Storage Cover. Worth it?

[JRTJH]

This is just my opinion, and I'm not trying to sound "elitist" when I say it, but the only cover that's "worth a damn" is inside storage in a permanent building. We endured one winter stored outdoors (shoveling the roof, scraping ice and worrying about what was being damaged), bought a cover and couldn't get it off the trailer so we could use the trailer to go south in February, rented space in an old converted warehouse for 3 years and then just "bit the bullet and built a pole barn to store what was being ruined outside.... The pole barn, built in 2012, cost less than half what it's worth today, so the money we spent building it has made more than it would if invested with our "investment specialists"....

So, even though most might say, "I'd really like a storage building or a permanent canopy to store the trailer under, I can't justify it. That building will make more money for you than leaving it sitting in a savings account and probably grow in value more than if it was invested in secure investments....

Looking at it from one "slanted vantage point"... Some say, "I can't afford to build it" and other's say, "I can't afford not to build it".....

Either way, storing an RV inside trumps outside any day.....

[flyingjack]

Sourdough +1; bought top of the line ADCO and made 3-4 months and shredded by wind. I live 11 miles east of the Rockies north of Denver. As advertised, ADCO replaced with new one- ONCE. No more warranty. Second cover; covered every downspot etc with tennis balls, wrapped both ACs in foam and taped and made 3 additional straps to keep cover from flapping. 3 months later saw signs of a tear starting so removed cover. As before; we treat roof and wax gelcoat in spring. 2013 Montana and will be doing same thing with our 2022 Montana HC. If you located in a low wind area; should be great???

[travelin texans]

If I were 25 again, that was a long time ago, I might use a cover, but I'm not 25 & also not willing to tote a heavy cover up a ladder then wrestle it around the roof 12-14- feet up, I don't heal as well as I used to, regardless of what little more protection it offered than a good cleaning & wax job.

[gearhead]

As with many of my decisions, I'm on, then off, about building a carport. It's a lot of "ifs" for me. If I keep the Bigfoot, if I keep the big Landmark, if the bay boat that's in my garage goes to the sons house, if I even want to RV in 5 years.
Otherwise what I think I would want is about a 22X44, 14 ft side height, pre-fab type carport with 6ft side walls. Sitting on 24" wide "sidewalks". I think I can do it for about $12,000.
If, if, if.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by gearhead

As with many of my decisions, I'm on, then off, about building a carport. It's a lot of "ifs" for me. If I keep the Bigfoot, if I keep the big Landmark, if the bay boat that's in my garage goes to the sons house, if I even want to RV in 5 years.
Otherwise what I think I would want is about a 22X44, 14 ft side height, pre-fab type carport with 6ft side walls. Sitting on 24" wide "sidewalks". I think I can do it for about $12,000.
If, if, if.

The way things are going, "IF" you get out of fishing, RVing and Bigfooting.... You can convert the whole thing to a marijuana growing shed and "keep on keeping on"... After all, as posted in another thread, "Never thought I'd see the day that weed is legal and weedeaters are not".....

[German Shepherd Guy]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

This is just my opinion, and I'm not trying to sound "elitist" when I say it, but the only cover that's "worth a damn" is inside storage in a permanent building. We endured one winter stored outdoors (shoveling the roof, scraping ice and worrying about what was being damaged), bought a cover and couldn't get it off the trailer so we could use the trailer to go south in February, rented space in an old converted warehouse for 3 years and then just "bit the bullet and built a pole barn to store what was being ruined outside.... The pole barn, built in 2012, cost less than half what it's worth today, so the money we spent building it has made more than it would if invested with our "investment specialists"....

So, even though most might say, "I'd really like a storage building or a permanent canopy to store the trailer under, I can't justify it. That building will make more money for you than leaving it sitting in a savings account and probably grow in value more than if it was invested in secure investments....

Looking at it from one "slanted vantage point"... Some say, "I can't afford to build it" and other's say, "I can't afford not to build it".....

Either way, storing an RV inside trumps outside any day.....

Yep, came to the same conclusion. If you have a TT, AND you have the room where you live,(a bid AND) a permanent cover is just the added cost of ownership. Way less cost down the road than all the replaced roofs and floors from water damage.

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

The way things are going, "IF" you get out of fishing, RVing and Bigfooting.... You can convert the whole thing to a marijuana growing shed and "keep on keeping on"... After all, as posted in another thread, "Never thought I'd see the day that weed is legal and weedeaters are not".....

You know that would be an interesting post retirement vocation.
Similar to that Texas Blue Bell ice cream commercial: we eat all we can and sell the rest.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by gearhead

You know that would be an interesting post retirement vocation.
Similar to that Texas Blue Bell ice cream commercial: we eat all we can and sell the rest.

Now that would make for one "helluva happy retirement"..... Just have to remember to always keep a truckload of snacks for all those munchies.....

[Shedboy]

Have a Springdale in rainy Oregon on a 270 square ft private lot, within 100 ft of a waterway. Local codes don't allow the lot to be used for any permanent structures and require 10' property line setback so did the following:


RV is licensed as a motor vehicle. Wheels remain on at all times. Always has a functional trailer tongue. Porch and support tuff-sheds are detachable, no permanent connection to RV. Canopy and tuff sheds are classified as "temporary structures" in Oregon law.









Did the following - 100# LPG bottles in 2x3 tuffshed next to canopy, & a 2nd 10x10 tuffshed w washer, dryer, outdoor shower and propane generator behind canopy.


Had cover installed w roof sloped to rear, with rain water collection system at rear. Have 100w solar panels on roof.


Biggest issue - the heat escaping from the RV collects on the inside top of the canopy, causing water to condense. Although the cover is tilted to the rear, the water runs down the roof interior until it forms a BIG drop that falls on the roof of the RV. I understand that an undercoat on the roof interior may stop this.

So..... If I were to do it again, I would not pour a concrete pad, the water collects there. Gravel base would be better with concrete pavers. The concrete was the most expensive part followed closely by the shed, total cost $10K.

[SummitPond]

Originally Posted by B-O-B'03

I cover mine and if you have a lot for parking yours, you can do the same thing.



I already had most of the concrete pad, for our old pop up and it was just under $3K to have the cover built with water and 30 amp service run to it.

-Brian

Brian

Do the building codes in your area require permitting for a structure like that? I've thought about building one similar to yours - until I started checking with the city if it was possible (I'm not one to plow ahead and beg forgiveness later). Unless I erect a pre-designed & approved commercially available structure, I need blueprint drawings certified by a professional structural engineer to submit to the city (and then they have to approve of them). I can see their point; we don't want the structure blowing away in a hurricane - but the hassle and cost of going that route leads me to pursue a commercially available and assembled structure, where the supplying company does all the permitting.

[Shedboy]

The building codes in my county are very restrictive. Within a 50 mile radius other counties have major RV, Mfg House and Park Model manufactures. Crazy!!!!!


The canopy is located within 100ft of a drainage ditch that was dug as a county public works project in the early 60's, since then a state hwy was widened and the ditch jurisdiction changed to State DOT to allow for impervious surface highway drainage. With the cessation of activity in the 100ft strip on either side of the ditch, several species of animals reclaimed the area (the ditch empties into a major river) so Dept. of Wildlife now has joint jurisdiction.

I was required to obtain the following:
1. Wildlife permit
2. Road access permit (gravel driveway apron onto city paved street)
3. Dept of State Lands building permit - non-interference with State hwy drainage)
4. DEQ approval of above, (I'm not putting pollution the ditch.)


Took a little more than a year, 3 different agency inspections.


Re. Canopy Stability. There is a 2 1/4 box tube runner along the bottom of both sides of canopy that the vertical supports are attached via telescoping stubs on the runner. That is how I tilted the canopy to the rear. The runners are attached to the ground with 4' vertical stakes every 8 feet. Don't think it would survive a hurricane!

Side Load Shear Strength: Note the bracing at the top corners, roof to sides, intended to keep the the canopy from folding into an accordion. I don't have any confidence that this is u-shaped sheet metal is enough to withstand winds over 60 mph, I am hoping the the minimal side surface area never accumulates enough lateral force to over stress these components. I didn't help anything by mounting the solar panels on the roof!


As far as the installation, the company I purchased it from erected it in about 5 hours. It is classified as a "temporary structure" a structure with no sides, similar to a pergola or gazebo, no permits required. The company would only advise as to permitting.

[DominickP53]

What is a wax you recommend for your Cougar?
I have a 2021 22MLS Cougar and would like to follow your advise of waxing before covering. Thanks.

[Canonman]

I use Nu Finish on my Cougar. Pretty sure any quality wax will do but I like the Nu Finish.