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10-27-2014, 11:12 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Logan, Utah
Trailer: Escape 17B (2014)
Posts: 97
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Walking on the roof?
I am considering the ADCO RV cover, on sale at Camping World for a few more days. To my surprise, the installation video at ADCO Travel Trailer Designer Tyvek RV Cover - Up to 15' - ADCO 32838 - RV Covers - Camping World calls for walking on the roof! Is this advisable? There is an obvious risk of falling or tripping over vents and solar panels, but is the roof of an Escape strong enough to support foot traffic?
-Dave
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Dave and Jane
Logan, Utah
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10-27-2014, 11:19 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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I would say, "don't walk on the roof". Are you getting a 15' cover for a 17' trailer?
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10-27-2014, 11:27 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Reace told me if they need to walk on the roof during manufacture, it is on top of plywood. I've been putting an Adco cover on my trailers for 9 years now, never had need to go up on the roof. I manage with a 6' step ladder but may change to an 8'er for the 5.0TA, it's taller then my last one. I'm 6'2" and can just reach the center of the roof with an 8'er.
I've found if you roll/fold and unroll/unfold the cover the same way each year it's not too much hassle. You have to give it some thought so it's easy and repeatable when putting it on.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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10-27-2014, 11:27 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave&Jane
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They are talking about big stick trailers with flat roofs. They make covers for smaller trailers but they still are not thinking about ours. They do not know that our little slippery rounded-corner trailers exist.
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Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
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10-27-2014, 11:35 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave&Jane
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I would advise against walking on the roof. I just installed the cover on my 19' over this past weekend. The approach I used (for past 2 winters) requires two people to install the cover, but works really well and you do not have to even leave the ground (i.e. no ladders). Lay the cover out on the ground in front of or behind the trailer. Each person take a pole (we each used a long broom or rake handle) and place it under the top corner of the cover. Lift the cover up over the trailer with the pole (hold onto the pole and the cover at same time) and walk the cover up and over the trailer, with each person walking along the side of the trailer with the cover on top of the pole. Once cover is on top of trailer, you can slide it around a small amount to even it out as necessary. Zip up the corner flaps of the cover and tie it down and you are done. About 15 min work to do.
Here is a pic from last year:
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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10-27-2014, 12:03 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
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I also do not have the idea that the roof is able to support such weight. Some people will not even lean a ladder against a side.
As Dave said, a long-handled tool can be good. A snow rake is wide and someone mentioned using such a thing made it much easier to get a cover on.
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Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
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10-27-2014, 12:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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I agree that while walking on the roof is necessary to wrangle a cover over a large RV, it is not necessary for an Escape... although something (poles, stepladders, whatever) is likely needed, especially for a 5.0. When a put a tarp over my Escape-sized fiberglass trailer, I certainly didn't walk on it.
I never lean a ladder against any RV; stepladders work well to reach the top without leaning against the trailer. I also have a multipurpose ladder (something like this) and a plank which I use as a work platform along the side of the trailer when I want to reach the roof level.
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10-27-2014, 12:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Delta, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 5.0TA
Posts: 271
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I agree too. No walking on the roof the roof for me. Ladders can make some nasty marks on the fiberglass. Our 5.0 has always been stored under cover, but one year I experimented with adding a fuzzy drop cloth (from Home Depot) to keep the dust off. I just tied a couple of cords to the cloth, threw them over the trailer and pulled it over from the other side. Occasionally I had to go back to the other side to make sure it wasn't catching on anything. Incidentally the drop cloth proved to be too much of a nuisance.
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10-27-2014, 12:53 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
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Don't walk on it unless you want it damaged. ETI puts large sheets of plywood (with a pad under it) on the roof when they need to work there. If you don't take such precautions, you'll damage the gelcoat - or worse.
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"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
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10-27-2014, 01:15 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: St.Albert, Alberta
Trailer: 21 ft November 17th
Posts: 847
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I know that even using hand pressure while waxing the roof causes a fair amount of flex.
Not a chance I would walk on the roof .
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MacRae, 21ft
2016 GMC Yukon SLT
St.Albert Alberta
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10-27-2014, 01:21 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Trailer: 2014 5TA/ *012 17B (previous)
Posts: 442
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I asked ETI that question - the answer was "no, it's not recommended".
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Min D
Chapi II
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'Have No Regrets'
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10-27-2014, 01:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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Pool noodles or pipe insulation protect the gel coat.
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What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-27-2014, 01:41 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SLO County, California
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21C 2019 Expedition
Posts: 5,213
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J Mac
I would say, "don't walk on the roof". Are you getting a 15' cover for a 17' trailer?
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The body of a 17 is 13'8. I bought that Adco generic fit for my 17B and it still was too big. Made it work, and liked the fact the Tyvek roof material hung over the roof down the sides. Overall was happy with the quality and cost but would spend the $$ for a custom fit one next time.
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10-27-2014, 07:16 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Logan, Utah
Trailer: Escape 17B (2014)
Posts: 97
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Thanks for all the advice. I ordered a 15' cover which should be right to span the distance from the spare tire to the front of the body, as directed on their website. I also got some foam pipe insulation to pad the edges of the solar panel, and I can use it on a ladder as shown in post 12.
-Dave
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Dave and Jane
Logan, Utah
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10-27-2014, 07:40 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Jeromesville, Ohio
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21' pulled with 2014 Silverado Crewcab
Posts: 854
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Cover for 21'
Anyone buy an Adco for a 21' yet?
__________________
Carl,
"Isn't it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before vacation?"
Zig Ziglar
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10-28-2014, 08:22 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Northern, Maryland
Trailer: 2014 E21
Posts: 273
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skiman
Anyone buy an Adco for a 21' yet?
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Yes. Bought the 20-22' size. A little big. Went on easy. 1-person job w/ stepladder. Used pipe insulation for the solar panel. Made in China .
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Vella, Glenn, and Abigail
Escape 21
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03-11-2015, 12:47 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Everett, Washington
Trailer: 17' Escape Floor B
Posts: 55
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Anyone heard of Camark Covers (calmarkcovers.com)? They make custom covers for all kinds of stuff, a bit pricy but 6 year warranty. I'm thinking of one for my trailer. A quality trailer deserves a quality cover don't you think?
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"The CRO"
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03-11-2015, 05:56 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
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Do a search on Calmark, a number of folks use them.
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Happy Motoring
Bob
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03-11-2015, 08:19 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,636
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I looked at Calmark and they sent me a sample and a cost estimate (very high $). Quality seemed ok but did not wow me relative to others I had looked at. In the end I got better value from a competing brand. I believe there are many others on this site that have chosen alternate covers.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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