Covered or uncovered best during Canadian winter?

Ladywendolyn · 09-17-2012, 10:18 PM

I am wondering if there are any members on here who get temperatures close to what we get during the winter ... well below zero all the way down to minus 40. Thats minus 40 whether you are Canadian or American... very cold.
We are trying to determine whether to purchace a cover for our travel trailer.. Tyvek? Other brand? Or just leave it uncovered.
Our winters are very harsh and windy.. and we just want to do it right.
Any help making this decision would be appreciated.

hbravo · 09-18-2012, 06:14 AM

I have no answer but all I can say is -40? OMG!

3'senough · 09-18-2012, 06:50 AM

I covered my last TT for one year. Actually only 3 months due to the cover ripping from the wind finally taking it's toll. Adco replaced the cover after 1 month of warranty investigation. I never used the new one but sold it with the camper.

IMHO it's not worth the hassel and will potentially do more damage than good. Now I wax my unit before the long winter and leave it outside. The covers can scratch your sides and wear down parts of your rubber roof where it rubs. I've seen some people use marine shrink wraps on their roofs which would be a good alternative, but I am not putting a flame to my unit.

So I am now of the 50% that say no to fabric covering based on my experience. If you are in an area with no wind or protected like a barn and want to keep dust and dirt off then okay.

Maybe a storage unit if rates are fair.

The cover will not help in anyway to keep it warmer. 40 below or 40 above it's still going to be cold until spring time.

Jayco 228 · 09-18-2012, 07:27 AM

I was looking at purchasing a cover for our new trailer this winter but I got a line on some covered storage for $70/mth so I think I will go that route, for this winter anyways. 9 months in the cold and snow and the low intense sun reflecting off that snow I think is hard on the trailer. Our last trailer seemed to take a beating and looked like crap after a couple years. The decals all cracked and the fiberglass started getting chalky in places. I waxed it on a regular basis and used aerospace 303 on it as well. I don't think it can hurt to cover as long as you get the proper type of cover and make sure it is secured properly so it is not flapping around. JMHO

Jeff

Ladywendolyn · 09-18-2012, 10:42 AM

I am starting to worded.. if maybe a half cover (tarping the roof) would be a solution...

3'senough · 09-18-2012, 12:25 PM

Not the poly ones. You might as well go for the Tyvek roof with the sides if you seriously want to cover it. Those poly tarps will destroy something, not to mention scratch it.

Jagiven · 09-18-2012, 03:25 PM

Personally, look for a farmer’s barn. That is what we do, and it is cheap ($80) for winter storage. Our farmer lets us come and go as we please. Some of the boaters pull the boats out in the winter for a jaunt down south, and then put it back. For us once it is in for the winter we leave it until we are ready for spring camping. What I like is having the snow load is off the roof, and the stresses from the ice is off the various vent covers.

If any of your coworkers have a hobby farm, they may store trailers, or they will know someone who does.

Ladywendolyn · 09-18-2012, 03:42 PM

The barn idea is promising... Do you have any problems with mice in the barn?

Steverino · 09-18-2012, 03:46 PM

If you have a sheltered outdoor spot (meaning not windy) a cover could be good. I bought a nice Addco cover for our previous TrailManor trailer - it lasted most of one winter before developing a tear. Our yard does get some wind, though, and I could never figure out how to better secure the cover than it was already. If your location is windy, I wouldn't bother with a cover unless you've got a really good plan for securing it (beyond the manufacturer-provided method).

With our Jayco C-type, there's the size thing, and also that it's already spent it's previous life outdoors in Florida, so the decal damage is done. The storage lot we're using is somewhat more wind-sheltered than our yard, but I don't really see any advantage to covering it now. That said, if I had access to reasonably priced indoor storage I'd go for that in a heartbeat, just 'cause.

clutch · 09-18-2012, 04:58 PM

Back when I was forced to work for a living we had travel trailers in North Idaho. We never covered them and never had a problem. If the snow gets around 3 ft deep (100cm) you might think about brooming it off to about 6 inches (15cm).

phemens · 09-18-2012, 06:34 PM

We`ve kept ours outside for 6 seasons in harsh Montreal winters, hasn`t affected anything at all, including decals.

OnTheGo · 09-19-2012, 12:43 PM

Jayco recommends covering the trailer in their manual. An air conditioners manufacturers rep told me that a cover that "doesn't breathe properly" is worse than none at all. I think a QUALITY cover is a good idea, because it offers "some" protection. The true test is probably time.

I don't cover mine. (Ohio winters can be cold and wet - although not what you're used to.) I hope that by taking excellent care of the trailer, it will last.

ensign · 09-19-2012, 05:56 PM

Hi Lady,

I am in Winnipeg too. I am going to get indoor unheated storage. I think I get it for around 125 per month. With a new trailer it is worth it to me . . . at least for the first couple of years.

I will confirm a price over the next couple of weeks and can pm you if you want.

Jagiven · 09-19-2012, 10:05 PM

Our family has not had any mice issues when we have ensured the TT is clean. My brother has had mouse issues, but he is not so good about cleaning out his trailer. He also parks the popup at his sister in laws cabin outside. We do remove ALL food products, scrub the shelves, floors, sinks, counters, everything. My dad and I, we also caulk all the holes in the bottom of the TT. Never had a mouse and I do not plan on changing that record!

Jagiven · 09-19-2012, 10:22 PM

Lady W, I have looked at a few winter storage options. The dealer near me charges $50/mth for outdoor storage. The Fairgrounds charges about $350 for indoor the winter storage, they tell you when to drop it off and pick it up, no choice on dates and times. A coworker, if I recall correctly charges about $25/mth in his barn, but the TT does not fit, through his door. This barn our family has been using for about 15 years now charges $80/winter. This is a machine shed barn. My TT gets its own door; all the smaller items (boats, popups, cars) go between the bigger trailer. If someone wants their smaller unit, the farmer does move the TT to get to smaller units. I am fine with that, we have never had any issues. To get this deal I do travel about 100 miles from my place, which is about 5 miles from my parents. So it is not a bad deal for us.

Good luck

newrvguy68 · 09-28-2012, 12:20 PM

Much like you I am faced with all kinds of temperature extremes in the winter and as much as I like the idea of using a trailer cover in the winter I also have to be mindful of the near hurricane force winds we get living next to the mountains. I really don't like the idea of looking out and seeing the trailer cover acting like a sail and finding my trailer 3 houses away! To be serious I just am not entirely sold on those covers not being affected by the wind and doing more damage to the exterior than good.

Allamuchy Joe · 10-03-2012, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladywendolyn

The barn idea is promising... Do you have any problems with mice in the barn?

We remove all the food and use Pepermint Oil on cottonballs as well as bounce dryer sheets in all the drawers and cubbies. My wife read that somewhere, and it seems to work. We stored our pop-up outside for many years and never had a mouse problem. We will do the same with our x17z when it is time to close her up for the winter.

Our neighbor's cats keep patrolling our yard, so that might help as well. :hihi:

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