Can anyone recommend a good quality caravan cover?  We live in a coastal area and want to protect our van when we are home.  I've heard various stories about problems such as mould to the interior and damage to the exterior of the van through the cover rubbing off paintwork.  What has been your experience with van covers?

Welcome Stevo.I priced a caravan cover for our Jayco Penguin only last weekend at Jayco,Newcastle.$255.Spoke to another customer there and he reckoned that the jayco one was a good buy.Needless to say I am still using a tarp on my van.Good luck on your travels and take care.Cheers.Ibbo.

Stevo, Re Van protection, I believe that you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. We installed the standard Tarps from Bun ings over our previous 24ft van after we had some water entry (I thought the van was near invincable it was so water proof until it happened) After 2 years of the tarps the paint work at the front and rear of the van was back to the bare AL, and required a paint job before we sold it. Our Tarps were tied down tight, but in a windy exposed area. Maybe if you use a cover with a felt like material inside the covering that will protect the white AL of the van, but for how long until the material wears down. I would also look at the 6m x 3m markees that Supa Ch eap sell for around $200. even if you have to raise it with an additional 30cm to each pole. I note in Qld they use these for carport in some rental properties. Good Luck Peter

I brought a caravan cover from the BIG W it has a water proof top which also breath and side and not water proof it has 3 zippers to access the entry side of the van to cover all entry points it was on special paid about $135 two years ago normal price about $200 has done a good job stopping bird and bat dropping and dirt build up very happy with it , i had been told not to use a poly trap has they sweat and damage the paint ,which Peter you have found out i would buy another one when this one wear out but after two years still looking good

Have never used a cover of any type, as ours is under cover.

How ever i have heard  several  comments of vans under tarps in hot conditions

virtualy cook the inside of the van.Damage to ply & plastics .

A tarp dose not breath ,there fore the heat just builds up inside,

Its a no win situation, a breatherble cover will let moisture & dust through,

as quoted, the paint is bamaged .

BEST SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hook up the van & travell.

 

yep dont let it sit, keep it moving!!

wish I was movin, the dragon still has canada on her mind ey! but if we go (and it looks like we are as she always gets her way ey!) then I want that rocky mountain train ride! come hell or high water!

to each his own some people want to kept thing looking good if they can

Dave all I can say is "do it". The Rocky Mountaineer" that is. We did that in 2003 only one word, MAGNIFICENT. I still look at the video I took on that trip. If you do go don't hesitate to upgrade to Gold Leaf you will not regret it. If you are doing a tour the bus trip through the Columbia Icefields is spectacular. And if that tour includes a sail through the Inside Passage take it. Again upgrade to a balcony cabin, well worth it. We've always said if that was the last overseas trip we did what a way to finish. It wasn't and we will be doing more but that was a trip of a life time. Again Dave, DO IT!

Terro.

I think I will rename my old 'van "Jumbo".

After all, like an elephant, it only ever gets wet when it rains or when it wallows in mud, and gets coated in dust immediately after.

Dave did Canada rocky mountains in 1972 train trip has well ,must do i will go back one day

yep! Terro thats why I'm here busting a gut (I think I just reapt Jock's back lawn, I reckon I got about 1 ton to the hectare as well) when we do a trip like this it will be "first class" all the bells and whistles all extra's, I think this will be our last "overseas" trip so we will throw everything at it, didnt know about the columbia icefields so thats gone into my memory bank! havent done any research on it yet, god just said we may go to canada and have a look at the rockies and what she says we do! as for the van, the best looking ones that I have ever seen are dirty and dusty and a little bit rough, that way you KNOW the owners are out there enjoying the thing, shiny and pretty is for brag rights in the c/park and neighbors, dirty and dusty and on the move is how to enjoy the thing! thats why they got wheels I dont understand the reasoning behind the purchase of a $50,000 tug then a $60,000 caravan with all the bells and whistles just to pull it 300 k down the road to a caravan park, sit for a week then drag it back again 3 times a year, if it was me I would save my $110,000 and use first class motels and a toyota camry! but as has been said takes all kinds of dongles to make the earth turn!

Thanks for all the advice that has been offered!  Still not sure whether to cover or not to cover but will look into covers that won't wear the paint off.  Like the idea of never staying at home but the kids and grandkids would object to that advice!  We are going for another four month trip to travel NSW starting in January at Tamworth so the kids will have to do without us then.

ah yes but the question is can you do without the kids, I'm missing mine like buggery!

Hey Dave , do you need a hand with the suit cases ???????????????????????

We cant afford to go over seas , but if we could that is the one place i would go.

 ENJOY.

Yes, I do miss the grandkids when we are away but we use webcam to talk with them while we are on the road.  Some consolation, but not quite the same as being able to give them a cuddle.

yes Im the same I cant got all that long without seeing them in way shape or form, I get to go home at a reasonable hour today so I am REALLY looking forward to seeing them all, I've already had a couple of phonecalls, "when you coming home POP!, are you nearly home grandpa!" breaks my heart! as for the covers, I asked Jock what he used, he bought his off Darren (our local c/van supply joint) he says his has a fluffly velvety stuff underneath so it doesnt scratch his van, it has a lot of tiedowns so as to not move around too much, he paid roughly $300 for it (he thinks from memory, it was a while ago) but he said worth every cent! there are cheaper ones but not worth it he said, dont use canvas as it is too rough and will mark your van!

Ebay $169 all sizes had one for 2 years would not be with out it it our caravan pjs

Give the van a good polish and it should be ok I reckon. Nu-finish is the polish I'd recommend after seeing how well it keeps the duco on the tug which is also out in the weather all the time. The van is always out in the sun, wind and rain in a van park somewhere, or on the road exposed to everything nature can hurl at it. I used another polish (Armorall) but it seemed to wash or evaporate off, and I had to do it every 3 months to keep the bead (water droplets). Caravans are built to van around, not park in sheds or under cover. By all means keep it clean inside and out, but I've always thought the abrading of a cover could be worse for the paint surface than the air.

Stevo you are going to look at all information and make up your own mind, Granny is right caravan are made to put up with what ever the weather , but where i live we have flying fox that mesh on everything and destroys the paint work if not washed off straight away so having a caravan cover, not a poly tarp save my paint work , you may not have any of those problems no one model fit all

Yes I understand that it depends on your own personal preferences.  We live in a salt air environment on the coast so are mainly worried about corrosion to air conditioning and solar panels.  The caravan is fibreglass so that part isn't a problem  but salt eats into aluminium and of course corrodes everything.  Think we will go for a soft fabric that won't wear the paint and hopefully will not cause moisture build up inside.  Maybe we will need to air the caravan out every couple of days or so which won't be a problem.  Thanks for your advice.