To tarp or not to tarp, that is the question...

I would not use a tarp, you will trap moisture. The frame and tarp roof idea might work okay depending on wind or snow.

I use an Adco cover for winter storage only. It breathes and is strapped under the trailer. I can get 4 feet or more of snow on that roof, and I don't like the melting snow getting into all the pipes, A/C unit, fridge vent, vent covers, ect. and it also keeps a lot of dirt / leaves / debris off the top of my trailer. In the past I've had damage from ice without a cover installed, has ripped off pieces of the roof membrane during a thaw freeze cycle. The cover has completely stopped that. It also comes out much cleaner in the spring again.

Two ideas: Lean the trailer to one side so the front hatch ledge is on an angle to drain. Tape the hatch shut with foil tape. It will last a Winter and if there is any residue, when removed, you can easily clean it with mineral spirits.

The main detriment with covers is that they loosen over time and then the material, when windy and flapping, has a chance to abrade the surface under it. There was just a thread in the "Tech Issues" section of the Forum asking how to repair a roof edge because of cover damage.

The part that worries me the most is the front pop out. the front is angled and if I don't get it perfectly level water will puddle in the bottom of the hatch opening then freeze. If I lean the nose down then the back pop out won't drain. my camper is very similar to this:


Those who have had the paint wear off from a flapping tarp were your campers aluminum? The outside of mine is some kind of rubber/vinyl/plastic material.

Maybe I'll get a 30' tarp and run it from the bottom of the front hatch over the roof and to the bottom of the back hatch. Since the camper is only 7' wide a 10x30 ought to fit just right. That way it can still breathe through the windows and the door. I would also be able to get in there to check on things without untying the tarp.

Or better yet build one of these:

In WNY we get lots of snow and wind. I did buy a breathable cover. Not so much to keep rain/snow off but it does keep the tt cleaner and reduces the sun exposure. have not seen any places were the cover has worn the paint surface. As others have mentioned, it ties down underneath the tt. One place it really helps is the awning which traps water when retracted. This always causes mold to grow if not washed a few times a season. When i took cover off this spring, the was no mold because the cover kept it dry.

I'd suggest to get all the possible leak points sealed up good, first. An hour or two with a caulk gun loaded with Proflex RV should be all that's necessary. You could certainly use the canopy as long as it's stabilized and doesn't fall on the trailer.

Here's my rig under going a leak test:


That is 8" of very wet heavy snow--Minnesota Mortar. I don't cover the trailer at all.

midnightsadie wrote:
shrink rap it.

My girlfriend did that with her popup tent camper. It worked great actually. (Results may vary)

2 data points:

1 - I tarped my camper once..... come spring time, the tarp rubbed through the paint in several areas and finish dulled - I assume because the tarp does not allow the camper to breath and trapped condensation all winter. I would use a breathable cover if you want to protected from the elements.

2 - a neighbour has completely tarped his camper now for almost 1 year - I saw it uncovered a while back and it look like cr*p. Anything that is steel is rusted - again I assume it's trapped condensation. Anywhere the tapr was flapping has worn away the paint.

Again a breathable cover may be the best answer

Gerry

pira114 wrote:

Baja937 wrote:


The ONLY cover I would ever even consider are the types that fit over the entire unit and get strapped UNDER the trailer...

I had one of those. Cost me $375. One summer and winter where I live completely destroyed that thing. I mean SERIOUSLY destroyed it. I looked at the warranty and it did not cover damage due to weather. I had to laugh at that.

I will never cover again.

Thought about buying a cover as well, but after reading many a posts about their longevity, or lack thereof, I decided against it.

Baja937 wrote:


The ONLY cover I would ever even consider are the types that fit over the entire unit and get strapped UNDER the trailer...

I had one of those. Cost me $375. One summer and winter where I live completely destroyed that thing. I mean SERIOUSLY destroyed it. I looked at the warranty and it did not cover damage due to weather. I had to laugh at that.

I will never cover again.

I never tarp and never will...

Ask yourself 2 questions...

1) Do dealers in the northern part of the country tarp their inventory on their lots over the winter? These are brand spanking new units...

2) Does anyone tarp their trailer from spring to fall when the season is in and it's subjected to the elements including hail possibilities?

Personally, I don't want the ropes used to tarp beating on my trailers high gloss finish in higher winds...

The ONLY cover I would ever even consider are the types that fit over the entire unit and get strapped UNDER the trailer...