Anybody have one of theose $600 trailer covers?

ronstew · 06-24-2009, 02:48 PM

Since our egg is likely to spend 11 months per year outside, I would like to protect it from UV and weather damage. The cover on the Escape home page looks like a good idea, but it is mighty pricey. Anybody have experience with one?

Ron

gbaglo · 06-24-2009, 03:21 PM

I've thought about it, but I wonder how long the cover itself would last. Should I get a cover for the cover? And, I'd like to know what condition the gel coat would be in after say ten years without the cover, and what condition the cover would be in after 10 years and what would it cost to restore the gel coat after 10 years. Could I get it restored for $600 or less? So, I have too many unanswered questions.

baglo

Jim Bennett · 06-24-2009, 04:33 PM

I am considering getting one, as I have no place to park inside. I might just get one of those portable garages, but I doubt they would last any more then 5 years. I have also thought of using something like Tyvek to build one out of myself. It would keep the sun, rain and dirt off, but still allow it to breathe any moisture out.

Hokie Escape · 06-24-2009, 04:37 PM

I bought one for the Casita, and just passed it on to the next owner. Never put it on because it just seemed like sooooo much trouble! Gotta climb up on the roof and pull it over. I am considering providing a shelter to put it under, but the $600 and trouble to put it on pales in light of that expense. If we could erect one of those aluminum shelters, I might do that but it's not allowed here. If they were that's what I'd use. Easy to pull it under, or back it under each time I came back from a trip. Not sure they are too much more than $600 are they?

HABBERDABBER · 06-24-2009, 05:40 PM

Google "Tyvek RV cover". There are very reasonably priced covers, they are lightweight and provide good sun protection. I use one for my tug, parked behind the garage. Only problem is, I have no rig...still looking for a used Escape after an April deal collapsed due to the sellers unfounded fears. Fiberglass sailboats bake out in the elements year round, and with some elbow grease and cleaner/wax get back in shape quickly. My sailboat is 20 years old and still looks like new. Fiberglass is the way to go.

Thinking of upgrading your 17B this year to a 19? Call me. 608-849-7854

PGDriver · 06-24-2009, 07:02 PM

Yes I bought one from Reace and Tammy, I figured $600.00 was a small
price to pay to protect my investment. My Escape will have to put up
with 5 months of winter up here also. Haven't put it on yet, to busy using the trailer.
I will post some pics when I get a chance, Have had a good look at it
and I think it looks worth the money.

**Donna D.** · 06-24-2009, 08:23 PM

I went the other way and had one of the metal carports built. But mine is quite a bit larger than a single... 18x25. I figure it's an investment in my property as much as it is for my trailer. If I should sell the property, I can actually say I have covered RV/boat parking. The great thing, is not only the trailer protected from the sun/rain or snow... but all it does it get a bit dusty when parked. No more cleaning green and black moss off the outside for that first Spring camping trip. That alone saves me one whole day! It's light enough under the carport to work inside the trailer without needing a bunch of lights too. Where I live, roaring winds are a concern. The carport is anchored using earth anchors (3 feet) and is warranted to 90 mph winds.

Before having the carport built, I was storing my trailer at an RV lot. It cost me a dollar a day.... pretty cheap. But I stored it for three years... you do the math. $600 would have been cheaper for sure, but what I have now is much more permanent.

The problem with covers that go over the trailer, is the trailer has to be spotlessly clean or else you're going to get the underside of the cover grimy and gritty. A little wind and that grit will chaff the gel coat.

Your mileage may vary.

Jim Bennett · 06-24-2009, 08:33 PM

I have no option to store my RV at home. I have a HUGE yard by city standards, but only have access through a green strip, and that is not allowed, let alone not feasible to do. I can't legally park in the front drive or on the road for more than 2 or 3 days, though I do keep my trailer in the drive right now, and as long as no neighbour complains, I should be ok, hopefully until fall. I will either store it beside a garage that I rent for my company, or out on our land which is about 1 1/2 hours away. The later would only be for winter storage though. Either way I would like to limit the amount of exposure it gets. I have looked into portable garages, but a good one the size I would need, and that is guaranteed for at least 10 years is going to be at least $2k, and higher.

Hokie Escape · 06-24-2009, 08:43 PM

Jim, by portable garage, do you mean the aluminum carports that LadyBlue is talking about? That seems pretty high for one of those, but I haven't really priced one to fit Hokie.

Jim Bennett · 06-24-2009, 10:05 PM

I was thinking more along the line of a metal framed fabric one. You can get them of a decent size for under $1,000, but they don't last more than a couple years. I did get a quote from http://www.instantshelters.net/ for a 12'W x 21'L x 9'H for $2,655 from them. They definitely have a good product. They pro-rate the warranty on the fabric for 10 years, but say they expect at least 15 years out of the fabric. They consider our shelters to be on the "permanent end" of portable shelters. I doubt that I will go this route though, that is just a bit much for a temporary shelter, though if I was to build a half decent shelter that size, it would likely cost nearly as much anyway.

Do you have an example of the aluminum carports you are referring too?

Hokie Escape · 06-24-2009, 10:10 PM

Like these: http://rontimco.com/index.php/carports (i just googled these, I have no experience with this company).
I haven't priced them, but they're quite durable. I'm sure that's what LadyBlue was speaking of taking a 90 mph wind.

Hokie Escape · 06-24-2009, 10:13 PM

The design I was speaking of is actually the "steel covers" not the aluminum (sorry)!

Jim Bennett · 06-24-2009, 10:28 PM

The few I found pricing online for were quite pricey. I wonder how portable they would be. I imagine they would break down fairly easily. The portability of the fabric ones is one of the appealing features.

**Donna D.** · 06-25-2009, 07:54 PM

Yeah, mine is like this: http://www.sheltersofamerica.com/pro...ctid=296&id=11. Except it's 18x25

Within three miles of my home, I've seen four dealers selling these metal carports. A single carport is $895. Jim you should have picked one up on your way through Oregon!

Jim Bennett · 06-25-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12ladyblue

Yeah, mine is like this: http://www.sheltersofamerica.com/pro...ctid=296&id=11. Except it's 18x25

Within three miles of my home, I've seen four dealers selling these metal carports. A single carport is $895. Jim you should have picked one up on your way through Oregon!

No doubt, but it might have been tricky hauling it.

**Donna D.** · 06-26-2009, 08:20 PM

For another cover to look at, there's a discussion going on at one of the other fiberglass forums about this one:
http://www.shelterlogic.com/garages/, looks like it's a good one for the price.

Jim Bennett · 06-26-2009, 09:25 PM

That brand rang a bell, and I was thinking I had seen a canopy of theirs at Canadian Tire, and sure enough, they have a bunch of their products there. LINK

THIS one looks like it might work, and for the same $600. I wonder how long they would last.

medora · 09-28-2010, 09:34 PM

So ... revisiting a very old topic here ... what are the risks of just leaving your egg out in the big bad world? Having never had a fiberglass anything before, I have no idea what the consequences of weather exposure can be, and/or what sort of maintenance is required.

**Donna D.** · 09-28-2010, 10:16 PM

Black mold, red mold, green slime, tree sap, bird droppings, acid rain, leaks from vents (failed caulk), etc, etc. Once upon a time, I let my trailer sit out in the weather. It would take me one full weekend in the spring to clean up the exterior. Between the scrubbing and the waxing, I was exhausted. I had a carport built. Now it only gets dusty from sitting, I can literally turn the water hose on it and I'm done! YMMV

fudge_brownie · 09-28-2010, 10:18 PM

Not having a trailer long enough I cannot speak from experience but from what I have read there can be issues with the plastic parts and UV breakdown, mold or mildew if the roof does not drain, tree sap and similar "droppings". Nothing that cannot be repaired or removed and in some cases prevented with proper preventive measures.

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