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05-13-2018, 06:15 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 23
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Do you cover your RV while not in use?
I live in South Florida and we get a lot of hot weather, a lot of humidity. The campers we see around town are left in the driveway uncovered. We would like to cover ours so it will last longer. We're just unsure what would be the best. Getting a carport or an actually cover? What would you suggest? Cover is around $400-600 and the carport I found is about $2500. Thanks
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05-13-2018, 06:22 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,059
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We don't cover ours as I think it may cause more problems than it is worth. If I could build a carport for $2500 I would take that option. Carport would be easy to pull in/out of, and not having to go up on the roof each time to put the cover on or take it off. I've been told that between taking it on/off and the wind, covers can actually scratch your paint. Also the covers tend to tear over time. I have talked to a lot of people who bought one and only used it a few times as it was a pain to put on/take off.
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Mike & Charlotte
2014 Newmar Canyon Star 3610
Orange County, California
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05-13-2018, 06:51 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Home in warm Sou Calif for the winter.
Posts: 1,401
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I cover mine with my rv garage's roof. Works great!
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Ron, Sandie and Lilly
2013 Tiffin Phaeton 42LH 400 ISL | 2011 GMC Terrain SLT-2
Roadmaster All Terrain | US Gear Unified Brake System | Pressure Pro
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05-13-2018, 07:03 PM
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#4
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,307
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If you have the option for a carport, I would opt for that. Covering the rig with a tarp/plastic can get old really quick. Plus unless secured perfectly they can also cause rubbing on the exterior. They don't last long and are usually a two man job.
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Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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05-13-2018, 07:23 PM
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#5
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Community Moderator
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central, Arkansas
Posts: 11,223
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If I could have a carport in my driveway I would take that option.
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2004 Beaver Monterey Laguna IV
Cummins ISC 350HP Allison 3000 6 speed
2020 Chevy Equinox Premier 2.0t 9 speed AWD
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05-13-2018, 08:59 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 99
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I’m a Yankee who moved to Georgia 10 years ago. I was shocked at what the sun did to our 5th wheel in a couple of years. We tried the cover route but that didn’t work. When we got our motorhome we went for covered storage and we are happy with that. It keeps the interior temperature down when not being used. We leave the vents open so air can circulate. As for the cost we feel it is preserving the value of our motorhome by keeping it looking good. The sun also takes a toll on the roof.
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2014 Winnebago Sightseer 33C
2004 Honda CRV
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05-13-2018, 09:33 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Pick the car port...but we cover the RV (when it will sit over a month or more).
Covered storage options in these parts are too rich for us and there's no room for parking an RV that's almost 40' at our studs and stucco.
See HERE
SoCal sun damage is the big problem. The cover prevents that and decreases the RV's interior temperature by a large margin.
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05-13-2018, 09:40 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7,469
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Few points to keep in mind with covers
1) the wind causes them to move around and scratch paint
2) pad sharp corners so you don't tear the cover
3) any grit, road dust, dust etc... on the RV or the inside of the cover becomes sandpaper
4) makes sure the vents on the outside of the RV for the furnace, refer, water heater are cool or they will melt the cover.
5) be careful on the roof when putting on and taking off, don't fall off, don't damage the roof.
6) when its off its big and heavy, most come with a storage bag, put it away only after your are positive its dry,
7) putting it in the bag is like trying to put a size 11 foot in a size 10 shoe, fold tight from the start
8) I always struggled with keeping the inside clean while dragging it on and off and hanging it up to dry.
I used a cover until we added the new garage on to the house. Never again if I can help it.
__________________
US Navy Vet, Liberty Tree Member of Oath Keepers, NRA & VFW Life Member, Alaska EMT.
2009 Safari Cheetah 40 SKQ
2009 Winnebago Chalet 231CR
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05-13-2018, 10:12 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 472
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carport over cover for sure
we don't cover ours. So far so good!
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05-13-2018, 11:29 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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A quick fact check...
1) Only the cheapest vinyl covers scratch paint...Modern RV covers are a soft poly. And, properly installed and fitted, there should be very little movement.
2) Yep...cover instructions agree
3) Only cover a clean RV. Once installed on a clean RV, dirt should not move up into the properly installed cover ('cuz it is bound under the body). And the inside of the cover stays clean too.
4) Yep. See #2
5) Yep, same for cleaning the roof and checking caulk and seals twice a year - at least.
6) Yep, but quality covers are not as heavy as canvas or vinyl. We use a line to lift it.
7) Yep. The bag is just silly. We fold the cover like a big burrito and so it installs quick and easy next time.
8) Don't remove the cover when wet. Modern poly covers dry withing a few hours. If you must remove it wet, reinstall within a few days to allow it to dry on the RV. Hanging it up might be fine if you have a storage barn but otherwise it will get dirty, stretch and possibly damaged...and if you have a barn, just put the RV in it
Covered storage is obviously best. But not everyone can use covered storage. If that is the case, a cover is much better than exposed storage.
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05-13-2018, 11:29 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,103
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I can tell you never put a cover on an RV. I have. Three times.
First time my wife, daughter and I put it on.
Second time my wife and I put it on.
Third and last time nobody but me showed up, the rest of them disappeared pronto.
I don't recommend covers.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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05-14-2018, 12:14 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lone Star State
Posts: 19,203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland
I can tell you never put a cover on an RV.
I don't recommend covers.
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Please..to whom is this addressed?
I install the cover - by much self. Did ya' see my photos?
There is no good reason to have more than one person on the RV's roof
We are on our third cover, because the mid grade covers* last about 3 years in the SoCal sun. It's better the cover take the abuse over the RV.
When removing, the cover can be folded in a manner that allows very easy install next time. Easiest way to described that is a fold like a burrito.
*Premium covers are made of material like "Sunbrella." They last longer, but are 5 times the cost and weigh much more too. And high weight is not good.
What we don't understand is why folks let their beautiful RV's waste away under the brutal impact of Mother Nature(?)
The order of preference is obvious...but it is the inverse of cost:
1. Barn/Shed
2. Carport/open side storage
3. RV Cover
4. Parked in the open**
**Becomes very expensive from deterioration of paint, seals, and soft parts on the RV.
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05-14-2018, 12:54 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7,469
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I was able to put the cover on by myself until the garage was built. Taking it off was just a bit more difficult, primarily because I wanted to keep it off the ground to keep it clean. Certainly easier with a full size helper.
I kept the box it shipped in and stored it there. I would put it away so the end sticking out of the box was the front end. I pulled that end up over the rear with the ladder. with it stretched the length of the roof I would unfolded it left and right from the front to the rear (kind of like mopping yourself out of a room) and down over the sides, down the ladder, pull it down and tie it off.
It was easier if the zipper on the side was unzipped.
Reverse the process taking it off except work back to front.
Reading that sure makes me happy I had the garage built.
__________________
US Navy Vet, Liberty Tree Member of Oath Keepers, NRA & VFW Life Member, Alaska EMT.
2009 Safari Cheetah 40 SKQ
2009 Winnebago Chalet 231CR
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05-14-2018, 08:03 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,345
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I realize that a person might not have the option of installing a garage/carport. A removable cover may work best for them. But if you have a choice, a structure of some sort is the only way to go. There are just too many downsides to using a cover.
__________________
03 Itasca Sunova, Workhorse P32 with the 8.1 and 4L85-E
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