How Do I Choose the Best Cover for my Caravan?

What a great question to be asking!

The cover you choose will depend on a number of factors:

- do you plan to use your cover for an extended period of time?
- will your cover be placed in direct sunlight, or part / full shade?
- will your cover be subject to strong wind conditions?

Every vehicle is built differently and will be stored in different environments, so it's important to identify your needs ahead of making a decision on what cover to buy.

If your vehicle is lucky enough to be stored in a garage or carport when not in use, you may consider using a lighter grade of cover.

If your vehicle is out in the elements, in full sun, rain and wind, then a heavier duty cover is for you.

You might also want a certain Warranty length. At Caravan Cover Shop we offer brands with Warranties from 1YR to 3YR.

But most importantly, you need the correct SIZE.

If in doubt, just get in touch.

How Do I Choose the Best Caravan Cover Size?

Another important question!

Size selection is the most important aspect when choosing a cover. Your cover needs to fit securely to prevent it flapping about in windy conditions, as any unnecessary movement is likely to cause unwanted or premature wear and tear over time.

Choosing the right size can be challenging and might take some time and research to ensure you purchase a cover that fits securely.

Not all vehicles are created equal; they come in varying lengths, widths, and heights, and some covers might need to go over accessories like storage boxes, gas bottles, spare wheels, or bike racks if there is no available gap for the cover to slide between so it is only covering the body paneling.

Aside from this, different manufacturers advertise their dimensions in different ways, i.e.

- external body length excluding drawbar (recommended);
- external body length including drawbar;
- internal body length;
- a mix of metric and imperial measurements is also seen.

FRUSTRATING and CONFUSING!

So...because there is no standard way in which caravan specifications are advertised, we need to know your external metric body length measurement excluding drawbar so we can recommend the best possible cover size. This information is rarely found online or in an Owner Manual, so we will need to ask you to take manual measurements.

Let's now look at how best to measure, and what to take into account.

How Do I Measure My Caravan?

(One of the more Important Questions!)

As we just mentioned in the previous section, a manual metric measurement is needed to ensure Caravan Cover Shop quotes you on the best possible size to meet your individual requirements.

Let's look at how to do this:

Step 1(a) - Measuring the Length (no accessories)

Your cover should ideally lie flat against the main body paneling where possible. This helps reduce the amount of wind getting caught underneath the fabric, thereby reducing the chance of cover movement in windy conditions.

- Work from longest point to longest point along the bottom length;
- Allow an additional 150mm-200mm to ensure the cover is not too tight-fitting (this will also ensure you have an easier fitting experience).

Step 1(b) - Measuring the Length (with accessories)

If there are no gaps between your paneling and any accessories you have fitted (storage compartments, gas bottles, spare wheels, bike racks, etc.), or in situations where you would simply prefer to cover your accessory areas, then you need to take these accessories into account when measuring.

- Follow Step 1(a) above and measure the overall length of the main body length, but this time you should INCLUDE your accessory areas.

IMPORTANT: When covering anything sharp or protruding (corners or edges of a storage box, jerry can holder, rubber of a spare wheel, etc.), it is worth placing additional soft padding between the cover and these areas to guard against rubbing or abrasion caused by movement in wind.

'Pool noodles' are ideal for this purpose; they are inexpensive, readily available, and can be easily cut to size and taped over any areas you feel are at risk.

Step 2 - Measuring Width

Your metric width measurement need only be taken by measuring across the rear panel between the side panels (the awning dimension can be excluded).

Step 3 - Measuring Height

Take a metric measurement of the side wall height only, between the vehicle base and the roof-line. Please ignore ground clearance and also ignore anything above the roof-line (i.e., A/C unit, solar panels, etc.).

If in any doubt, please get in touch to discuss.

How Do I Fit My Caravan Cover?

The Final Question...

Generally, most Caravan, Hybrid, Pop Top, Camper Trailer, and Motorhome covers are fitted in much the same way.

Caravan Cover Shop does supply a number of different brands, however, and there are some minor differences in the way these are fitted and secured.

Even though the cover should come with fitting instructions enclosed in the packaging, as a general rule of thumb the following should assist you with fitting your cover correctly. If in doubt at any time, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist over the phone.

Ideally, you will need two people to fit your caravan cover. A ladder will be needed in order to place the cover onto the caravan roof, so having two people is recommended for safety reasons.

N.B. your cover should not be fitted to a wet caravan.

- Remove the cover from the storage bag (where applicable) and then unfold/unroll and locate the front panel. This is generally found by identifying a special tag or perhaps a logo. Orient the cover with this front panel pointed to the front of your caravan.
- When the cover is fully unrolled/unfolded/stretched out, find and unzip all available zips (there may be 3 or possibly 4, depending on the cover brand).
- Fold the sides of the cover into the centre, and then repeat again so the cover is a long, thin stretch.
- Working from the front of the cover towards the rear, roll the cover as tightly as you would roll a sleeping bag.
- Using a ladder is now necessary, as the rolled cover needs to be placed on your caravan's roof in the centre at the rear. (Safety first! Be sure there are two people available for this step with one holding the ladder steady.)
- Once this is in place, use a broom handle or some other means of unrolling the cover out along the roof panel. You may need to move the ladder multiple times up and down the side of the caravan to access the cover and continue unrolling.
- Once the cover is fully unrolled along the roof panel and down the front panel, pull the sides down and close the side zippers.
- Pass all available side securing straps underneath the caravan from passenger's side to driver's side and connect these into the available buckles. Pull to cinch and tighten the straps (but be careful NOT to over-tighten!).
- If your cover has front and/or rear securing straps, connect these also. Depending on the cover brand, these are generally connected in the centre of the front and/or rear panels, however some cover brands (e.g., 'Aussie Covers') offer an alternate method of connecting these low down at the sides at the front or rear. This alternative method of connecting the front/rear securing straps may assist if you are covering additional mounted accessories (storage boxes, spare wheels, etc.).

CONGRATULATIONS! You have now fitted your caravan cover!

Special Note for 'Aussie Covers' customers when fitting the cover over accessories (storage boxes, spare wheels, etc.)

For customers who have purchased an Aussie Cover (for caravan, pop top, or hybrid caravan), please note in situations where you would either prefer to cover a front-mounted storage box, or if there is no option but to do so (i.e., there is no available gap for a cover to slide between), rather than connecting the male and female side-release buckles across the front in the middle, try pulling these down and back against the sides and connecting them to the short side-release buckle straps (you can find these shorter straps stitched to the cover hem). Doing this may provide a better overall fit in this area. Be careful not to over-tighten.

But what if there's only ONE person available to fit the cover?

No worries, we have a special YouTube instructional video available which outlines the same above method, however with another step. This slightly different method means the cover can be fitted by a single person.

This method DOES require you to use a ladder in the same way as outlined in the above instructions, so if at any point you do not feel safe doing this on your own, please do not attempt this.

Click HERE to view the video.

As always, if there are any questions at any time, please feel free to contact us using any of the available methods, i.e., phone 1300 044965, email info@caravancovershop.com.au, or use our handy Contact Us form.