RV Cover for Winter?

tgduffy · 10-06-2016, 12:55 PM

We are entering our first winter with a travel trailer and we live in Utah just below Salt Lake City. We definitely get freezing weather and snow. I notice that maybe half of the RV owners have covers and the other half do not. Do I spend the $ for a good "breathable" RV cover or just let it sit? Aren't RV's constructed to be outdoors?

NMWildcat · 10-06-2016, 06:05 PM

I have found covers to be extremely frustrating to use, cause more problems than they solve, and only last a few seasons before they rot away. I was never able to get them tight enough to prevent rub marks from wind. Now we use our rig so often (even during the winter in the southwest) that is no longer an option. But some folks swear by them and use them religiously.

ilmor · 10-06-2016, 06:55 PM

Covered my 2010 Solera for 6 years (winters). It looked great when I traded it for the Sunseeker. The Addco cover I had was actually 8 years old because I had used it on a previous motorhome as well. If finally gave up the ghost last year, primarily due to damage suffered during a bad storm in 2011. I just purchased a new Addco cover and installed it last weekend. This time I got the one that is designed for harsher conditions. I highly recommend them. I'll add a pic to my Registry page here - http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...vehicle&v=1009 .

tom39 · 10-06-2016, 07:14 PM

My wife and I just purchased a Camco ULTRAGuard 5th Wheel Cover for our Rockwood 8288SS. The material seems to be fairly durable and it appears that it should hold up. We only just got it yesterday so I can't say how good it is and how long it will last. But for us, it was not all about keeping it out of the elements, our main concern was to keep the dirt and grime off of it so I don't have to wash it each and every time I want to take it out.

Tom G

jafud1 · 10-07-2016, 01:25 PM

The last winter season in Ohio (2014-2015), before we moved to South Carolina, we had a lot of snow, ice and extended periods of below freezing weather. We had the ADCO premium cover on our 35' travel trailer. In the Spring of 2015 the service manager at our dealer in Cincinnati said they had many customers coming in for repairs to the roof of their RVs. He said it was the customers that did not cover their RVs that had all the roof damage to repair. We did not have any damage to our roof and the RV looked as clean as when we put it away the previous November.

ilmor · 10-07-2016, 02:25 PM

Great point about the roof. I get all kinds of debris...leaves, sticks, stuff...on the cover.

Seachaser186 · 10-07-2016, 05:15 PM

I slide plastic coffee cans on the bumper ends, they work great.

D-Man · 10-07-2016, 09:34 PM

If you have a rubber roof, you'll want to cover your camper. The suns UV rays can really do a job on an uncovered rubber roof membrane. Cover your tires too!

Alpha Wolf · 10-07-2016, 11:20 PM

I am 65 how do you get a cover over the roof of 13ft RV.

tgduffy · 10-08-2016, 10:55 AM

Excellent question. I'm 64 with a 24 foot trailer. How do we get the covers on? Tall ladder?

Alpha Wolf · 10-08-2016, 11:29 AM

To Duffy. This this is 13 ft high and 40 ft long. It would have to be at least a ten ft ladder. When was the last time you delta with a 10 ft ladder. I think I will look into a shelter.

Oaklevel · 10-08-2016, 12:00 PM

Shelters only for us ( do not have one of those either yet ) covers only last 3 months here too windy. Other than trying one...... in 30 plus years never covered a trailer & no roof or other issues with annual inspection and maintenance.

Alpha Wolf · 10-08-2016, 12:44 PM

Thanks I live in Florida. The sun is rough but I do plan on getting annual roof inspection. I am a newbie at this but this forum is great reference

tkmi · 10-08-2016, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpha Wolf

I am 65 how do you get a cover over the roof of 13ft RV.

With a helicopter. Lol

Alpha Wolf · 10-08-2016, 07:34 PM

Lol

NMWildcat · 10-08-2016, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpha Wolf

I am 65 how do you get a cover over the roof of 13ft RV.

I've done it.. but it is a major PITA!!!! First you have to haul the cover up on the roof. That is the fun part. Then you have to unroll the cover in the center of the rig and start spreading it toward the sides. Once you have it dropping off the sides you have to carefully walk back to the ladder without stepping on any skylights or vent covers which you can't see anymore

Then you get on a ladder and pull it completely over the sides putting in foam and such so you don't break off any drip guides. Then you have to tie down the cover tight enough to prevent wind from leaving rub marks, which is impossible. Then if you want to use your rig before spring, you look at having to remove the cover and put it back on, so you decide not to use the RV

Then in the spring, you remove the cover which is also a giant PITA, and you have to wax/de-oxidize your rig to get rid of the rub marks.

DON'T DO IT!!! LOL!!!!!

Alpha Wolf · 10-08-2016, 10:24 PM

My thoughts exactly. I need a shelter. I plan on using my RV every month so tarp not going to work.

jdhreiss · 10-09-2016, 09:02 PM

Time to bundle up my 2015 Rockwood Mini Lite 2104S. Living in the Pacific Northwest on the rainy side, I'm in need of a good cover. We did the tarp thing last year, which worked out ok, but a cover would give it a better look for the neighbors to admire, as well as limit the bungee cords used.
We also take a couple of weekend trips in Feb/Mar, so it will need to come off a couple of times, hopefully easier that the big tarp.

Any recommendations on make and model cover will be of great help. Every ad says theirs is the best (DUH), but someone who has been there/done that is a more reliable source!

Thanks in advance and RV on!

Joe Reiss
SW Washington

jtaylor1920 · 10-09-2016, 09:26 PM

We purchased an ADCO All Climate Designer Series cover last year from Amazon. It has held up well and is already on for the season. I like that it has side panels that zip up and allow me to enter the rig and check things out during the year. It seems to shed water well and has air baffles to help keep it from flapping in high winds. It is tan in color and like you I think the neighbors prefer it over a tarp.

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

zinger60 · 10-10-2016, 04:22 PM

We found a used Adco cover on Craiglist and used it for the first time last winter. We put tennis balls on the ends of the gutters and had absolutely no problems with any marks on the camper or rips in the cover. We had a few times of very strong winds and the cover stayed in place all winter.

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