Winter cover
+2
Roopert
BP1958
6 posters
The Auto-Sleeper Motorhome Owners Forum (ASOF) :: Auto-Sleeper Motorhome Forums :: Auto-Sleeper "Coachbuilt Motorhomes" Forum
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Winter cover
I have a V reg Peugeot boxer harmony autosleeper and want to purchase a cover for it to protect it over winter. Is there anyone who could recommend where to get one please
Brian
Brian
BP1958- Member
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Posts : 5
Joined : 2019-09-15
Location : Bromborough, Wirral
Auto-Sleeper Model : Harmony
Vehicle Year : 1999
Re: Winter cover
No doubt there are differing views, but I don't think you will find many people here that will recommend fitting a cover at all.
IMO they create a lot more problems than they solve.
The main problem is that they tend to wear the paint on any exposed corners, and it tends to be worse on vans than on cars, because the weight of the tall side sections can create a lot of friction on the upper corners/edges.
The second problem is that there is normally a designed-in amount of ventilation throughout a van (e.g. through the cab vents) and a cover blocks these - so any damp inside the van at the time that it was laid up tends to stay inside.
And the third main problem is that it encourages you to leave the van unused for long periods, which is very bad for some components - especially the tyres and the brakes. A van should (IMO) be driven regularly during the winter months to keep everything moving as it should. Please don't think that you will be taking the cover off every couple of weeks to move the van. You won't want to do that when you realise what a rigmarole it is to get it on and off!
IMO they create a lot more problems than they solve.
The main problem is that they tend to wear the paint on any exposed corners, and it tends to be worse on vans than on cars, because the weight of the tall side sections can create a lot of friction on the upper corners/edges.
The second problem is that there is normally a designed-in amount of ventilation throughout a van (e.g. through the cab vents) and a cover blocks these - so any damp inside the van at the time that it was laid up tends to stay inside.
And the third main problem is that it encourages you to leave the van unused for long periods, which is very bad for some components - especially the tyres and the brakes. A van should (IMO) be driven regularly during the winter months to keep everything moving as it should. Please don't think that you will be taking the cover off every couple of weeks to move the van. You won't want to do that when you realise what a rigmarole it is to get it on and off!
Roopert- Member
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Posts : 3766
Joined : 2019-03-10
Location : South East
Auto-Sleeper Model : Trooper
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Dbvwt, Caraman, BP1958 and Bilbobaggins like this post
Re: Winter cover
Search Amazon for Maypole motorhome cover then look for the relevant size to suit your model. Note that they are quite generous so go for the lower side of the overlap rather than the higher - we had to swap ours for a smaller size as the first one swamped our van and you want to minimise any loose flappy bits.
Note you may shortly get a number of responses detailing various advantages and more so disadvantages of motorhome covers; it's one of those subjects that strongly divides opinions.
Note you may shortly get a number of responses detailing various advantages and more so disadvantages of motorhome covers; it's one of those subjects that strongly divides opinions.
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Roger
rogerblack- Donator
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BP1958 likes this post
Re: Winter cover
Don't forget that if you have a roof aerial (especially the type with a spike on top) you need to create a box to cover it , no point having a cover if it pokes a hole through it.
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Paulmold- Donator
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BP1958 likes this post
Re: Winter cover
thanks for the comments - really useful
BP1958- Member
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Posts : 5
Joined : 2019-09-15
Location : Bromborough, Wirral
Auto-Sleeper Model : Harmony
Vehicle Year : 1999
Re: Winter cover
I agree with Roopert. I have used this product before with a caravan and on the roof of my motorhome but my preference is to use and therefore clean the van throughout the year
https://fenwickscaravan.com/product/overwintering/
https://fenwickscaravan.com/product/overwintering/
Caraman- Member
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Posts : 3740
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BP1958 likes this post
Re: Winter cover
As has already been said - a subject which raises many pros and cons.
We did use one on our previous coach built van for a number of years - mainly because it was parked under an Oak tree and the consequential staining and detritus that landed on the roof justified its use.
A couple of other pros worth considering are,
Security (whilst under the cover it is not easy for the villains to distinguish what type of vehicle is under the "lump",
Also, - a green cover is less in your face and blends better into the background than a light coloured van.
We did use one on our previous coach built van for a number of years - mainly because it was parked under an Oak tree and the consequential staining and detritus that landed on the roof justified its use.
A couple of other pros worth considering are,
Security (whilst under the cover it is not easy for the villains to distinguish what type of vehicle is under the "lump",
Also, - a green cover is less in your face and blends better into the background than a light coloured van.
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Liam
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Liam- Donator
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Posts : 599
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Auto-Sleeper Model : Warwick XL
Vehicle Year : 2021
BP1958 likes this post
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