Cover Debate?

[searching settles]

OK, so I know there are a lot of differing opinions on this subject, but I am thinking of getting a cover for my new Passport 2810BH. Pros and cons to doing this? Is ADCO a good brand? Any suggestions will be helpful.

[Tbos]

I saw some in CW that only cover the top. I wonder how well they work? If you get one for your 2810 let me know what you buy and how it fits. Thanks.

[JRTJH]

The "should I cover my RV?" question comes up every year as people start to winterize and put away their camper. You'll find about 50% of the opinions are "eh, who cares?" and the other 50% are about equally divided with half saying "covers are good" and half saying "covers are bad"...

Who's right? It really depends on what you're expecting to accomplish, where you live, how much "indoor storage" costs in your area, whether or not you intend to get an "early start next season" (before the ice/snow is melted) and a host of other issues.

What's "right" for one member is likely not going to be the same answer for another.

If you do a forum search for "COVER" or for "ADCO" or for "SUNBRELLA" you'll get a number of past discussions about the topic. What was appropriate last year is the same discussion you'll get this year.

Pull up a chair, spend some time looking over the previous discussions and, if you have any questions, ask about them specifically and you'll probably get more of the same 50/25/25 percentages.

[14george]

I cover mine every winter no problems. I got adco

[Ken / Claudia]

Post #3 is about all you need but, since I have a few minutes you get my 2 cents added to#3. That co. in my opinion makes good covers at good prices. I have had 3, 2 on boats 1 on a camper. My question to you is what is the reason and what do you expect out of a cover.
On Rvs they are a 2 person job to get on and off. They will still have water puddling on the top in rain and that standing water may find a place to leak into the rv when if rain water was just left to run off may not leak. I think if you get standing water on a cover the water will find a place to leak thru the cover onto the roof. In hot or warm temps. the decor on the roof may or will stick to the cover. That will cause problems to the roof, because your pulling off sealant from where it needs to be and leave decor/sealant on the cover to be wiped all over the rv or cover it as put on and off. I used a cover on the rv for 2 winters and will not any more since what I said can happen, did happen to me.

[esmoglo]

I will be purchasing a cover for my Passport 2810BH still looking there are quite a few of them on the market. Anyone have a recommendation? The FL sun is quite harsh & hard on the exterior I think a cover is a good idea.

[JRTJH]

I will be purchasing a cover for my Passport 2810BH still looking there are quite a few of them on the market. Anyone have a recommendation? The FL sun is quite harsh & hard on the exterior I think a cover is a good idea.

Pay close attention for delamination of the fiberglass front cap and rear cap. There have been reports of people never having fiberglass related issues and the first year they covered their RV, they found delamination upon removing eh cover. Whether or not the cover caused it, they never had an issue until they used a cover. Coincidence? Who knows. There are a number of similar reports on the forum. Some believe the sun "bakes" the fiberglass under the cover and moisture can't escape, so it "perks" into the fiberglass and causes bubbles (delamination)...

Just watch closely for any beginning signs and take action before it gets "too bad"...

[Ken / Claudia]

Not asked but, a free standing frame cover would keep water and sun off the RV and still protect it without any problems I found or you will read about to the rv. They cost more and you need to think about if wind may damage them. Other wise keep windows covered from allowing sun fade inside and check or pay someone to check and clean the roof every year. Wash the sides when they get dirty. Sun fade to the outside will happen with just use after several years. A good wax each year helps with that.

[bmach]

I put my cover on by myself, not a hassle at all. I cover it with an ADCO cover. I clean and wax the camper then cover it. When I take the cover off I am ready to go.

[14george]

I put my cover on by myself, not a hassle at all. I cover it with an ADCO cover. I clean and wax the camper then cover it. When I take the cover off I am ready to go.

X2 with#9 said

[B-O-B'03]

Not asked but, a free standing frame cover would keep water and sun off the RV and still protect it without any problems I found or you will read about to the rv. They cost more and you need to think about if wind may damage them. Other wise keep windows covered from allowing sun fade inside and check or pay someone to check and clean the roof every year. Wash the sides when they get dirty. Sun fade to the outside will happen with just use after several years. A good wax each year helps with that.

I had one built for mine, after I found a branch, from one of the pecan trees, laying on the ground next to it one day.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5665/21841100569_01c6361245_z.jpg

-Brian

[Ken / Claudia]

Now that's a cover I'm talking about. As long as you have room to put it on your property. It will last thru the life of the RV and maybe add value to your property at time of sale. Many people have made that type of cover in the area of my beach house for park trailers and seasonal use lots.
I do agree guys 1 person can put a cover on a RV but, 2 makes it safer and faster with fewer up/down the ladder and not ripping the cover as it is being pulled blindly over the sides or top or catching on anything that can or will break on the RV.

[Hideout17]

I live in pa. We have snow and ice for months on end. My fear is the ice and snow hurting the roof. Any of you in these kind of climates and what do you do.

[JRTJH]

We live in northern Michigan. Ice and snow is a "way of life" from December through April. Some years it starts in October and doesn't end until June. So, for me, dealing with icy conditions on RV roofs in part of the "norm"....

The first year we had our Springdale I covered it with an ADCO Tyvec cover. We had to postpone our departure in the spring until all the ice and snow thawed off the trailer roof because the cover was frozen to the RV. So, the next year we found an empty warehouse about 30 miles from our home and rented space there. The objective was to be able to get an "early start" to escape the spring thaw. Well, the parking lot at the warehouse wasn't accessible until mid May, so we were still "stranded" so to speak. After two years of that, I decided to just build my own pole barn specifically to store the RV and my boat. We did have issues (the first year) with the big "side rolling" door freezing to the ground and wouldn't open. So far, it's been a great investment, but I assure you, I'll never get my "complete return" based on rental savings.

So, protection (proper maintenance) of your RV is important, a cover "might" help, but can pose some problems if you want to leave before the ice melts, if you can't keep the cover tightened properly and if you live in a "windy location" where the cover billowing may present a problem.

Renting inside storage space eliminates the potential cover damage, but can cost more, depending on rental costs which differ from area to area.

Building your own shelter offers the "best of both protection and convenience" but is very expensive compared to alternatives.

Keep in mind that it's likely that the vast majority of RV owners simply store their uncovered RV either in their back yard or in an outside storage lot through the harshest winters. Few of them have significant damage and most are satisfied with their outdoor storage options.

I suppose it really boils down to what you want, what you can afford and how long you intend to store it each winter.

[RGene7001]

My previous Passport spent 3 years under Florida sun without any adverse events. It still shine and the graphics did not fade or peel. Putting cover and removing it 5-6 times a year is a real pain. And Passport roof is not walkable, to my best knowledge.

[14george]

I live in pa. We have snow and ice for months on end. My fear is the ice and snow hurting the roof. Any of you in these kind of climates and what do you do.

Live in northern W Va I cover with adco cover no problems

[SteveC7010]

I live in pa. We have snow and ice for months on end. My fear is the ice and snow hurting the roof. Any of you in these kind of climates and what do you do.


I live in the Adirondacks. We never cover the trailer. Very few folks up here do. Some of the reasons have already been explained. One I would add is that any flapping of the cover in the wind will either rub damage the trailer or eventually tear the cover. And I want to check the condition of things up there every time I use the SnoRake to clear the roof.

[Lee]

Not asked but, a free standing frame cover would keep water and sun off the RV and still protect it without any problems I found or you will read about to the rv. They cost more and you need to think about if wind may damage them. Other wise keep windows covered from allowing sun fade inside and check or pay someone to check and clean the roof every year. Wash the sides when they get dirty. Sun fade to the outside will happen with just use after several years. A good wax each year helps with that.

Hi, Being that I live up here in the Great North-Wet I was lucky enough to be able to have built covered parking for my TT.

In the past I used covers and even blue tarps to cover but was always fighting tears and abrasion from flapping in the wind.

Lee

[Ken / Claudia]

I failed to mention that with a cover on the RV for the winter, I noted both sky lights needed to be buffed up with wax to bring back a shinny finish without scrapes from the cover. That was not a deal breaker just some more springtime work. Makes cents to me the cover moving around thru out the wind and rain rubbing against the plastic.

[esmoglo]

My previous Passport spent 3 years under Florida sun without any adverse events. It still shine and the graphics did not fade or peel. Putting cover and removing it 5-6 times a year is a real pain. And Passport roof is not walkable, to my best knowledge.

So you kept it covered?

[Cnc_hemi]

Yes I built a cover for mine as well. No worries any more and it's completely out the elements. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/04/4c842e38f05c786bcdc699e4a68a18e2.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/04/cf0187f8421b82e3329946924ab04e58.jpg


LSU TIGER FAN
2013 FUZION 310
2012 GMC 2500 HD SIERRA DURAMAX 6.6L

[JimQ]

Now that's how to do it!! Sweet!

[esmoglo]

Yes I built a cover for mine as well. No worries any more and it's completely out the elements. http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/04/4c842e38f05c786bcdc699e4a68a18e2.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/04/cf0187f8421b82e3329946924ab04e58.jpg


LSU TIGER FAN
2013 FUZION 310
2012 GMC 2500 HD SIERRA DURAMAX 6.6L

Nice cover wish i had that kind of room.

[Cnc_hemi]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/12/ee68c36b9a4c8aeb869e9cd581eafbe1.jpg


LSU TIGER FAN
2013 FUZION 310
2012 GMC 2500 HD SIERRA DURAMAX 6.6L

[Pmedic4]

I don't cover my RV, and really don't plan on it, but I can understand everyone's concern about their second home. I store my Cougar at a rather large storage yard, and there are many RV's here, MHs, 5vers, TT, Popups, boats, and about everything you can imagine.

We went out this past weekend, enjoyed the last wonderful weekend, at least the way it looks now, and I winterized our 5ver and put in to bed in the storage yard on Sunday. With 20 degree weather in the forecast for this weekend, I needed to make sure there was no water in the pump, so I went back to the storage facility this morning and finished the winterizing job. On Sunday, notice the big DRM Dream Suite next to ours had put their cover on their RV. When I went back today, this is what I found:


The winds here have been strong - about 30 mph, so I'm sure that's a factor, but would have expected the cover to do better than this one. This just didn't blow off, it was ripped to shreds.

[lawdog130]

I live in New England where there is ample snow and ice. I carefully use a plastic roof rake as I don't think the weight of several feet of snow is good for the roof. The first snow usually leaves an inch or so coating on the roof making a nice buffer for the rake. I have never used a cover and have not seen any ill effects. It's hard enough raking around all the vents, the AC and TV antenna. I can't imagine trying to rake the roof without snagging a cover on the shovel. If I ever have the time and $$ I would build a similar structure pictured in post #11.

[Hideout17]

Thank you all,for your,input. I think from what i see ill leave mine alone when i get home.