Covers. Who uses them? Who doesn't?

I don't cover mine but if i did it would just be during the winter months. I would think it would help keep ice and snow out of cracks and crevices that could cause damage over time. I wash mine regularly and wax it once or twice through the summer. I'd think a cover would be a giant pain every time i used it.

I cover my TT when in storage and use a 30 watt panel and weatherproof controller from WindyNation on top of the cover. Thirty-fifty watt solar panels aren't good for much except maintaining a charge in storage. I really dislike manufacturers that provide a small panel and call it a "solar system."

If you plan coverning and uncovering, and fold carefully, it makes the job easier.

Never covered the 2 travel trailers I have owned, both were stored outdoors year round. My brother has a cover for his which I believe is a real pita as I have heard. The covers from what I have seen and heard are very lightweight and can't really imagine it doing that much good imho

I just keep my trailer in a mine during the winter, it's as cheap as most storage lots and keeps the nasty ice away. The downsides are 2 hours each way to storage and I have to use DampRid as the mine is like 80% humidity.

I cover mine. It can be a pain to take it on and off. However, the other 10-15 campers I store mine next to do not get covered. It is real easy to see the difference in covering and not.

Many different opinions on covers. I have been using one since I bought my trailer a few years ago. The person before me also covered it. I will continue to use it because I believe it makes a huge difference on the exterior of the trailer. I only use it in the winter, wash, wax, winterize and cover. Then check for rodents every few months and change out my dehydrator material. A few weeks or so before I want to use it in the spring, I wait for a dry day, take the cover off and store until next year. The trailer looks new and ready to go when the cover comes off. I do remove my batteries for the winter and rotate them on a battery tender in my garage all winter.

One thing about covers, they have to be the right size and secured very snug due to wind and weather. If you let it flap, it will tear. I have a 5th wheel so the cover is large, but well worth it in my opinion. Same cover now for 4 years.

I had an Adco cover for 2 years, I had the correct size, had it strapped tight, but yet the wind whipped it and wore holes everywhere it touched the RV, i Built a 20X40 metal carport, (or RV Port if you wish), the Adco went in the dumpster, $300 +/- wasted.

I covered ours yesterday as we don’t have any trips for the next eight weeks. I believe they make a difference but man what a hot miserable ornery dangerous thing it is. Just heavy enough to be cumbersome yet light enough that the slightest breeze turns it into a sail. Once this one is torn to shreds, I’ll probably skip it from then on.

Search this Forum for `RV Cover' and read lots of previous posts including mine.

It's proportional. The less it is exposed to rain and UV, the less damage and degradation will happen.
And the less sun, and wind the cover is exposed to (and the tighter it fits and care taken when installing) the longer a cover will last.

And the more care taken with maintaining the camper, the longer and better it will last.
And if you put it in a bubble it will look like new 100 years from now and if you park it in Death Valley, it will look 100 years old 3 years from now.
Cover costs, what, $300? Avg lifespan 3-5 years? Say 3.
Is it worth $100/year to protect it from the elements?

Millions of people don't garage or maintain their cars either. Does that mean its bad or not worth it to do that? Nope, just means millions don't care or cant' afford to garage their cars....