cover recommendation ?

[b&pcamping]

We're only a few days away from purchase of a 2006 TM2619, and I'd like to find a cover for it for storage. Is there a recommendation you all can give, or is keeping it covered unnecessary? Any other advise you might have for what to do for outside storage would be great too. Can't wait to take it out for our first trip!!

Thanks,
Bruce & Paula

[B_and_D]

Are you storing open or closed? We have an ADCO cover and store ours open. Our first one lasted 4 years, just bought a new one.

[b&pcamping]

Thank you B and D,
I'm not sure what way I'm going to store it. I was thinking closed. I've read some post about both ways. What's the reason you store yours open? Is one way more advantagous than another? Since you've just purchased another cover can you tell me which one you bought. Size or type.

Thanks,
Bruce

[B_and_D]

We store ours open because we can. I don't see any reason to close it down when we get home, it's nice to be able to get in and out of it any time I want, and sometimes we sleep out there (like last week when my daughter invited 5 other 21-year-olds to spend the night, I was ready for bed at 10 p.m. and the giggling was just getting started). I go out there at least once every couple of weeks just to check things out, get something, or ? We get digital TV reception out there that we don't get at the house, even with the Winegard TV antenna folded down onto the roof and under the cover. I was out there today several times, and yesterday several times.

We recently replaced our old one, and bought the ADCO Tyvek 24-26' cover, #27903000 per the receipt, it was $244.99 with the President's Club discount. They say to buy one (if I recall correctly) 2 feet longer than your trailer. Our trailer is (I believe) almost 24' open and the cover roof overlaps our roof on each end. It's plenty big. When we put the cover on we tuck the door flap underneath the roof, flat out across towards the other side. What I neglected to do with this new cover was to tie cords onto the door flap so that I can pull it down flat from the other side. I tried rolling the door flap up, first just by itself, and then with a PVC pipe rolled up inside, but it works best to just tuck it up under the roof.

I have a new way of protecting the corners with styrofoam pieces that I get when this lady has her medicine delivered to our office in a thick styrofoam cooler. I first used to tape them on, but that left gummy stuff all over the trailer. Now I just use that green "twisty-tie" wire that comes on a roll and tie on the corners using the outside hardware on the TM. No more gummy stuff and it's easy to reuse the twisty-ties. We also put the cover on by first closing down the TM, it's much easier that way. Even with the care we've taken to cover up the sharp edges on the corners (my '97 probably has more sharp edges than a 2006 does) we went through the patch kit that came with the first one and 2 additional patch kits. The guy at Camping World said that the covers only last most people 2 years.

[Bill]

B&P -

B&D may be our experts in the area of covers - they have had lots of experience and posted quite a bit of it. In addition, if you use the Advanced Search tool on the term "ADCO", you will find lots of discussion.

Bill

[P and B]

We have an Adco cover that we got when we bought the unit. There was no discussion about open or closed storage at the time so we're kind of stuck with it closed. I'd love to have it open like B&D does. One big benefit of having it open and going in and out of it, is your presence keeps the mice out. I had mice last year so I now take precautions to keep them at bay.

Another reason for us to keep it closed is that, in our neighborhood, we're not really supposed to have big "thing" in our driveways. Ours is at the bottom of a hill so it's not really visible from neighboring houses. Nevertheless, with a steely gray cover- closed- it's almost un-noticeable.

I'd keep it open if I could.

Phil

[Larry Gault]

We store ours open because we can. I don't see any reason to close it down when we get home, it's nice to be able to get in and out of it any time I want, and sometimes we sleep out there (like last week when my daughter invited 5 other 21-year-olds to spend the night, I was ready for bed at 10 p.m. and the giggling was just getting started). I go out there at least once every couple of weeks just to check things out, get something, or ? We get digital TV reception out there that we don't get at the house, even with the Winegard TV antenna folded down onto the roof and under the cover. I was out there today several times, and yesterday several times.

We recently replaced our old one, and bought the ADCO Tyvek 24-26' cover, #27903000 per the receipt, it was $244.99 with the President's Club discount. They say to buy one (if I recall correctly) 2 feet longer than your trailer. Our trailer is (I believe) almost 24' open and the cover roof overlaps our roof on each end. It's plenty big. When we put the cover on we tuck the door flap underneath the roof, flat out across towards the other side. What I neglected to do with this new cover was to tie cords onto the door flap so that I can pull it down flat from the other side. I tried rolling the door flap up, first just by itself, and then with a PVC pipe rolled up inside, but it works best to just tuck it up under the roof.

I have a new way of protecting the corners with styrofoam pieces that I get when this lady has her medicine delivered to our office in a thick styrofoam cooler. I first used to tape them on, but that left gummy stuff all over the trailer. Now I just use that green "twisty-tie" wire that comes on a roll and tie on the corners using the outside hardware on the TM. No more gummy stuff and it's easy to reuse the twisty-ties. We also put the cover on by first closing down the TM, it's much easier that way. Even with the care we've taken to cover up the sharp edges on the corners (my '97 probably has more sharp edges than a 2006 does) we went through the patch kit that came with the first one and 2 additional patch kits. The guy at Camping World said that the covers only last most people 2 years.


B&D,
Did you buy your cover at the store or have it shipped. I looked on their web site and that size is $289.99 with free shipping using president's club membership. How long ago did you get that price. I want to order one but want the best price I can get.
Larry

[Wavery]

Check these out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ADCO-SFS-Aqua-Shed-Trailer-Cover-Up-to-22-1-to-24_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ad61d86daQQitemZ390 139315930QQptZMotorsQ5fRVQ5fTrailerQ5fCamperQ5fPar tsQ5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20-to-24-SFS-Aqua-Shed-RV-Cover_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem414aa92d06QQitemZ 280425475334QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/20-1-to-24-Polypro-RV-Cover_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem45ef5ae391QQitemZ 300368454545QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/24-to-28-SFS-Aqua-Shed-RV-Cover_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3efa47fb4cQQitemZ 270486993740QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100

This one at amazon.co looks really good for $189:

http://www.amazon.com/Safeguard-Premium-Cover-Class-24-28/dp/B002PBDJO6/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1262645749&sr=8-16

[B_and_D]

I believe that they were on sale when we bought ours. We live not too far from the one in San Martin, CA so we just went and bought it. I think it was just after we got back from the TM rally in October. We bought the Tyvek cover with the white top, the roof material is much heavier than the Aqua Shed. We figured if we were going the spend the money that we'd buy one that would last longer. I just checked their website, and although they are on sale, they are more expensive than the one I bought.

I just checked pplmotorhomes.com who also carries fairly reasonable parts and they are more expensive than Camping World. If you are near a Camping World they may have an example of the construction of the Aqua Shed covers vs. the Tyvek's.

I really like our cover because it keeps the TM clean, and it also helps prevent corrosion in the outside light bulb connections.

[Larry Gault]

Thanks Wayne & B& D, I'm gonna order one from Camping World while they are on sale and get the free shiping. I like the Tyvek better too and if I have warr problems at least I can take it to the store 50 miles away.

[Wavery]

Thanks Wayne & B& D, I'm gonna order one from Camping World while they are on sale and get the free shiping. I like the Tyvek better too and if I have warr problems at least I can take it to the store 50 miles away.

Sounds like a wise choice. For an extra $100 it will probably last twice as long....sorta falls in that category of, "You get what you pay for"...;)

[b&pcamping]

Thank you to all that have responded to my question. I'm happy to see the photo of Larry & Pats TM and your TV. I will be towing with a 2003 Toyota PreRunner Double Cab as well. Do you have a trans cooler? I've thought I might need to add one. This forum has been great. Looking forward to joining the ranks of the TM Owners!

Bruce & Paula

[B_and_D]

Thank you to all that have responded to my question. I'm happy to see the photo of Larry & Pats TM and your TV. I will be towing with a 2003 Toyota PreRunner Double Cab as well. Do you have a trans cooler? I've thought I might need to add one. This forum has been great. Looking forward to joining the ranks of the TM Owners!

Bruce & Paula

I hope you find a good TM and it is just the one that you are dreaming of.

It would be great to meet you guys at the TM rally at Pismo Beach in September. We've already made reservations & hope to meet some new TM owners as well as catch up with others that we met at the Petaluma rally.

D'

[fischnet52]

Just came across this thread and would like some opinions, as I know there are a lot of varied good ones in this forum!
We have used the ADCO AquaShed in the past on our popup and it lasted a good 10 years here in N. Idaho. So I followed Bill's advice in the "Cover for 2720SL" thread and ordered the 16'-18' ADCO cover last year from JC Whitey - way better prices than CampingWorld. Fit like a charm, with the TM closed. I see discussion from some of you that leave yours set up and cover it with a full size cover, I presume at all times not being used? I'd like thoughts, pro/con, on doing this. Do you all recommend covering during periods of non use in summer?

Reason I ask, we 'store' ours at the side driveway during the summer, set up & ready to go. But come late fall (campgrounds all closed) we close it, put moisture absorbers in it and cover it with the AquaShed. I went further this year and made a multi-arched frame of PVC to cover the area forward of the AC over the 3 vent domes and the Winegard (under the ADCO) so I would have clean runoff and make it easy to brush off snow. Last year we had rain that puddled on the roof, then froze, then got 28" of snow, followed with freezing rain! This year I'm prepared and we only get rain, but no puddling!

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Fred

[Redhawk]

Sounds like you're squared away, but i bought my ADCO cover from RVWholesalers. Was very happy with the price and service. Checked on the TM today after a couple storms blew thru, cover is working well. Hadn't shifted at all.

[B_and_D]

We keep ours open because we like to be able to go in and out of it whenever we want to and to check on things inside (moisture, mice, etc.). It can also be used as an extra bedroom that way.

We put the cover on mostly in the winter when we're not using it, but for the rest of the year, if it's going to be more than a few weeks between camping trips, it's kept covered. It just keeps the exterior cleaner. There's a lot of pollen and dust out here and it's nice to be able to pull off the cover and go without having to re-clean it since our last trip.

It's covered now...I guess our next trip will be to the Petaluma, CA rally in April, but I haven't made reservations yet.

[rumbleweed]

Once summer gets here I will provide a durability report on my ADCO cover. TM is stored closed under an ADCO cover and 40+ inches of snow.

[Bill]

As B-and-D have noted a couple times, the TM has a few sharp edges, and they need to be padded. I think the TV antenna is one source of wear, and perhaps the fan and vent housings. Your PVC frame will help a lot of this. And if you pull the cover down over the folded hitch as I do, there are lots of sharp corners that will wear, and finally tear, the fabric.

Been there, done that, did the Homer Simpson head slap more than once.

Bill

[rumbleweed]

I have had excellent results using the sheets of bubble wrap from all the stuff I ordered for my TM. They are light, tough and can be wrapped around things like the antenna mount. If the get damages, you jut recycle them and use a new piece.

[fischnet52]

Once summer gets here I will provide a durability report on my ADCO cover. TM is stored closed under an ADCO cover and 40+ inches of snow.

Ah yes, snow! You folks are getting all our snow too! :p When we have the likelihood of snow, it must be closed up because the trailer is not designed for any real snow load; Hopefully you're keeping the snow load off the TM? I had to shovel mine several times last year whenever it began to exceed 18+ or if we were going to get rain or rapid melt, which is when I had issues with the humps and valleys caused by the stuff on the roof. Also eliminates the option of keeping it open during normal winter months to use as an extra room.

I'm thinking that maybe getting another full size cover might not be a bad idea (if I can find another $200+ for it!) to cover when not being used during summer months ... maybe good to keep the UV at bay as well as all that dirt and pollen?

[fischnet52]

I have had excellent results using the sheets of bubble wrap from all the stuff I ordered for my TM. They are light, tough and can be wrapped around things like the antenna mount. If the get damages, you jut recycle them and use a new piece.

Another thing I've used if there are really sharp and persistent edges like the frame, is just some heavy cardboard. Can just recycle it come spring and get new pieces following year and it really will pad well, not where through and if it gets damp, it is just a bit more soft, Just need to have the cover cinched down well so it won't flop about ... or there's always the "Handiman's Friend", duct tape! - to hold it in place!

[B_and_D]

For padding the corners, I've tried bubble wrap with duct tape, styrofoam corners with duct tape, and old towels with duct tape. I got tired of having to spend a couple of hours every summer cleaning off the residue from the duct tape. Now I use styrofoam corners and tie them onto the TM with twist tie http://www.neeps.com/288498.html?productid=288498. So far, all the corners have stayed put even on very windy days, I can re-use the twist tie over and over, and it doesn't rust. It's amazing how many things you can find on the TM to tie onto.

Works for me.