Towing (front) covers

[ian.foxall]

Hi forum,
Newbie to caravan life here, picking up our new van in a few weeks time!
Does anyone here use a front towing cover, whilst on the move? Concerned that the wonderful uk road network will damage the front of the van, and looking to cover it up.
I’ve read reviews where owners have had marking issues from the cover.
Any guidance gratefully received!

 

[JTQ]

My route over many years is to make some way more effective than standard rear mud flaps for my various tow cars, those are the nearest, more likely and ideally placed tyres to fire most stones at the front end of our van.
Not that I am against towing covers, just never had them,
I do realise they would inhibit the through vision all our vans and tow car combinations have offered and a safety feature I appreciate. The idea of a progressively grime laden fabric fretting against acrylic windows and to a lesser extent paintwork would worry me.
Plus, IMO the fitting and removal of them along with needing clean ideally dry storage on site and in lay up storage, just adds a bit more hassle to caravanning,

 

[Hutch]

I am fully in sync with JTQ, I have heard of people complaining about scratching the front windows due to uncleaned windows. I have seen vans with them fitted having them very slightly flapping.
We have never had any serious damage to the front of our caravan from stone chippings and have never had and windows damaged.
I am sure others might disagree though.

 

[Jcloughie]

I have twice had front damage due to stones being thrown up. Once I found a good one it worked fine. I would not get a universal one, just too difficult and time consuming.

I had a made to measure which I could fit in under a minute. Including folding up and putting in it’s bag. This was then just stored under the van while on site. I tried to keep the inside clean by not letting it go on the ground. In this way, the cover did not cause noticeable damage.

However, my brother has towed longer and further than we ever did, never used a cover, and never had a problem.

I had this one:

Tow Pro

First tailored cover in range Cover weighs 1.9kg Fully tailor-made in our Yorkshire factory Sleek design allows fitting within minutes, with no buckles or clips to adjust Caravans own lights are visible through Perspex windows Contoured design to create a snug fit around the front of your...

www.specialisedcovers.com

John

 

[otherclive]

I am fully in sync with JTQ, I have heard of people complaining about scratching the front windows due to uncleaned windows. I have seen vans with them fitted having them very slightly flapping.
We have never had any serious damage to the front of our caravan from stone chippings and have never had and windows damaged.
I am sure others might disagree though.

Plus 1

 

[Buckman]

Towing covers are brilliant for preventing chips on the front panel especially when councils chuck stones down on the road for the cars to press into the road. Our Lunar got damaged that way. Also allows you to arrive with a nice clean shiny front.
We have never had scratched windows due to using front towing cover, but then we do not leave it on while the caravan is in storage. It is at that point that dust will collect between the cover and the front panel and scratches to windows may occur.

 

[Beachball]

We use to own Specialised Tow Pro lite universal towing protector it fitted our caravan it never scratch the windows and we found it to be damage free and kept it nice and clean , when we arrived at site

 

[Mr Plodd]

For those who use a towing cover..........

I saw a clever trick once where someone arrived on site in pouring rain with a towing cover fitted. He removed tge cover once tge rain stopped and then fitted to the rear of the caravan to let it dry out! (Doesn't work so well if you have a window in tge rear though )

I have one, but I bought it cheap off a mate who went up to an 8ft wide caravan so it wouldn't fit. Purpose made not a "universal" cover (which never fit as well)

 

[Buckman]

For those who use a towing cover..........

I saw a clever trick once where someone arrived on site in pouring rain with a towing cover fitted. He removed tge cover once tge rain stopped and then fitted to the rear of the caravan to let it dry out! (Doesn't work so well if you have a window in tge rear though )

I have one, but I bought it cheap off a mate who went up to an 8ft wide caravan so it wouldn't fit. Purpose made not a "universal" cover (which never fit as well)

Yep seen that picture doing the rounds on a number of forums. We simply place the towing cover over the car bonnet and it dries very quickly. Easier than trying to drag a heavy wet front cover up an awning rail and getting wet and dirty at the same time.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Never used one in all my years of 'vanning and never had any window damage whilst on the move.
Arrive on site with a dirty van and it only takes a few seconds to wash it down.

 

[Bluetonic]

Never used one in all my years of 'vanning and never had any window damage whilst on the move.
Arrive on site with a dirty van and it only takes a few seconds to wash it down.

Agreed, and if you have a cover you really need to wash the front of the 'van before fitting to prevent scratches IMO so you're not really saving any washing. Bet each to their own

 

[Hutch]

So do the folk that have the covers, wash down and dry the front of the caravan prior to putting the cover on, especially when leaving a pitch.
Is there not a cover that would just cover the bottom of the caravan front, that would protect from stone chippings.

 

[Raywood]

Like Mr Grumpy after almost thirty years towing we have not had any problems and have never fitted a cover. Northing against them and if you want one then get one but the risk of damage seems to be very low and not sure I could be othered washing the front every time we wanted to leave a site.

 

[Kevin M]

We use a specialised cover and wouldn’t be without it, keeps all clean.
Cracking idea about fitting it to the rear to dry out!

Regards

 

[Jcloughie]

So do the folk that have the covers, wash down and dry the front of the caravan prior to putting the cover on, especially when leaving a pitch.
Is there not a cover that would just cover the bottom of the caravan front, that would protect from stone chippings.

I can honestly say, I never washed anything before fitting. Or when taking it off, either the front or the cover. Just need to keep the inside of the cover off the ground.

There used to be a below window cover. I had one. But just as easy to fit the full cover. It was necessary to go into the van to trap a flap under the window.

People have a lot of misconceptions regarding towing covers. But I probably would not have bothered if I had not had damage, twice.

John

 

[JB1]

Hi I tow with a universal front cover, it fits quite well and does not flap, I give the front of the caravan as a minimum a wipe over with a waterless wash product normally I’ll wash the caravan prior to towing anyway. I did get a chipped edge of a window more than likely from a car coming the other way on a newly stone chipped section of road. After that I got a cover. Not had any issues either fitting or removing it does have detachable clip buckles so very easy to use Folds up into a bag supplied so no problem there. It’s a lot easier with two people . As most things it’s down to personal experiences and choice.

 

[ian.foxall]

Thanks for the opinions guys, seems it utterly personal choice.
Think I’ll see how it goes the first few trips and go from there!
Cheers.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Possibly desirable, but certainly not essential
I think that sums it up.

 

[GaryB]

I always saw them as a waste of time until in 2021 we arrived back at home after towing the caravan and discovered the O/S front window broken in its top corner from a stone impact. I claimed on the insurance as cost was £500-ish from memory.

 

[ProfJohnL]

When I started towing, I can't recall front covers even being available, but I might have been tempted after a number of trips when insects seemed intent on committing suicide against my car and caravan.

When I became aware of covers, I recall I was very concerned about how poorly they seemed to be attached allowing them too much freedom to flap or jiggle, and how that could cause rubbing on the windows and paint work, which would cost far more than a bottle or two of traffic film remover, which also seemed pretty good at removing dead insects.

Ultimately It never occurred to me to get one.

Stone chipping only usually affects about the lower third of a caravan, it's quite unusual for stones to be thrown up any higher. To have a missile with enough size and velocity to smash the top corner of a caravan's front window is rare. The corner of a window is one of its strongest points, so I suspect the stone and its speed must have been exceptionally rare. I do wonder if a cover would have actually provided any practical protection in this instance.

Anyway, provided a cover is secured so it can't flap or rub windows or paintwork, then it'll do no harm, and it will help keep the front of the caravan cleaner from insects and tar marks whilst towing, and might reduce typical stone chipping.

It's down to personal preference.

 

[Gafferbill]

When I started towing, I can't recall front covers even being available, but I might have been tempted after a number of trips when insects seemed intent on committing suicide against my car and caravan.

......factually incorrect

The insects were flying around without a care, when you drove your car and caravan into them giving them no time to get out the way.

 

[Buckman]

......factually incorrect

The insects were flying around without a care, when you drove your car and caravan into them giving them no time to get out the way.

In today's world, you would be accused of murder and the police would be knocking at your door!

 

[Beachball]

We use a specialised cover and wouldn’t be without it, keeps all clean.
Cracking idea about fitting it to the rear to dry out!

Regards

When we brought our last caravan in 2019 we thought we would try a front towing cover but we wish we had brought one sooner like what you says it keeps it cleans

 

[ProfJohnL]

......factually incorrect

The insects were flying around without a care, when you drove your car and caravan into them giving them no time to get out the way.

No facts were harmed in the posting of my comment ....

Please reread what I wrote " when insects seemed intent on committing suicide"

I only inferred their intention, rather than a statement of fact. However as I had booked the site to which I was travelling, the insects should have checked by what ever means possible that I was travelling in that location at the time they decided fly.

I clain unavoidable insect slaughter not murder!

 

[Raywood]

It is noticeable that the number of insects have dropped as we now have very few on the front when we stop. Possibly I am driving slower but I doubt that is relevant.