The 24'1"-26' cover should work fine. I'll have to come up with a way to cover the tongue area for winter since RV covers aren't supposed to cover that part and my previous one did.

I literally just ordered it, so I can't comment on the fitment or how it holds up in wind yet.

https://www.campingworld.com/adco-al...er-120407.html

[Mikeyb]

I agree with John,

If you have a small leak and it freezes and thaws each time it freezes It could make the leak even worse . Just a thought.

[jim44646]

Plus the fact it keeps it clean. No tree sap, no bird dodo. Help protect from uv damage. Might be cold in winter but sun is closer to earth at that time of year. Cover if you can inside storage better.

[Sunline Fan]

I was filling out the warranty card for the cover a few weeks ago, and interestingly it notes that the cover does not stop roof leaks. It's breathable material all over so it makes sense that water will get behind it at times.

Of course not all covers are made the same; my old cover had like a tarp material on the roof section, so I could see that stopping more water than the Adco.

So either way, make sure your roof seams are good before you cover. If you do make any touch ups, make sure to give the Dicor (or other sealant) time to cure before putting the cover on!

[jim44646]

Seems to me that it wouldn't allow roof to dry out.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by jim44646

Seems to me that it wouldn't allow roof to dry out.

Hi Jim,

What is the context of your thoughts? I can read the, not drying out, part a few different ways.

[jim44646]

If the cover allows water in it just lays there. If it rains on a uncovered roof the wind will dry it off. My thinking is if cover isn't water proof the membrane stays wet without any air circulation, causing mold and mildew. Like covering your wood pile with a holy tarp.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by jim44646

If the cover allows water in it just lays there. If it rains on a uncovered roof the wind will dry it off. My thinking is if cover isn't water proof the membrane stays wet without any air circulation, causing mold and mildew. Like covering your wood pile with a holy tarp.

H'mm OK got it now.

Well, not totally sure as I never used one of these covers and the brands may differ.

The one SunlineFan bought was "breathable". Not sure how exactly how waterproof it is, 95% water proof? If it allows 5% water get through, it still sheds 95% of the water which is better then no cover. If the cover is breathable like they state, then the 5% should evaporate/dry out when it stops raining. The breathable feature is a need or it will mold up like you are thinking.

Does that make sense?

[jim44646]

Originally Posted by JohnB

H'mm OK got it now.



Well, not totally sure as I never used one of these covers and the brands may differ.



The one SunlineFan bought was "breathable". Not sure how exactly how waterproof it is, 95% water proof? If it allows 5% water get through, it still sheds 95% of the water which is better then no cover. If the cover is breathable like they state, then the 5% should evaporate/dry out when it stops raining. The breathable feature is a need or it will mold up like you are thinking.



Does that make sense?

That make sence. I wasn't thinking about vent covers and the ac holding the cover up allowing air circulation.
I'm in need of a new cover but they are such a pain. Never found an easy way to put one on. They're somewhat heavy to haul up on a ladder. About the time I cover we decide to go. Then times I think we're going to go out I don't cover we don't go. Can't win.

[mainah]

I had a Toyota motor home and at the time it had to live it outside I made two 3 foot long "saw horses" maybe foot and a half high to create a pitch roof. It had some success sheading snow but what I found it did help dry out the cover when the sun came back out.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by jim44646

That make sence. I wasn't thinking about vent covers and the ac holding the cover up allowing air circulation.
I'm in need of a new cover but they are such a pain. Never found an easy way to put one on. They're somewhat heavy to haul up on a ladder. About the time I cover we decide to go. Then times I think we're going to go out I don't cover we don't go. Can't win.

I hear you, getting the cover on and off has been the most often reason I have heard folks do not want to use them. But after seeing and repairing all the water damage that can happen to a camper living outside 24/7, I fully support covering the camper. The damage trapped in the walls, floor and ceiling goes unnoticed until it is very advanced and you have major damage.

I only used a cover, (a tarp) one year when we bought our first new T2499. Doing this one time, I never was not able to master the "method" of how to get the cover up and over. And this was just a poly tarp. After the first year, I modified the 24 x 30' building we had to get it inside. Took up half the building, but it was inside. Then we changed campers and the T310SR was back to living outside. Later the new barn came and it sleeps inside now.

When I bought my last project camper, the 2004 T317SR, (31ft camper) it came with a cover, never used still in the box. That box must of been 65 lbs, maybe more. The thought of carrying that up the ladder, onto the roof that is not a walk on roof, for sure crossed my mind. The bigger the camper, the heavier that cover gets.

The topic of, "How do you get your camper cover on and off?" is a good post topic all by itself. A 15 ft camper is easier then a 26 ft camper etc. Along the way I have heard of some creating PVC pipes and such to help lift if when spreading it out. Not sure how that all works, but feel free to create a post asking how folks do it.

[Sunline Fan]

Originally Posted by JohnB

The one SunlineFan bought was "breathable". Not sure how exactly how waterproof it is, 95% water proof? If it allows 5% water get through, it still sheds 95% of the water which is better then no cover. If the cover is breathable like they state, then the 5% should evaporate/dry out when it stops raining. The breathable feature is a need or it will mold up like you are thinking.

This is a good question. The Adco website states that it blocks 99.8% of UV and 98% of dirt and dust particles, but not mention is made to quantify moisture. Since I haven't lost my snow in over a month, I haven't been back to check on the cover either, to see how much moisture is under it.

Originally Posted by JohnB

The topic of, "How do you get your camper cover on and off?" is a good post topic all by itself. A 15 ft camper is easier then a 26 ft camper etc. Along the way I have heard of some creating PVC pipes and such to help lift if when spreading it out. Not sure how that all works, but feel free to create a post asking how folks do it.

I will say, trying to get the new cover on was a real bugger. Three of us trying to work it. But that's fresh out of factory shrink wrap, so it was bunched up tight and folded in funny ways. With my last cover and with this one going forward, I don't do anything special at all. I will fold it like a car cover (likely in fourths) and roll it. Installation I find isn't too hard- I used to think it required multiple people, but I got to the point of getting it on and off myself with a 6' ladder and a small brush with a handle that I use to wash the roof with. The extra person was handy to help carry it to the paved driveway to allow it to dry and be folded/rolled, while avoiding dragging it on the grass and dirt. Then again, I only put the cover on once a year for winter.

To install:
- Hold the cover roll
- Step on bottom step of ladder
- Lift the cover up against the ladder/set on top of it if possible
- Set the cover on the edge of the trailer roof and unroll it some. Leave roll on edge of roof/awning and move ladder down. Keep unrolling until cover is unrolled.
- Start to unfold cover on the edge of the trailer. Use wash brush to try to snag cover and push it away in the air, away from you. (Careful to not push down on roof)
- Work back on that side, trying to spread cover on the roof. Start pulling out that side's sidewall piece and start dropping it down the side.
- Relocate ladder to the other side and while turning brush sideways, try to snag the cover. Try to pull it over all the way.
- Reposition ladder and use brush to unsnag cover on roof items, such as A/C, roof vents, or stink pipe caps.
- Once the roof is fully covered and sides are draped down, pull to adjust and center it.
- If your cover came with covers for ladders or sharp corners, go under the cover and install these to protect the cover.
- Securely attach and snug all straps holding the cover down.

[Nsmatt]

Hi that is how I place the cover on my Saturn with a few winded words from my husband ! We take it off in the reverse fashion . However after this past nor’easter I was removing 12” of snow from the roof and cover and noticed a rip in the cover that snagged on the refrigerator vent
Worried that more snow and rain will go beneath and get trapped causing a leak
Any ideas to repair the rip? Still have a lot of winter left then spring rains
Hope you are all well ! ☃️☃️

[PTHutch]

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

After 18 years, my trailer cover finally disintegrated itself last winter. It was a great cover, and I'm looking to get the same time out of a new one.

Jon,

How did you get 18 years out of your cover???
Was it covered indoors

I never got more than 2-3 years out of any Adco cover I bought.
Stopped using them after 2 cover purchases.

We must have more wind here in WNY than you do in MI

FYI - Mary and I are looking forward to seeing you again at the 2021 Midwest M&G this year.
It's been way too long.

[Sunline Fan]

Hi Hutch,

It was a great cover. Not indoors but the trailer is tucked away well- garage wall on one side and a mixture of a very large pine tree and some tall evergreen bushes on the other. The area will get wind on extremely windy days but that's about it.

It was actually bought new for our 31' class C in 2001. We used it for two years on there. It was then used for about three years on my '94 Sunlines.

Then the cover sat in the (at times hot) garage attic from 2006-2016. I got another 2.5 winters of good use out of it before I started to notice tearing. So that was basically at 7.5 years of outdoor winter use. The tearing was starting to occur on the front, over the rock guard and just above it, which is where the sun hits it the most. Not sure if there were tears up on the roof too.

The roof and end material on that one was like a silver plastic tarp material, with the sides being breathable fabric. The tarp material had fabric sewn in underneath, and the tarp is what started tearing. Started out as one tear two years ago, which I put some duct tape on, and then it got to the point where I couldn't keep up with it; it would tear more just trying to apply tape.

I'm not sure how waterproof the roof fabric is without the tarp, so that's why I replaced. I still have the cover and could use it still if I wanted as just a fabric cover. Of course the extra 4-5' of material made it very difficult to cover well too, in order to prevent any puddling or blowing around. Even though I tried tying it up well, the front (where I bunched the extra) still would blow around some if it were really windy.

I would have to double check, but I believe the cover was made by Gold Coast. An internet search reveals they were bought out by Camco around 10 years ago. A shame, because I would have bought another one of those in a heartbeat.

Looking forward to seeing both of you at the M&G as well!

[jim44646]

Originally Posted by Nsmatt

Hi that is how I place the cover on my Saturn with a few winded words from my husband ! We take it off in the reverse fashion . However after this past nor’easter I was removing 12” of snow from the roof and cover and noticed a rip in the cover that snagged on the refrigerator vent
Worried that more snow and rain will go beneath and get trapped causing a leak
Any ideas to repair the rip? Still have a lot of winter left then spring rains
Hope you are all well !

If it's an ADCO and you registered it they will send you free patch kits.

[jim m]

Re: Covering your RV for storage.
Some years ago before I had an RV port constructed I used ADCO covers with mixed success on my Class c and travel trailer. I made up two long wooden poles (closet hanging rod) approximately 14 ' long and placed one end in each corner of one end of the cover. I unrolled the cover on the ground at the rear of the unit and then with the help of my partner lifted the cover from both sides at once and walked alongside the trailer to the opposite end The poles must be long enough to raise the cover WELL above the AC unit while giving the installers adequate grip area as well as some leverage. A third person is useful to make sure the cover does not get hung up on something. Once the cover is in place simply remove the poles and fasten the cover down. Much easier and safer than climbing on ladders or an unsupported roof. To remove, simply reverse the procedure.

[Nsmatt]

Originally Posted by jim44646

If it's an ADCO and you registered it they will send you free patch kits.

Hi thanks for all info
I removed the snow from the cover repositioned it so the rip wasn’t along the roof line I do have a patch material which came with the cover from Amazon’s site
But choose to approximate the edges and sew them and placed gorilla tape on to reinforce the line due to temperature wasn’t sure the patch would hold
No a permanent fix but will do until I can use my sewing machine in the spring
Also wanted to say when I put the cover on I place the F150 parallel my camper to stand in instead of a ladder
Put the folded cover on camper over the ac vent let the front and back-of cover-drop down still folded
Stand in front and another happy camper at back of camper and open the folded cover towards the sides
Gravity is your friend!
Stay safe and healthy thanks again