**Caravan Covers***

[AKA]

hi all
well it nearly time for our last trip this year so with this is mind can you help with a caravan cover
now i know this creates a big divide on here, but where we are we really need one, can you recommend what you think is the best we have a 17ft lunar quasar also do we need fridge vent blanks with using cover too or is this a silly blond moment question need to protect our wee ollie after our last outing during these October holidays, he will be getting all washed polished and snuggled up for winter any advice
lollie xx

 

[ValA.]

Three years ago we bought a cheap green cover from ebay - I think it cost us £57.00 for a slightly over 6 metre van. It's been absolutely great! We polish the van before putting it away, and when we 'unwrap' it, it's as shiny and clean as it was when we covered it up! There's a soft inner surface to the fabric which doesn't cause any scratching of the windows or other surfaces, and it has four zips so it's easy to put on and take off. We did have to remove our status aerial to put it on, but it's easy enough to put back on when we need to. It doesn't have fridge vents - I can't imagine why you'd need them as your fridge won't be running anyway(?)

.
On a windy day it does take a bit of manouevring - but on a calm day my OH can put it on, on his own! However, it's definitely easier with two - one at each rear corner. We put ours on from the front first and then pull it backwards over the van - though I've seen more others doing it the other way round. It seems to slide over the sloping front much better than trying to heave it up to the top of the squarer rear!
The straps have been fine, it holds in place perfectly, and it hasn't torn, split, or discoloured much at all.
I know you'll get just as many posts saying 'don't' but it's the best thing we did, and kept our van pristine on a dusty, windy, and 'algae-prone' storage site.

 

[Parksy]

Hi Lollie

A caravan cover won't prevent your caravan from getting wet, good caravan covers are porous and are marketed as 'breathable' but if you do as Val suggested and after washing down the caravan apply a good coat of wax, not forgetting the roof ( not polish, they are two different things) or Fenwicks Overwintering the paintwork on your Lunar will be as good as new when the cover comes off,
It's very important when a cover is used to tighten the straps securely because the effect of the wind on a loosely fitted cover can cause small scratches on windows and paintwork, some caravanners cover windows with old sheets before fitting the cover.
Don't forget that when you store your caravan it's best to wind the jockey wheel right down as low as it will go, undo the clamp so that the assembly comes right up from the A frame and then re-tighten the clamp.
This will mean that your caravan will be in a markedly nose down attitude which will allow water and melted snow to run off rather than to stay in pools on the roof.

 

[AKA]

Hi guys
so sorry and stupid for posting the night before we went on our last outing of the year in our van, we had a ball at Fonab which is deff our favourite place with our now regular neighbours whom we all love to bits, in fact im sure the wee fella has lodgings in several vans and has according to another vanner got his order in for a caravan tent for Christmas and hes only 5!!!
anyway being that this is closing week at Fonab we helpt out a couple of folks as they got there vans winter ready and it was green cover galore so yes Val those were the ones we had spied and being how many we saw from said website this week thats exactly where we will be purchasing ours...

uncle jack we will get the fenwicks at the same time i take it you apply this like traditional wax and just dont buff it off, would you classify mer as a polish as this was always my favourite but as you know our particular geographic dilemma i will trust this is why your steering me towards this one and will purchase asap as snow could be anytime now!!
I did see only one van positioned as you said, i would think it was necessity with out weather..well the insides all sorted apart fronm the dry bags, but wax and cover and then my wee vans off to sleep for the winter i dont know whos more upset me or the dog..
thanks x

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi Lollie.
Nice to see you are enjoying your caravanning and youve just been given good tips for wintering your van and of course dont forget to drain down your water from heater and toilet etc.
I know I will get shouted at here but I wouldnt recommend mer for you winter polish I found it to be too abrasive so either use Parksys recommendation or get a coat of Auto Glym on before you cover up .
I have also found a good polish in Wilkinsons a Wilco product and is excellent.
Enjoy your last outing
Sir Roger

 

[AKA]

hi sir rodge
thats absolutely fine whats ok for a car doesnt necessary follow for a caravan so we'll stick to the fenwicks, as i said parksy knows of our geographical problems so he will have borne that in mind..
well wee ollie the van is all cleared out and ready for his winter wash and wax coat and jacket now so weather and health prevailing well see to that over the next week i would hope..I now fully understand why it took the guys so long to put their "babies to bed" as i just dont want to wrap him away and admit to myself no wee escapes in our wee den till Easter mmmmmmmmmmhh!

caravaning as we suspected is ideal for me with my health problems and already we have life friends at our favourite place where we will be going at least twice a year, the folks all remembered us from the beginning of season and of course had there update with us having the new van. And my wee one has so many aunts and uncles now and just love to shot knock knock at the awnings, now all we have to do is save up for one he seriously better not think he is getting one from santa..

lollie x

 

[Di3]

Hi Lollie
Thanks for posting your question, because I was wondering the same thing, so will take onboard comments made. Although we are wondering whether to get a cover as we are out again in a week or so and then again over the new year so it would probably only be from Jan to mid April.
Di

 

[Parksy]

It's absolutely vital to drain down your caravan before the really cold weather sets in, especially if you happen to be in the North of Scotland where the winters are cold.
Open all of the taps including the shower tap and if your caravan has a water dump valve open it to drain the water.
If your caravan has mixer taps open them midway to drain both hot and cold water because any water which is left in the taps, the pipes or the boiler or onboard tank can freeze and cause damage that will be expensive to repair.
There is a caravan drain down kit now available from Floe which removes all water from pipework, the pump, the boiler and taps and which utilises your 12v compressor or a foot pump to pressurise the system at 15lbs/sq inch (approx1 bar) in order to safely do the job or you could try blowing hard down the taps and towing the caravan with the water dump valve open.
Dont forget to unscrew the shower hose from the shower and empty the holding tank of the toilet.
There is more advice on preparing your caravan for winter from Practical Caravan's Doug 'Fix It' King here

 

[AKA]

Hi Just me again

We measured the caravan today from the rear to the front of the caravan, including the locker. This came out at 19 foot 3 or 4 inches.

From what i can see you get either a 17-19 foot, or 19-21 foot cover. The question is would we be better to get the smalled size one, so that the cover fits tightly?

Thanks
Lollie

 

[AKA]

hi uncle jack
the caravan company showed me how to remove the valves out all the taps they are the mixer type, so ive to take cover off unscrew and remove the cartilage type thing which should be easy enough for me, i also blasted out the pipe works couple of days ago after draining system with my politi steamer, it is very powerful do you think that would be enough and neil opened the overfull to drain the water heater is there anything else im missing that way cause as you know it goes to -25c up here..

cheers lollie x

 

[Parksy]

Remove the shower hose and head by unscrewing it from the body of the shower, drain the flush tank of the loo and make sure that the holding tank is completely empty.
If your caravan has an onboard tank ensure that it is empty.