The 22 foot range travel trailer was pretty easy to cover. The 31 foot range travel trailer was a bit more challenging. And the 35 footer, I never bothered covering. And the thought of covering the 41 foot 5er now is not even an option to consider.
The longer they get, the heavier and bigger the cover gets. Also, the longer they got, the older I got too (funny how that worked out).
Don't know about your intended usage, but if you cover your camper and then decide a few days later to go somewhere with it, then you have to uncover. If you return home and cover again, then decide to go somewhere in a few days again, you'll have to uncover.
It only takes about 3 times for this to happen and they you will probably be ready to throw the thing away. No, not the camper, .... the cover!
I think to cover or not to cover depends upon how much you plan on using the camper, because putting in on and taking it off, and then putting it on and taking it off, gets very-very-very old very-very-very quick, regardless of how old or young, how stiff or or limber your body is.
Covering is nice, IF you plan on parking it and leaving it sit for some time. If you plan to use it frequently, covering will be a pain in the neck and back and legs real fast! If you are in snow country, covering is not a good thing if you plan on using the camper in the winter. It's horrible dealing with the cover when it laden with snow and ice ... don't ask how I know!
You will want a full cover over your camper, not a tarp that fits only over the top. You will want it pulled as tight as you can get it so nothing can flop in the wind. If it flops, it will rub your paint like sand paper.
To prepare it for installing, you'll want a space large enough you can lay out the cover completely flat with the inside on the ground and you are walking on the top. Then fold one of the sides over the top, then the other side over the top, then both ends, in that order. The entire tarp will be inside out now.
Now fold toward the middle again into 1/4's long way on both sides, then fold everything again. The goal is to get the width short enough you can handle it.
Next, select either the front or the back end of the cover. Yes, they are marked front or back. Start either way, just remember which end you start and end on. Let's say you start rolling from the front. Roll the remaining from the front toward the back. Once in a roll, like a sleeping bag, you are done. It's ready to put on the roof.
On the roof, lay the roll on the back of the camper and then unroll it going toward the front. Now you get it, right!
After it's unrolled, unfold each side until it's flat on the roof. Don't lower any sides until its completely opened up. Then... remember how it was folded? Lower the front end and the back end. This will help begin to hold it in place. Then lower one side and then the other.
Once in place, get down and tie all the ropes tight and snug and say good night to the baby.
In the Spring, do it exactly the same way as you did on the ground, except you'll be on the roof.
One side up, other side up, lay flat upside down. Front end up, back end up, lay flat. Fold each side over toward the middle in 1/4 lengths. Once it's all folded to the size of the storage bag length, then being rolling like a sleeping bag again. Front to back, or back to front. Just remember which way you do it. I always did front to back, so when putting on the roof the next time I started from the back.
After it's rolled up, drop it to the grown, put in it's bag and say ... "Hello Baby!" Did you have a good winter!
