Tarp to cover camper

[HUNTERJEFF]

I was wondering if anyone is using a tarp to cover their camper. I am sick of buying covers that only last a year and don't want to spent five hundred dollars for a good cover
Thanks
Jeff

[jonp4161]

I've used poly tarps to cover my camper, and they've worked pretty well. I usually go for a heavy-duty, UV-resistant tarp to make sure it lasts longer. The key is to secure it tightly to prevent flapping and rubbing that can cause wear. Using bungees or tie-downs helps a lot. Also, look for tarps with reinforced corners and edges for added durability. Hope this helps!

[way2roll]

Not sure if you noticed but you are responding to an 11 year old topic.

[Reelescape1]

We found a white tarp online for ~ $40 that works and isn't as obvious as the bright ones are.

[HotelOne]

I get a new, high quality tarp from Lowe's every couple of years. I get some snow load here and I do what some very smart member of this forum suggested and it works great! I buy three cheap 3' beachballs and slide them under the tarp along the middle of the roof then loosely tie the tarp up. The snow and rainwater flow down the sides and don't pool on the top. The beachballs are super cheap on the web. Thanks again to that smart forum member!

[bighatnohorse]

vern kelly wrote:
Hey Hunter Jeff,

I feel the same way you do! The so called "cheep" covers do not last long in the Californie sunshine and aren't so cheep! I prolong my covers life by putting a tarp (20 foot by 12 foot) over it and hook it with some bungies. I like the last white tarp I got from amazon the best so far. The Blue ones last only one season. Same with the brown ones. This really works well as rain will not force dust through the cover onto the camper roof which streaks the sides.

This will also prevent a minor roof leak from ruining your camper during the off season. My camper is 15 years old now and I get lots of compliments on it still. I wax it once a year and wash it after I come back from a trip before covering it. Next trip it looks just washed. I crack the vents while in storage and the air conditioner vent keeps it high in the middle for runoff of rain.

X2 - Adco cover to keep the dust and pollen from accumulating + a 12' x 25' tarp to keep the water off the top.

Crescenta Valley rules. Go Falcons!

[bluhaven]

I used one of the adco covers and it ended up causing my filon to delaminate because it doesn't breathe, making it like an oven under the cover. I just leave it in the ca sun and it's been fine.

Kevin

[vern_kelly]

Hey Hunter Jeff,

I feel the same way you do! The so called "cheep" covers do not last long in the Californie sunshine and aren't so cheep! I prolong my covers life by putting a tarp (20 foot by 12 foot) over it and hook it with some bungies. I like the last white tarp I got from amazon the best so far. The Blue ones last only one season. Same with the brown ones. This really works well as rain will not force dust through the cover onto the camper roof which streaks the sides.

This will also prevent a minor roof leak from ruining your camper during the off season. My camper is 15 years old now and I get lots of compliments on it still. I wax it once a year and wash it after I come back from a trip before covering it. Next trip it looks just washed. I crack the vents while in storage and the air conditioner vent keeps it high in the middle for runoff of rain.

[Gaetan]

I once was told that covers or tarps can make more damages than leaving the camper without
Protection your opinions would be appreciated
Gaetan

[finaddict]

A Costco frame supported "garage" is the ticket for me. I raised it up 5 feet for clearance when on the truck. I used Chain link fence posts (4 - 6 foot posts cut in half) and drove them 2 feet into the ground and then placed 5 foot lengths of 3" PVC pipe pegged on top of it. The 2" pipe from the Costco garage fits nicely into the PVC and then holes drilled though both pipes and pinned into place to give me a 12' wide x 20' long garage that is about 14 feet high. The tarpaulin material is very heavy and it lasted me about 8 years. I just replaced it For just over $200 I can do that every 8 years and feel pretty good about it.

Tarps that are tight up against the camper do as much damage as good. They will leak in very short order due to chaffing and will hold moisture agianst the seams. More campers have been destroyed by tarping than anything else. As one who is in Vancouver and lives eats and breathes rain, I am very familiar with moisture 😉

[jimh406]

We have an Adco cover. The DW sewed a panel in the middle to make it slightly wider so it isn't so tight. It works well. Tarps are ok as long as you create a way for them to breathe.

[K_Mac]

I put old linens sewn together under tarp to help scratching or scruffing from happening' works out fine.

[jefe_4x4]

I've tried every 'tarp' style over the years: blue, silver, camo, green, and brown cheap and not-so-cheap plastic tarps. None of them lasted more than 2 seasons. Of course, Sierra Cement and lots of it does not help the situation.
Then I bought a treated, heavy cotton duck trucker's tarpolin, and as they say, I got what I paid for. I've gotten many seasons out of it. The woe is that it is heavy and takes 2 people to install in the fall.
Last fall we built a dedicated TC/tractor barn, so the tarp situation is moot. This end (facing south) is now closed up during the winter months:

regards, as always, jefe

[River_Sand]

I am going on 2 years with my ADCO cover, I make sure all the sharp edges are coverd with a piece of cut up swim noodle. Also make sure it is tight as possible to prevent flapping as it will cause it to fail too.

[Dick_B]

Sunshield tarps last for several seasons. Buy one to cover the roof and hangs over the sides a little. No need to cover the sides completely.