New Class A - opinions on covering it?

It depends on how you plan on using your rig. A cover is a lot of work to install and remove. A permanent pole building is much easier. What you don’t want to do is cover your rig and then be reluctant to use it because of the hassle of removing and storing the cover. In any case do not ever use a tarp to cover an RV. They will damage them. We 4 season RV so we don’t cover or RVs. Our units have always been plugged in, heated, with full water and empty grey and black tanks (except chemicals). That way if there is a natural disaster or we just get the urge to take off for the weekend it’s ready to go. A cover would be a major impediment to that readiness. If we were just summer RVers then winterizing including covering may be a good idea. We did have to pay for some paint work on one of our previous rigs because the decals were cracked and faded. However for us it was well worth it to keep it ready to go at all times.

bclinton wrote:
So it looks like I will be buying my first motorhome - a class A 32 foot Forest River Gas. After looking all week and emailing a ton of sellers I can spend about 10K than I had originally picked out in a class c used about 500 miles away and an in state dealer is offering a new 2017 for 75K. He advises that it is one of his last 2017's and he is selling at his cost which I believe could be true. Most likely will purchase tomorrow. Anyway, what are your opinions on covering a motorhome? Are removable covers a good investment? What about a permanent cover installed in my driveway? Any idea on what I will be paying for covers and the pros and cons of either?

Thanks in advance...

bclinton,
The thing about flexible covers, the kind you have to DO A TON OF WORK to install and remove each and every time, is that they are a ton of work. 2nd, Let's say you wash your pretty, nice and new coach, and put a brand new cover on it. Well, the prime reason you're putting the cover on it is to protect the coach, correct? And, at the same time, you're also keeping dirt and debris off of it, correct?
Well, that cover's going to also get dirty. Now, how you gonna get that cover off the coach? Most likely you're gonna semi-fold-roll it, in any fashion that makes it as easy on you, as possible. But, while folding and rolling, you're folding and rolling DIRT right into that cover.

Now, the next time you plan on putting the cover on, guess what, You're going to un-fold and un-roll that cover, WITH THE DIRT now on the inside, onto your coach. So, now you've got dirt and debris, IN BETWEEN your cover and your new, nice coach. NOT GOOD!

About 99.99% of the folks that purchase covers and put them on, only do it ONE TIME. The rest of the time, the cover rots in a corner some place 'cause it's a serious pain in the a$$ to put on and take off.

So, my suggestion. If you have the money, the space, and the approval of any city, county and governing authorities that make the rules about what can go where and how big, I'd put some sort of "drive under" cover of your choice in. And, again, depending on the governing authorities, I'd make it as big as you can. So many folks put one in and then say, "why" didn't we go bigger?
Scott

I like the metal carports myself. My rig is 32 foot, so I had a 40 long,14 wide, and 12 high one put up. Four guys did it in several hours, but I already had a level spot for it. It cost 6 thousand, but 14 foot wide is a custom width, so that's a bit more. Having it 8 foot longer than the rig helps a good bit with the sun protection for the front. Here is the company I used. If you click on products, then on RV covers, you can see some examples. You can do it cheaper, but I have the back and one side fully enclosed.

If you have a place and budget for a permanent metal shed I would strongly suggest getting one, the more enclosed the better.

Ours is garaged, I'm happy with that. We haven't winterized one since 2001. The only time it's ever outside is when we're using it. It's always plugged in and ready to go.

Isaac-1 wrote:
If you have a place and budget for a permanent metal shed I would strongly suggest getting one, the more enclosed the better.

X2. Covers are okay, I don't find them difficult to install. But a roof is a better option.

If you go with a cover, consider adding a car-top carrier to store it in. Just getting a cover up to the top of the RV is a chore that goes away if you store it up there.

build the metal cover, you,ll be a happy rv,er.

You could search this Forum for `RV Cover' and read that we cover ours with a Sunshield tarp; easy (easier) on and off than the full fledged covers.

Building a shed or other garage would be my first option, BUT...at my house that is not an option. So, we pay a monthly rental fee and rent a space under a covered storage facility. It's not enclosed, but it is covered and unless a tornado comes up, it's generally protected from the elements during the winter months while it's stored. The rest of the 10 months that we are using it for outings, it sits in my driveway plugged into to shore power. I considered using a cover and actually had one given to me because the previous owner didn't use it, but for all the reasons stated above, it was and IS still brand new. If you want to make a trip to NC, I'll give it to you just like it was given to me, because I have no intention of using it either and it takes up quite a bit of space in my trailer.