To Cover or Not to Cover?

Just wanted to follow up from my original question. We ended up moving our trailer to a covered space at our RV storage yard. I don't mind paying a little more in monthly rent to avoid the hassle of installing and removing an RV cover. Thanks to all of you for your insight and experiences. Even though we won't be purchasing an RV cover, we will still find plenty of other things to buy at Camping World.

We kept most of our trailers in the barn for many many years. They got dirty, but no weather damage.

Now that we live in the hot sunny rainy state of Florida, I've been keeping the little trailer on a storage lot. For two years it was covered with an expensive made to order cover from CW, ADCO made to order.

The first year was no problem. I used cut up pool noodles for the gutters.

I just took it off the other day, going into year 3 for the cover. It was torn over the ladder, which I should have padded. One of the noodles fell off and there was a hole. There was rotting on the roof material and lots of mold and algee under the cover. ADCO wants pictures sent. Supposed to be four year warrenty.

I just cleaned the roof and ordered one of the Elements Covers. This time a little bigger so I'll have room for padding stuff better.

So I spoke with the ADCO people today and they are honoring their four year warranty and sending me a new cover. Very happy with the good customer service. I will keep the other one I ordered for a spare.

Is there much advantage to parking in a building versus being under a carport type cover?

To me, YES... I'd kill to have a carport type cover! Parking in a building trumps the carport cover 100%.. ;)

If I could park my RV in a garage, I'd do it in a minute.. I park my truck and car in the garage and it makes a TON of difference in their condition.

Mitch

Is there much advantage to parking in a building versus being under a carport type cover? I have a pretty big shop behind my house that's insulated (although not often heated - only when I'm in it in the winter), but it also has a nice 18' wide roof that extends off the north side of the building. I'd been storing my pop-up outside under the cover, and plan to sell it in the spring. I'd like to treat its replacement well.

I guess the big difference between the carport and in the shop would be sun exposure, although at least during the winter the sun wouldn't hit it too much since the cover is on the north side of the shop. In either case I'd have to winterize it since it will be exposed to below freezing temps.

My manual says to either park it under a carport or to cover it. I went to Camping World and they wanted over 400 for one there so I looked online at the Camping World website and found one for 160.00 go figure. It works like a champ. Ive always covered our units and never had any issues.

This is the only reason I cover my TT.. Been doing it for over 11 years with the same ADCO cover bought from Camping World.

It's a bit dirty, but still breaths and not torn up... I install/remove myself.. I only use it during winter storage, but if you store under trees, it's the only way to protect your rig IMO.. (unless you can have a garage for it!)



Good luck!

Mitch

I decided to get a cover for our new Rockwood. Our previous trailer sat on a ranch and looked terrible due to the sun beating on it. We got an Adco cover. Got the best one all weather plus wind. I love it. I put it back on between each trip and we go about every month. Came with a bag for it, tire covers, ladder cover and 4 covers for the gutters. This particular model has reinforcements at all the corners. All this being said our trailer is at our house and is somewhat sheltered from wind and I am able to check on the cover often. The first week I didnt have anything on the ladder and the corner torn a hole through the cover. The cover did come with material to fix so it was ok but if your trailer is In storage it may be tough to put on and have the cover last. In the rain though. The water does seem to bead off the cover quite nicely but we haven't had a torrential downpour yet this year.

Yes I would and do cover mine. As for the edges use pool noodles and they won't wear through the cover. I put my cover on by myself. I lay the cover on the grass and fold the sides up in the roof part of the cover, I then fold it and roll it up place it on the roof, unroll it pull the sides down over the trailer, secure it and done. Just don't do it in a windy day.

FYI,
I still have my old ADCO cover for my 31 foot Keystone Springdale TT we traded 2 years ago. It does have the 4 corners with holes now because of the down-spouts, but, actually, those corners helped keep the cover from moving. I've had an offer open for the last 2 years for anyone who wants it (Free) and it's still available if you want it, and if you live anywhere near central Indiana, we can meet up somewhere. Sorry, I'm not paying to ship it. My current trailer is 35 1/2 feet long, too long for this cover now, and I have no intentions of getting another cover. So if anyone wants it, let me know.

Everything I've read about the Classic PermaPRO seems to be good. It's a cover that's made out of ripstop. The ripstop makes it very lightweight and strong. The cover for a 30ft trailer only weighs 25 lbs. It comes with a 4 year warranty. That will be my next cover.