Covering Camper Question

[hayseed]

This will be my first winter owning a camper and I now have it winterized preparing for storage. I'm looking for recommendations as to covering the camper. I have never seen any dealer who cover their units for storage and when asked the question most will tell me that finding inside storage is always better, but not really necessary. Inside storage is not really an option for me and not time to build something this year, so can anyone tell me of problems they have experienced because they didn't cover up? Thanks.

[leech~~]

This will be my first winter owning a camper and I now have it winterized preparing for storage. I'm looking for recommendations as to covering the camper. I have never seen any dealer who cover their units for storage and when asked the question most will tell me that finding inside storage is always better, but not really necessary. Inside storage is not really an option for me and not time to build something this year, so can anyone tell me of problems they have experienced because they didn't cover up? Thanks.

What is the size and age of your camper? Bigger campers can have more "sag" with all the weight of the snow on top. This can pull on the side roof seals and cause them to leak. Can you get at the camper during the winter? If you can it maybe good to try and pull some of the snow off later in the year. Sometimes covering the camper with a big tarp doesn't really do much if you use a cheap tarp that is going to flap around and cause little holes in it. Water will still get under it from snow melt. The real bad thing with a trap if it's not tight enough is it will flap in the wind all winter and you will have some pretty ugly paint wear spots on the sides.

[fishingstar]

I covered mine for the first five or so years. It is a Classic Accessories PolyPro 1 RV Cover. I have a fifth wheel so the roof has a step up towards the front of it. I stopped using it started rubbing on the rubber roof at the step up.I have found that I have more roof maintenance since not covering it. I don't know if is't age or not being covered. I did ask my dealer about leaving it outside and uncovered he said they are made for it.

 

Dan

[Dusty]

I have left mine uncovered for the last 10 years. It sits on a year around lot near International Falls. No issues so far.

[hayseed]

What is the size and age of your camper? Bigger campers can have more "sag" with all the weight of the snow on top. This can pull on the side roof seals and cause them to leak. Can you get at the camper during the winter? If you can it maybe good to try and pull some of the snow off later in the year. Sometimes covering the camper with a big tarp doesn't really do much if you use a cheap tarp that is going to flap around and cause little holes in it. Water will still get under it from snow melt. The real bad thing with a trap if it's not tight enough is it will flap in the wind all winter and you will have some pretty ugly paint wear spots on the sides.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Our camper is a 08 fifth-wheel 26 foot. I will have access to it for the winter to clean off excess snow load and plan to do so if we get dumped on. My thoughts were like yours Leech, covering with a tarp seems like the potential problems are greater than leaving it uncovered. 

Fishingstar, if I may ask, what kinds of maintenance items are you seeing since not covering? I worry most about those chintzy plastic skylights. Thanks again for the advice. 

[fishingstar]

the roof seems to get dirty faster than when covered. I have had to replace two sewer vents and caulk the roof vents. My camper is a 05 I'm thinking it is more age than anything .

 

[hayseed]

the roof seems to get dirty faster than when covered. I have had to replace two sewer vents and caulk the roof vents. My camper is a 05 I'm thinking it is more age than anything .

 

Thank you. Just the info I was looking for. Think I'll go uncovered this year and find out. 

[woodsmanmn]

Invest in a plastic bladed snow rake.  The enemy isn't so much the load of the snow, it's the melting and refreezing where the water gets into the seams, nooks and crannies and refreezes.  Keeping the snow off to minimize the snow melt is a big help.