Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Bayliss Thomas]

I was hoping to purchase an timber garage so that I could tuck up my little Eccles over winter. Now I have had to delay the purchase and neighbours barn is unavailable, so its all down to the 'breathable' modern cover which I have used this summer. It states that the cover will protect the caravan from sunshine, wet weather, dust and so on. Has anyone here used/using one of this covers and just how good/rubbish are they?

Hope to have the garage around February/ March.

[Knowsley]

I brought a caravan cover made by Purpleline

Put the cover on the van in March (as she was leaking like a sieve!)

By July the roof of the cover had disintegrated into a powdered form

Turned out the cover was only for "Winter Use Only" (as they said on the box) and was not UV stabilised either

As I wanted to protect my old girl in November last year i splashed out the cash and purchased a Royal Caravan Cover, they guarantee the roof to be 100% waterproof and can be left on the van all year round and is UV stabilised.

Had the cover on all winter, only taking it off in March. The van dried out and I also managed to tackle the repairs to the lantern roof

Cover cost £120 for a 15ft version, although shop around on the internet you might find a bargain

Once again, just to repeat, make sure the cover is UV stabilised and 100% waterproof on the roof.

I recommend Royal Caravan Covers to folks all the time now.

Also to any other readers, make sure you put a couple of small bowls of salt in the van over the winter period just to remove any moisture from inside the van - your be surprised how much water ends up in the bowls

Vingar also is another good one to neutralise any smells

David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[Bayliss Thomas]

Thanks for input.

[The Oldtimers]

Interested to read this thread, we were going to put the same question on ourselves.

[Knowsley]

As an after thought I should also mention when laying up my van for winter I remove all the cushions and curtains and store them in the house and open all the cupboard doors to allow air to cirulate more freely. With the caravan cover on I also leave a couple of the lantern windows open.

Caravaners that are unable to store their cushions in the house are advised to place the cushions on their ends on the floor away from the walls of the van.

Don't forget to release the handbrake and chock the wheels as you could be in for a nasty surprise next year with the brakes stuck in the on position!

David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[Bayliss Thomas]

Good points made, to experienced hands I guess its all elementary, but for an novice such as myself its invaluable. I have also taken off my road wheels and the spare storing them in my garage. The caravan is supported on its axle with my trusty stands. Tomorrow I shall have to move the cushioned back rests and squabs / open the cupboards drawers as suggested.

[The Oldtimers]

We were quite interested in the Royal caravan covers. We contacted the manufacture of our caravan for advice, and were told that because of the lantern roof, any cover we bought would need to be tailor made!!

So the cover is on hold, and we will just have to keep a close eye on the inside.

[emmerson]

Interesting stuff, indeed, but I have never stored my Royales under cover, nor used a cover, and as far as I can see, none of them have taken any harm. After all, caravans are made to be used outdoors. I can understand needing to cover up if work is progress, or you have a leek, but I prefer mine to breath freely. The tip about salt is a good one though.
I use silica crystals.
Mind you, my van is used all through the year, but sometimes has a month off in February!

[Knowsley]

Strange why you should need a cover tailor made just because you have a lantern roof - did you ask them to explain why?

At the end of the day, a caravan is a caravan, lantern roof, boat shaped roof or just a basic flat roof

My Royale has a lantern roof and the Royal cover fits perfectly

Don't entirely agree with Emmerson though, modern covers are breathable so keeping a van undercover during the winter really does make sense and protects your investment. Why do people store their cars in the garage and come to think of it why do people take their boats out of the water in the winter? Questions, Questions!

I used to store my old Knowsley in a farmers barn and what these days are monthly storage fees i wonder?

At £120 for the cover as a one off payment I know I've had my monies worth, water ingress and damp are the cancer killers of caravans at the end of the day so its wise to air on the degree of caution

David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[Bayliss Thomas]

Interesting points being raised but I'm wondering if its an modern breathable cover (what I am using) is as good as an garage for winter storage. When I say garage I mean the average garage we all know not the heated / dehumidified / jukebox / dartboard inclusive wonder palace that I wish I owned.

[Peter_L]

Over this side, these are becoming more popular by the year.


http://instantgaragesales.zoovy.com/product/SKT122812B/12x28x12_Barn_Style_Instant_Portable_Utility_Building.html

[The Oldtimers]

The caravan manufacturers said that the cover would need to be tailor made, in case it moved and caused damage to the fibreglass roof.

We live two and half miles from the east coast, and everything takes a battering during the winter.

[Knowsley]

Well I think peterwpg has the answer - strangely enough I know of somebody using one of these covers a few miles down the road to store their van under and has been doing so for a few years now

The jury is still out for me as to why ur manufacturer is saying you need a tailor maded cover just because of the lantern roof. Have you tried asking the cover companies the same question in an email?

David
_________________
Remember - Practice makes perfect!

[The Oldtimers]

We have contacted a caravan supplies, selling Royal caravan covers, and the salesperson didn't know anything about older vans, let alone ones with lantern roofs.

We are still chewing over whether to purchase a cover or not. Don't think our council would take kindly to the inflatable cover.

Any information on how to contact Royal manufacturers would be helpful.

[Knowsley]