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Old 03-24-2018, 07:29 PM   #1
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Camco Cover for 5.0TA

We purchased the smallest Camco tyvek 5th wheel cover for $340 at Camping World last October. After washing a winter's worth of dirt off today, we decided to try it on.

The advertised size is "up to 23 feet", so it is too big, but not horrible. At this point all we know is that it is cheaper than a new garage.
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Old 03-24-2018, 07:30 PM   #2
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Fit pictures.
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Old 04-03-2018, 06:45 PM   #3
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Mystery Burns

A week after putting the cover on on, I noticed some very strange damage.

It looks like two parallel burn marks on the passenger side loft.
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Old 04-03-2018, 06:48 PM   #4
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Old 04-03-2018, 06:57 PM   #5
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I considered lightning, vandalism, and other crazy ideas, but could not imagine what had caused this damage.

Then my grandson suggested sunlight reflecting off a mirror.

Two years ago we put energy reflecting windows on our house. We have two of these windows on the second floor of the west-facing side of our house.
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Old 04-03-2018, 06:58 PM   #6
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Got me. It's not there in week ago pix. Could it be chemical burn?
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Old 04-03-2018, 06:58 PM   #7
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Our trailer is parked 35 feet west of our house, below the windows.

Today late in the afternoon, the trailer looked like this:
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Old 04-03-2018, 07:06 PM   #8
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The bright spots are very warm, and after ~30 seconds it becomes uncomfortable to leave my hand in them.

My theory is that over one or more sunny and windless days last week, the reflection from the windows melted the cover fabric. The top of the cover is Tyvek, but the sides are not. In the few days since the damage was done, the reflection has moved.

Today it is windy, and the fabric is moving so that the bright spots do not remain in one place very long, so no damage was done today. But over the summer, I expect to see burn spots working their way back on the trailer.

I am sure this is a freak situation, and no one else will ever see this problem. Still, I thought that it was interesting enough to share.

I'm looking into the cost of a garage.
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Old 04-03-2018, 07:09 PM   #9
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That is really strange, Gary. It does look like a chemical burn. Something in the fabric?

Caustic bird poop maybe?
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Old 04-03-2018, 07:11 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmchamplin View Post
The bright spots are very warm, and after ~30 seconds it becomes uncomfortable to leave my hand in them.

My theory is that over one or more sunny and windless days last week, the reflection from the windows melted the cover fabric. The top of the cover is Tyvek, but the sides are not. In the few days since the damage was done, the reflection has moved.

Today it is windy, and the fabric is moving so that the bright spots do not remain in one place very long, so no damage was done today. But over the summer, I expect to see burn spots working their way back on the trailer.

I am sure this is a freak situation, and no one else will ever see this problem. Still, I thought that it was interesting enough to share.

I'm looking into the cost of a garage.
There is no way a reflection from a window would cause that. A reflection creates less heat than direct sunlight would. If it was from the sun it would have to be magnified a lot.
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Old 04-03-2018, 07:11 PM   #11
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I considered both of those ideas before my grandson made his bright suggestion.
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Old 04-03-2018, 07:12 PM   #12
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A reflection like that is not normally focused enough to burn. Spent many an afternoon as a kid unsuccessfully trying to start fires that way.
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Old 04-03-2018, 07:15 PM   #13
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There is no way a reflection from a window would cause that. A reflection creates less heat than direct sunlight would. If it was from the sun it would have to be magnified a lot.
I agree with you, and I wouldn't have considered it if I had any better ideas. Now when I see the reflections lining up with the burns I am more convinced.

The windows have a coating that reflects IR, and they do appear to be focusing the energy in a small spot. When my hand is in that spot, it is much warmer than it is when it is in the sun.
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Old 04-03-2018, 07:16 PM   #14
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If anyone has any other theories I could test, I would love to do it.
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Old 04-03-2018, 10:24 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmchamplin View Post
I considered lightning, vandalism, and other crazy ideas, but could not imagine what had caused this damage.

Then my grandson suggested sunlight reflecting off a mirror.

Two years ago we put energy reflecting windows on our house. We have two of these windows on the second floor of the west-facing side of our house.
Hi gmchamplin,
You have a very smart grandson, many reflective coating used on windows create a mirrors like effect and can transmits this energy/heat miles away.


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Old 04-03-2018, 10:33 PM   #16
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I've heard of reflected sunlight "melting" plastics and google brings up a bunch of hits for vinyl siding being damaged by heating from window reflections so it seems possible. If it made your hand uncomfortable I'd say your grandson may have "nailed it" as my daughter would say.
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Old 04-03-2018, 10:41 PM   #17
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I see you plan to get a cover for that cover.
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Old 04-04-2018, 05:38 AM   #18
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A reflective cover would be better...... you may start interrupting airline flights.....
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