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10-06-2014, 04:00 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oregon,MO
Posts: 9
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Breathable 5th wheel cover for winter
So I purchased a cover to go over my 5th wheel for the winter because I couldn't stand the thought of just letting it set out in the elements all winter unprotected as the camper was always sheded before I bought it. The cover I bought for it is supposed to breath to keep moisture from building up in the camper. I had a guy tell me today that a camper dealer told him that putting a cover over the camper is one of the worst things you can do. Is there any truth to this? What are some of your opinions on this? Thanks, Dave
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10-06-2014, 05:01 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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The jury is out on whether to cover or not to cover. You will hear pros and cons from both sides and there are real advantages and disadvantages involved in the debate.
Some will say that covering keeps the RV cleaner and "protects" it against UV rays and the elements. Others claim that it will rub against the RV and cause abrasions in the rubber roof and the sides. In addition, any wind will eventually end up rendering the cover full of tears and holes and perhaps lasting only a year or two.
When you consider the number of uncovered RV's sitting in dealers' lots and elsewhere, it would seem that it really isn't necessary.
Perhaps regular and thorough cleaning and maintenance - caulking, etc - is enough to ensure that your RV is kept as clean and dry as possible.
Ideally, storing it indoors or under a solid cover is best but that option isn't available to everyone.
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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10-07-2014, 02:44 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Hanover, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 120
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We get lots of ice here, so I cover just the top of mine. Makes it easier to pull off ice/snow with a roof rake. I figure the walls and windows of these things leak enough that it "breathes" just fine
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1999 Springdale
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10-07-2014, 03:48 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vermont
Posts: 367
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My wife bought an ADCO cover for her baby. It took us over an hour to get it on with the wind blowing and wasn't fun to remove in the spring as water had settled, then froze it to the fiver in places. We stored it in a barn with moth balls and it was still all chewed up in the fall. What a relief to not deal with it any more.
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2015 Ford F-350 XLT Ruby Red 6.7L Powerstroke, 4x4, Short Bed, Andersen Ultimate Hitch
Cougar High Country 299RKS, Mor/Ryde pin box, 200w solar
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10-07-2014, 04:18 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Central San Joaguin Valley, CA
Posts: 2,117
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The hot valley sun rotted our ADCO cover in about 18 mos. Waste of money.
JMHO
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Jack & Marty
2018 Laredo 298 SRL
2011 F-250 SB Crew Cab 4x4 6.7L
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10-07-2014, 11:24 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Kansas City MO area
Posts: 48
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I agree. The covers are not worth the cost. I bought a used one for $75 several years ago. It was like new condition, the owner had sold his RV and found the cover in his garage later and advertised it for sale.
It takes a lot of effort to install and remove. Especially on a windy day. It was very thin and it ripped and tore on every sharp corner of parts of the RV. Then it's a big item to store somewhere in the garage when not in use.
Not worth it IMO.
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2009 Cougar 320SRX
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10-07-2014, 05:43 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Mass
Posts: 102
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We will always cover ours. Clean it before covering and when uncovered it looks like it did before covering it. No worry about ice or a freeze/thaw cycle.
As for dealers leaving then uncovered, think about how much would it cost them to have a cover for every camper on their lot. Plus they do not keep them for years. They have no vested interest in them and if they get any damage they get to fix them.
I have never had any damage caused buy the cover. My first cover lasted 4years and I sold the trailer. I am going on the second year with the cover for this trailer.
I use ADCO covers.
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10-07-2014, 08:34 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,337
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I will never waste the $$ I did on a cover again. I too bought an ADCO for my Jayco and it turned to dust in a few years.
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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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10-08-2014, 03:41 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oregon,MO
Posts: 9
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I believe the one I purchased is a Poly Pro I
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10-08-2014, 10:04 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 138
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I used one on my old outback and will again on the Fuzion. From November to May it sits - in the sun, in the elements, and in the early spring the trees drop sap all over it. Honestly, the sap is the primary reason I cover it. I read the instruction carefully, and I use pool noodles and other 'gadgets' I found out about online to protect the corners and put the cover on. I put 3-4 tubs of Damp Rid inside around the camper. I wash before covering and I cover in 'ideal' weather. I had an ADCO cover that I bought and used for 3 seasons. It did get a few small holes in it - one from a sharp edge that I didn't put foam on, and one from a spot where the birds got it after I left it on my outside porch for a few nights the first year. I used a tyvek tape, reminded me of duct tape to patch the hole, both inside and out and the tape held the next two seasons. I'm in southeast PA and last winter was brutal - I was happy to have it covered.
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2013 Fuzion 342 Monster Edition
2012 GMC 3500HD
Me...DH, 1 Girl Kid, 1 Boy Kid, 1 Weimaraner Kid
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10-08-2014, 12:30 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 154
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I went back and forth on this for a very long time. What helped me ultimately decide against them was seeing the condition of the ones used where I store my RV now. I spoke to a few owners and they ended up spending a fortune on replacing them every year or two.
I regularly wash and wax my RV (Sometimes I just pay for someone else to do a pro job on it) and that seems to be good enough.
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2014 Fuzion 390 Chrome
2008 Ford F350 Dually Quad Cab
2009 Yamaha Raider S
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10-09-2014, 09:29 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 202
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I cover mine with a PermaPro cover from Classic Accessories. It is light weight and has a 4 year warrantee that I know they honor from personal experience. I've had 3 of these covers but only paid for the first one. The first one began to deteriorate after a couple of years. After sending CA a few pictures they replaced it for free. The replacement also deteriorated before the 4 yr warrantee was up and they replaced it too!
I've devised a process for putting the cover on and taking it off by myself without having to get on the roof. Takes about 20 minutes or so and well worth the effort IMHO considering how nice the TT looks each time I take the cover off. Is it necessary? Probably not, but I really disliked how many of the plastic parts on my old TT yellowed in the sun because it was never covered.
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Bill
Kalamazoo, MI
2013 Premier 19FBPR
2023 Ford F150 SuperCrew 5.0L V8, 3.73 Rear Axle (Photo to be updated)
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