RV Protection (covers, canopies, etc)

Thanks to all for your helpful responses!

Just let your new TT sit for a while uncovered and then watch as it slowly gets dirty and those tree pods stain the exterior. Then go inside and deal with the temperature in the summer. After doing this, decide for yourself if covering is worth it. Maybe invest in a metal carport type structure. Good Luck - Lance makes a real nice TT.

I would invest in an RV cover. I have one...actually 3.

vicfor wrote:
Mitch - Why no blue tarp no matter what?

RV covers are made so that they can breathe. Blue tarps will trap moisture and allow mold and mildew to grow.

Do not use a tarp. If you cover the trailer, use a quality cover. However, covers have issues. They only last so long and you have to be careful putting it on so the wind does not cause the cover to rub on the trailer. I agree that covering it is a good idea but I think it is better to have an basic metal shelter.

I was at the Coachmen Annual rally a couple weeks back. I attended a seminar by Dicor that makes roof materials (several types) for many, many brands. These guys had been with the company a combined 42 years.

Their recommendation was to not use any cover on a trailer.

I was surprised too. They would rather we clean it more often. They have seen too many roofs damaged by covers (rubbing in the wind, strapped down too tight damaging the edges, etc).

Just food for thought.

A proper cover is best but in winter a tarp can be OK if you don't get a lot of high winds and do it right. I put several plastic milk cartons down the center of the roof and run 2X4's between them. this provides a peak and allows air to circulate between the roof and the tarp. I also tie the ropes to a fence on one side and cement blocks placed a little way from the trailer on the other, instead of pulling it tight down the sides.

Using a cover is either a necessity due to climate, or a personal preference. Most of us fall under the later category. If your temps run into the high extremes like Rocky71's for long periods then you'll need something.

We've never covered any of our trailers. We get temps in the summer as high as 100 and in the winter as low as -20, all in snow, rain, wind, etc., and under a tree. Our last trailer (in HTT) had oxidized front and rear bed panels after about 8 years. I polished them out with white polishing compound and a high speed polishing machine. We had that trailer 10 years and it still looked great.

Keep it waxed and keep the roof clean.

vicfor wrote:
Mitch - Why no blue tarp no matter what?

I won't ever use a blue tarp either. I did on a pop-up camper once. Tarps have an abrasive surface. In one winter that tarp did more damage to the surface of the trailer than not covering it for the remaining 9 years we owned it.

Mitch - Why no blue tarp no matter what?

I had a metal cover. You got to cover it.
I live temp today 103 your roof will melt.
The Co. I got was in Calif. shop around.
Good Luck