Truck Camper Cover

[jimmycanuck]

Hi Everyone,

New to the truck camper world. I live in the pacific northwest and my camper will be living outside for the winter. I'm looking at buying a camper cover but am at odds with which to purchase. I have researched both the Adco Aquashed and the Poly Pro 3. Price point is relatively comparable. Does anybody have some input they could provide as to which would be better for the rain forest I live in, or any other brand that maybe suitable. I realize that a poly tarp is not a good option but what about a cover then a poly tarp that would just cover the top with a slight over hang/

Thank you all,

Jim

[dakonthemountai]

eagle777 wrote:

Super_Dave wrote:

languiduck wrote:
If it's such a great cover, why only 6 year warranty?

Fabric is still fabric, no matter how great sunbrella is. Ones climate will determine a lot. My first boat cover lasted 9 years, even in the abusive heat of California, Sacramento Valley. In a perfect world, we would all spend just a little bit more and get a metal carport, my next purchase.

that is probably about as long as the thread will last vice the material for the cover. my attwood boat cover lasted 6 years and it wasn't the material but the seams that came apart. I would have had it repaired but couldn't find anyone in the area that could do the job..as in anything you buy cheap you get cheap..

I do have the custom metal cover I had built, and LOVE it, but if I didn't have that option, then $700 for something that lasts "6 years" would be my next choice.. That's just a little over $100 per year, which I suppose in the long run is not all that expensive considering how much it would cost to store the camper at a storage facility.

Just throwing that out there.

Dak

[Tizi]

We owned the Adco for my previous Northern Lite, used it 4 full years and it worked/looked great. I am buying another for my 2007 Northern Lite, from Camping World. Around $250.

[languiduck]

Oh my, that photo sends chills up my spine. I hate winter, snow, and bitter coldness so much.

[billtex]

Our experience with an Adco cover has been very positive. We are going on 7-8 yrs and the 2nd TC with the current cover. It does have a small tear here/there but has held up pretty well. To get some idea of where we are; New England, LOTS of tress, not so much wind as our property is heavily treed and protected by stone walls. We are close to the coast (200 yards to the bay) so there are certainly high winds, but the way our property is laid out, we are able to store our campers so they are not exposed to prevailing winds so much, so we need the cover for snow, rain, and tree sap. I usually cover the camper Dec-Feb and then open it up for spring skiing.

We did purchase the Adco Premium cover for the Airstream and it is made of better quality, thicker material than the less expensive one we have for the TC. We have only covered the AS for the past 3-4 yrs. And it is holding up well also.

I don’t know how many more years we will get out of the less expensive Adco we have for the TC, but when it is time to replace it, I will spend the extra ~$100 for the premium one also. It is a better product.

I do prop up the TC cover so that water does not puddle (a few strategically placed plastic drums). Both of our campers are put away clean and are nice and clean when opened in spring time.

I would offer this; if you live in an exposed area with heavy winds, I don’t know how long the Adco would last. If I were on the Montana prairie with no wind protection I might have a different opinion.

Here is a typical winter in our yard (note; this is our old TC and prior to covering the AS-we still have the same cover on the new TC);

[kerry4951]

languiduck wrote:

kerry4951 wrote:
I bought a Calmark cover and spent big money on it. It was made well and I think it would last a long time, but as far as I was concerned it let too much water in. It was basicly an expensive sun blocker/dust cover.

Thanks for the info. Are you still using it? How long was it in service?

I used it for a few months until I got tired of dumping out a belly full of water where all the seepage accuumulated under the cabover. For some reason the top of the cover allowed the water to get in but once it all accumulated under the cabover, then the water would just lay inside the cover until I manually dumped it out, and that was after every rain. Its almost like the cover would allow water to penetrate from the outside but once inside the water would stay there. Overall I guess I was expecting just too much from a $700 RV cover. I finally got smart and put up a metal RV carport which I could not be happier with.

[languiduck]

kerry4951 wrote:
I bought a Calmark cover and spent big money on it. It was made well and I think it would last a long time, but as far as I was concerned it let too much water in. It was basicly an expensive sun blocker/dust cover.

Thanks for the info. Are you still using it? How long was it in service?

[jimh406]

I agree that blocking sun is important. It's also easier to take a cover off than rewashing the entire TC. Covers also keep debri off the top and small animals like birds can put their droppings on the cover instead of the top.

[Super_Dave]

kerry4951 wrote:
I bought a Calmark cover and spent big money on it. It was made well and I think it would last a long time, but as far as I was concerned it let too much water in. It was basicly an expensive sun blocker/dust cover.

The value of that shouldn't be discounted. Blocking sun and wind driven rain into joints is of great value. I don't care so much about the water penetration as it is meant to be a waterproof unit. Anything that lessens the effects of exposure is a good thing.

[kerry4951]

I bought a Calmark cover and spent big money on it. It was made well and I think it would last a long time, but as far as I was concerned it let too much water in. It was basicly an expensive sun blocker/dust cover.

[eagle777]

Super_Dave wrote:

languiduck wrote:
If it's such a great cover, why only 6 year warranty?

Fabric is still fabric, no matter how great sunbrella is. Ones climate will determine a lot. My first boat cover lasted 9 years, even in the abusive heat of California, Sacramento Valley. In a perfect world, we would all spend just a little bit more and get a metal carport, my next purchase.

that is probably about as long as the thread will last vice the material for the cover. my attwood boat cover lasted 6 years and it wasn't the material but the seams that came apart. I would have had it repaired but couldn't find anyone in the area that could do the job..as in anything you buy cheap you get cheap..

[SugarHillCTD]

2 years ago I bought an Adco cover from Camping World.

Ist winter- OK

2nd winter- it started to fall apart.

BTW, they claimed it was "breathable". Yes it is- the cover lets water right through, so I don't see its usefulness.

We are repairing it and will use it under a blue tarp this winter as a bit of a cushion against rubbing.

[languiduck]

I would for sure put up a covered structure, but right now I have the typical HOA governed neighborhood. My next home wont be in a place with restrictions but for now thats what I have to work with.

[Super_Dave]

languiduck wrote:
If it's such a great cover, why only 6 year warranty?

Fabric is still fabric, no matter how great sunbrella is. Ones climate will determine a lot. My first boat cover lasted 9 years, even in the abusive heat of California, Sacramento Valley. In a perfect world, we would all spend just a little bit more and get a metal carport, my next purchase.

[languiduck]

$704 quote, plus shipping which I bet will be hefty. They said made to order, want pics of every side and the top. I already sent in the dimensions for the quote. It sounds like a very nice cover that will last. But with only a 6 year warranty I'm not sure I will spend over $700 on a cover. I might...have some thinking to do. If it's such a great cover, why only 6 year warranty?