Hi all, been awhile. Has anyone made a cover for their van roof as protection against hail damage. A quick pull over the roof type, slightly wider with tie ropes down the sides. If travelling and can see a potential threat I am thinking that a cover on a roller mounted at the front, similar to a pool cover roller could work. The extra width could be achieved with sewing flaps each side the full length with eyelets for the clip on tiedowns. These flaps will fold in when rolled and would be shaped to allow for the rise over the aircon. Where packing is required near the ends maybe the pool floaties, round coloured foam type could work. Suggestions of material type would help, maybe solid vinyl or shadecloth. 22ft Concept.
the idea is great...........butttttttt. the cover would need to be a two layer cover filled with some sort of impact absorbing material, foam bead or similar(very bulky) or possibly an inflatable envelope. Both would be very costly. A large hailstone travels very fast and the impact is very violent hence the large dings on the steel body work and smashed windows
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Thanks for the comments Bob, will probably still go ahead realising the extremes of what you describe. As South Australians we don't witness such hail and the experience I would rather miss but as travelling relief managers if we venture with our van into areas of frequent thunderstorm activity, my quick erected cover, tied down and tensioned over the aircon will at least keep the noise down of torrential rain and mediocre hail stones. I would like to look at making it out of a black mesh, Truck Stop or something like that. Apparently doesn't stretch like shadecloth. Our van means so much to us as I am sure it does to many. We have just completed an assignment in Gerroa and the rain would have driven us nuts if we were in our van, but we are heading back to Adelaide to await our next job. Thanks again.
My experience of hail in South East Qld. is that it comes on rather suddenly. They say that you can pick it from a green tinge to the clouds.
You probably wouldn't have enough time to deploy & secure any effective cover
It's a relatively rare event in any case.
I would just make sure that I had appropriate insurance cover & maybe just carry a light tarp to prevent subsequent water ingress. Though you can buy them at most reasonable sized towns in the unlikely event that you need one.
To carry an effectve cover would be a nuisance & weigh a bit I expect. I wouldn't bother .. at least in SEQ
Hi Technomad, You can actually buy covers that protect from hail. The firm is called stormcover.com.au. I think they range from $259:00 up to something like $1,400:00. I think it also listed as coverworld.com.au. Have a gander at the sights. They may give you some ideas. Havago.
I thought it may have been fibreglass composite, stands up to hail a lot better.
When we had a large hail storm in Perth at the end of the Caravan and Camping show, the aluminium ones all suffered hail damage, the fibreglass ones none, same in the sales yards.
My cousin had his alum one covered with a blue tarp, the hail stones went straight through.
If you're going down that track then you do need something with a bit of cushioning, but not cheap. Usuall used for storing outside at home, not on the road.
Good luck with whatever you decide,
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