Winter Covers

Apologies if this has been covered (no pun intended) before, but I need some advice on winter storage...

Where we live there is only on-street parking, so when we took ownership of our van last year we rented a space in an underground carpark locally. This is great but, expensive!

So I'm now looking at cheaper options, most of which seem to be caravan-type storage, most of which are outside.

If I were to use one of these over-winter I'd like to keep it covered up. However, the choice of covers seems limited.

JK do one which is breathable not waterproof http://www.justkampers.com/shop/t2-bay-window

Otherwise there's one like thishttp://www.coveryourcar.co.uk/store/product.php?productid=16881&cat=407&page=1 - the waterproof stormforce.

The stormforce however is a tailored fit so would mean removing the roof rack and front wheel cover.

Any ideas / options / suggestions / thoughts welcome!

KC & the sunshine van

p.s. - this is the first time I've embedded links on a post so hope they worked!

oh, it didn't embed the links - just added them in! oh well.

Scooby has been outside all of his life - in all weathers - free range if you will
We have been concerned about scratches/sweating with a cover
So outside, un-covered he stays - but free
Rooby Roo

I'm not a fan of covers for the same reasons. I ended up building a bus port.

Interesting to hear...

I've been told by many people that we can her outside without any problem.....it just felt odd last year, probably because she was brand-spanking new and unblemished! But the parking space is costing me a fortune!

I think also because we're by the sea and the salty air and chrome are mortal enemies. Something I learned from bitter experience when i owned a chrome-laded Vespa a few years back ;-(

Parking in our street is also a premium though - it's a battle of patience and subterfuge just to get one car parked within shouting distance of the house. So my leaving a van parked up all winter would probably result a public lynching! Hence looking at winter storage sites - the cover idea was also to act as a bit of deterrant (Although most of the caravan parking places have cctv etc).

Useful input though. A bus-port would be perfect Tim!

Have you not got a mate in the Sussex countryside with a barn you could keep the Kombi with?

Unfortunately not! That would be ideal.

Ian @ WVKampers did talk about offering winter storage last year, but I don't think they got around to it. I'll ask him on Sunday if i see him.!

Ruds has been sitting outside since last year, no problems so far. We were thinking about a cover for a while so it is interesting to see you opinion that it's better to stay without.

And given that Rudi goes out for 3 days a week for a short trip to the nursery it would be too much hassle probably...

I put Adie under one of Justkampers breathable covers. It kept her safe and out of the snow last winter. Indoor would be better, but as covers go I would recomend it.

what is about with water inside of cover because from warm to cold? ( in german= schwitzen )

My German is very rusty (rostig(?)) and I thought schwitzen was to sweat, which sort of works in the sense of a bus under a cover. The word we use for the water under a cover would be condensation (kondensation).

Or (oder), verwenden wir das Wort kondensation.

thx :-) i often loose words too. please when i write it in the wrong words to here in forum, could you please write it right to me. so i learn it for future.

There was come condensation under there at times, but thats why it's a breathable cover. Without it Adie would have been under several inches of snow which would have been on her for a number of days.

How does to cover cope with the wind? Does it flap around, potentially damaging the paintwork? That was one of my concerns with them.

kiteman wrote:

How does to cover cope with the wind? Does it flap around, potentially damaging the paintwork? That was one of my concerns with them.

That's one of my concerns with covers as well. I once had a cover on a car for an extended period and on taking the cover off found the paint had been dulled in various places through contact. Not been keen on them since.

The other thing I found was that critters can have a habit of treating them as a snug during cold inclement weather. Another downer. I tend to let vehicles tend for themselves now, with the added of incentive of "in sight, in mind", prompting care for it. If under a cover, it's too easy to leave and forget.

The cover I got from JK has straps that run under the camper front to back and side to side, all fully adjustable. It stood up to a couple of days of gale force wind here in Winster, 500' above sea level in the peak district. The only damage was a 2" split in the cover where it rubbed on Adies step. The cover is made of strong material as this did not run and is good for next year. It stayed secure, didnt rub Adies paint and overall it worked for me, so I would recomend it.

Danbury have launched a high quality new breathable T2 cover today with exterior vents, zip flaps for opening cab and side doors. It will also fit T2's fitted with front and rear spare wheels and side steps.... Normal price is £149 and special offer price for all club members ... Just PM me