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Do we buy a caravan cover?

Full one or have you seen the just roof ones. Does anybody have any experiance of them and wheres the best to  buy them.

Caravan Club advice here:

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/technicalhelp/looking-after-your-unit/winter-care-for-caravans/

Covering up

To help preserve the exterior of your unit and ease the chore of cleaning before the first spring outing you may wish to consider either a breathable cover or the use of a protective coating, such as Fenwicks Overwintering fluid.

When choosing a cover it is important for it to be breathable, soft enough not to damage the caravan surface and tough enough for longevity. The alternative of a waxy protective coating has the advantage of low cost and if left on all winter it is relatively easy to wash off in spring because of the natural degradation of the coating. All caravan covers have a limited life, but some inferior products can last little more than one season. The main problem is ultra-violet light degradation. Consider the cover as sacrificial – it’s better the cover degrades rather than your GRP panels discolouring.

If you use your cover throughout the year and so expose it to summer sun, expect its life expectancy to reduce. Generally, you get what you pay for here – from cheapest imported products right up to premium, custom-made items – but do ensure it’s the right size for your ‘van with the doorway in the right location and provision for the protruding external fittings such as a roof aerial and gas flue.

Another life-shortening aspect of caravan construction to covers is the sharp ends of aluminium awning rails and roof joint strips. The cover needs to be protected at such points with robust material to prevent premature wear.

Before fitting a cover it is essential that the surface of the unit is clean and dry, otherwise even with the softest of covers a surface layer of dirt and grit will damage your paintwork as the cover moves against the side of the unit.

Take particular care to ensure the windows are clean as the soft acrylic material scratches easily. Ignore any advice to protect the windows with cling film before fitting the cover as this is not wise and may cause cracking to the windows.

We just use a std one, the generic type. Caravan is on the drive so I can keep an eye on flapping etc. This Spring was great. Pulling back the cover to find it gleaming white underneath & no mammoth cleaning task ahead. Checked for damage but found nothing, but van was spotlessly clean when it went on.

Also, & probably the best aspect, is that it cuts down the impact of the caravan on the eye. Would love a tailored one but starting at 4 x the price, they are expensive. Getting in / out of the van is fairly easy. After the first outing the van was washed & cover went back on again till next trip. I'm happy we bought one. Ours is 19 - 21ft & was just over £90 from Walsall Tent Hire.

Hmm, Peak-Outdoors not a good company to quote as it has not got a good reputation on this forum. Mainly the mail order side. On saying that I did get my caravan cover from them and it was good value and I'm very happy with it, but I did collect it.

The question Cover or Not = I'd go for cover everytime.

I tend to agree with Vonc each to their own, I have beem tempted a few times but at last minute decided not to buy one. Personally as I keep the van on the drive, I find that if we have a nice mild or sunny weekend in Dec and January without the forecast of frost or ice in the evening, I will go out and give it a wash  and chamois with Autogymn. 

The caravans that I have had over the years always stay looking new, no risk of scratching or retained moisture under the cover, or marking of the windows. I also think a clean caravan looks better on the front driveway than a massive green cover that starts to fade after a while.

If I had the van in storage however and couldn't clean it once or twice during the winter, I would probably be tempted to go for the cover and try it.

Dave 

we bought a purpose fitted caravan cover from protec that is for our model, i also bought the wheel covers & a front towing skirt, the front towing skirt is a god send, no dead flies of mud from the car wheels up the front of the caravan when you get to site. the amount of full caravan covers you see that are too big or dont fit is unreal, its worth while paying extra to protect your investment. my brother in law never bothered with a cover for storage for his van, it was a white van, its now a cream colour with faded decals for 5 yrs old it looks terrible.

so covers for me are the way forward.