Blotchy van from cover use.

[JohnStGeorges]

I have just removed my Pro Tec cover from my Pageant. The caravan is now marked by blotchy patches. No amount of cleaning will shift these marks which are particularly bad on the curved ends of the roof. The cover was new last Autumn and has been on for the winter. I have previously has a Pro Tec cover for a previous van and had no problems. Has anyone any experience of this problem and any suggestions as to how to correct this unsightly blotching. I have of course emailed Pro Tec and await their reply.

Any help or advice will be appreciated, it is spoiling what was a very smart van.

JohnW

 

[paul_374410560]

have you tried t cut this is very good on most marks

 

[Oldsalt]

Hi John,

I had a similar problem with a Specialised Accessories cover. I do not want to worry you too much, but it could be the paint has been abraded away by the wind action on the cover. Ours only affected the front windows, which ended up with a checkered pattern all over. I was able to polish them out with brasso. I think you should be wary of trying to polish your marks out with T-Cut, it is quite abrasive and if your blotches are areas where the paint has been rubbed, you could end up with shiny aluminium instead. I really do need to investigate the problem fully. I would wait until you hear from Pro-Tec before attempting anything. Is your cover a tailored one for the Bailey or an off the shelf one? I didn't use my cover again after my experience.

 

[JohnStGeorges]

The cover was tailored for my Bailey Pageant Imperial. I have tried a number of cleaning materials which does seem to have improved it a little. I certainly won't use the cover again. I thought that by paying

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi John

We had the same results from using a Protec cover three years ago. The blotches looked similar to a leopard's skin all over the van. Protec tried to tell me that the cover had rubbed some bits shiny and left other bits dull. I could accept this on the corners but the blotches were all over the flat sides too and were too regular to be abrasion.

Needless to say, Protec were no help. We would not their cover again and as for polishing it, I,m afraid little helped. As the van was old and about to be exchanged we could do little, but if it had been a new van I would have expected further action. I would suggest you take a photograph and send it to Protec. We did this and they admitted that it had happened before but still seemed rather unconcerned. We leave first thing in the morning for three weeks in France, but I will be interested to hear the outcome. As you say when you pay this money you expect better results.

 

[JohnStGeorges]

Can I ask David and Chrissy what make of caravan they had when the problem occurred? Did you have Bailey vans? I will let you know what response, if any I receive from Pro Tec. My van is a 2000 model and was in fantastic condition for the year, no longer I'm afraid. Very grateful for the responses.JohnW

 

[Oldsalt]

Hi John,

The caravan we had was an Elddis Hurricane EX2000 1999 model. I forgot to mention that the cover was a tailor made one for the van and cost

 

[JohnStGeorges]

I really am most grateful for the interest shown in my problem. I am going away(In my blotchy van) for a week, so if I don't respond further for a while you know why. What a brilliant forum this is.

JohnW

 

[paddy1]

Hi John

my uncle had one of these covers taylor made for his new motor home after one winter of use his van was a mess, rubbed paint off roof and sides, i thought it was a one off so i had one made for my van it was only on for a month and the damage started scratched windows.I have just bought a new Bailey and i would never use a cover again regards mark

 

[trucker]

We too had a pro tec cover 4 years ago left graizing on the windows whch wouldnt come off, only used it for 3 months and sold it.

Kevin

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi John

We are now back from France and I am interested in the outcome of your blotchy caravan! In answer to your question, our van at the time was a Swift.

 

[Guest]

Have to put up a small defence of Pro Tec covers. I am on my 2nd as we swopped vans and have had no significant problems with either cover. I admit I do have scratches on my front window but that was down to me using a sponge to wash it. All others are fine. I can clearly see my good circular motions. What I did notice was that the roof had a lot of dust on it when I lifted the cover, but this easily washed off with 'Muck off'. It obviously passed through the 'breatheable' pores.

The other thing I noticed was that the cover was filthy on the outside with bird droppings, leaf mould and just air carried pollution, and I am glad it took the wear rather than the van itself. While I was up a ladder looking at my roof I looked at the next van to mine in the storage area. He could grow potatoes in the mould and muck on his roof, yet his sides and ends are very clean. Obviously what is out of sight is out of mind.

The only caveat I do have about covers, is do not keep them on in summer as they cause a large heat build up underneath.

 

[JohnStGeorges]

Hope you had a good holiday in France Chrissy. I have to say Protec responded quickly to my email. Keith at Protec recommended polishing the affected areas with Fenwicks Windowise. This I have done and it has made a considerable improvement. Keith even sent me a free tube. This together with my own one was enough to do the front and rear roof curves where the problem was severe. It hasn't completely solved the problem but it is better than it was. I am never going to put the cover on again. I am reluctant to offer it for sale for fear of giving some unsuspecting soul the same trouble as I had. It wouldn't be morally right. I shall contact Protec again. Perhaps they would like to buy it back, refund or whatever. I am working on the basis of "Suitable for the purpose for which it was sold" We shall see.

Regards to all

JohnW

 

[Chrissylizzie]

I agree with your sentiments about resale etc. There are obviously users who have had no problems with these covers, but it shouldn't really be down to luck and I look forward to hearing of your eventual outcome.

Regards

Chris

 

[JohnKS]

We had a Protec cover and had the same problem on the roof. Sold van with cover a while back.

We now have a cover from Towsure on our new van which is much lighter than the Protec one and it has been on all winter without a single mark. Doesn't always follow that the more you pay the better the product!!!

 

[Morganic]

We had a Protec cover and had the same problem on the roof. Sold van with cover a while back.

We now have a cover from Towsure on our new van which is much lighter than the Protec one and it has been on all winter without a single mark. Doesn't always follow that the more you pay the better the product!!!

I have a Protec cover and what I have read concerns me.Perhaps someone from Protec might like to comment.