Draft cover

[Bryan_5064490]

I have just purchased a new caravan but to my dismay i have just found that i must srew in three press studs into the wall of my caravan to keep the wind at bay around the wheel. Why dont the makers put an aditional rail there ??. Does anyone have any other methods of blocking the wind.

bryan.

 

[RogerL]

Not wanting to "damage" our Pageant Magenta, I don't bother with a wheel arch cover, just use the skirt. The gap is so small it doesn't seem to matter. We endured a week of gale force winds, which bent one of the roof poles, without noticing any particular draughts from around the uncovered wheel.

I guess it depends just how well the arch covers the wheel.

 

[RichardS1]

Hi Bryan, we bought two of the small plastic coathangers with the suction cups on the back. Then put a small hole in each side of the draft cover to put the hooks through. Holds the cover fine and no damage to the side of the van.

 

[Damian]

Bryan, if your van is brand new, DO NOT screw anything through the bodywork, it will IMMEDIATELY invalidate your warranty.

B&Q sell suction cup hooks, and eyelet sets.

Fit a few eyelets in the top edge of the wheel arch cover, and when on site, moisten the suction cups and stick in appropriate corresponding locations on the van to accept the eyelets.

 

[RogerL]

Suction cups will only work with smooth sidewalls.

If they're dimpled (rarely used now) or ridged (still common) the suction cups won't work.

 

[Surfer]

Bryan, if your van is brand new, DO NOT screw anything through the bodywork, it will IMMEDIATELY invalidate your warranty.

B&Q sell suction cup hooks, and eyelet sets.

Fit a few eyelets in the top edge of the wheel arch cover, and when on site, moisten the suction cups and stick in appropriate corresponding locations on the van to accept the eyelets.

Why do yo0u think it will invalidate your warranty? I checked with the manufacturer and they said no problems as long as I used the correct fittings and not 10 inch screws. If you put a sealant behind the clip prior to fitting it there should be no problem as Aluminum does not rust.

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Bryan

We have the same problem as you, we can't get the piece that covers the top of the wheel arch to stay in place, we don't want to go down the holes and stud route, we have tried velcro, gets dirty when left on van. have tried tape which sticks to the van well but doesn't seem to stick to the plastic of the cover, tried sticky fixers, same result, tried the suckers idea and that didn't work either, somebody must have found a way to keep the wheel arch area draft free by now, my latest idea is to make a solid sheet of plastic to fit to the skirt and then use double sided tape, I'll let you know if it works.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

We have had similar problems to Keith Trowbridge.

Until now we have used long lengths of velcro (a bit unsightly but we almost always use the awning) and this works except when hot weather made the glue melt between the velcro and the skirt although I suppose you could stitch this.

I am considering the following though have not tried any yet.

Some of the external type double sided used for fixing house numbers to brick walls to fix the press stud to the van.

Another possibility might be to use some kind of clip fixing to attach the skirt to the plastic moulding around the wheelarch rather like the clips used to hold paper to draughtsmens boards or the jaw type hairclips.

 

[nick_374224697]

Bryan

Try looking on Ebay, you will be able to pick up a figure of 8 piece that goes over the skirt where the wheel is. And then you can get a wheel arch cover that slots into the figure of 8 piece at the bottom and which has suction cups already fitted to secure it to the van. Try caravanstuff4u which is an ebay shop.

 

[Guest]

French DIY stores and some here in the UK sell a range of sizes of suction clips.

They are made by Wolfcraft and really to stay fixed to smooth surfaces in and outside caravans.

Find half way down the page - http://www.wolfcraft.co.uk/jcatalog_generated/en/products/product_groups/0204_products.html

"Microfix S mini spring clamp with suction cup"

We keep quite a few in the van and they get used for holding notes and to hang towels and drying cloths and have been used on the windows to provide and hold a cover as a sun block and the hold the cover over the wheel arch with ease and do not tend to pop off like normal suckers and the clamp hold the pvc without having to put a hole in it.

 

[Guest]

ps.

Wolfcraft trolley is ideal for caravan use if you need something to lug gear around on. Folds flat and is lightweight.

Check out their web site.

 

[PeterT]

French DIY stores and some here in the UK sell a range of sizes of suction clips.

They are made by Wolfcraft and really to stay fixed to smooth surfaces in and outside caravans.

Find half way down the page - http://www.wolfcraft.co.uk/jcatalog_generated/en/products/product_groups/0204_products.html

"Microfix S mini spring clamp with suction cup"

We keep quite a few in the van and they get used for holding notes and to hang towels and drying cloths and have been used on the windows to provide and hold a cover as a sun block and the hold the cover over the wheel arch with ease and do not tend to pop off like normal suckers and the clamp hold the pvc without having to put a hole in it.

Euro

Thanks for your tip on the Microfix spring clamps, their website was most helpful, they will stop the porch awning flapping against the side of the 'van.

Ta