Best Truck Camper Cover for Use in the Southern California Sun and Tips to Help it Last

Updated 07/07/2010 | Published 07/04/2010

Products Featured in This Question

Classic Accessories PolyPro III Deluxe RV Cover for Truck Campers up to 10' Long - Gray

(583)

$344.27

Classic Accessories PolyPro III Deluxe RV Cover for Truck Campers up to 12' Long - Gray

(583)

$359.79

Question:

Living in SoCal, we cover and store our camper out of doors mainly for three seasons, fall, winter, and spring. Our camper is 10 jack to jack with a double bed above the cab. The last two times we purchased the classic 052963700336 and have been greatly disappointed each time with the life time expectancy, totally rotting out on top and at the rear corners each time in the second year of use. Since we do not have snow, ice etc. but lots of sun plus rain in the winter I have two questions. First what is the best cover for our conditions and second which cover will give us the best life time expectancy short of buying a custom cover? Needing a new cover again after second year of use Im reluctant to buy Classic again from our past experience. Will you please give us some suggestions?

asked by: Norm V

Expert Reply:

In my experience covers last approximately 3 years here in Missouri. We have a tractor that we keep covered year around, except when in use, and the best covers we have used provide good ventilation and breath-ability so the cover dries quickly when it gets wet. The sun is the biggest factor that causes the cover to deteriorate, and in SoCal I am sure you have a lot of sun.

I would think that the Classic Accessories Deluxe PolyPro III Heavy-Duty Truck Bed Camper Cover, item # CA80036, 8 to 10 foot long or # CA80037 , 10 to 12 foot long, with its PolyPro III fabric that is triple ply construction will last longer than the single ply Polypropylene camp covers.

That being said if care is taken to allow the cover to breath and dry out quickly and the corners are not stretched too tightly around the camper you should be able to get at least 3 years out of this cover, but that is my opinion. Your particular storage location and circumstances such as high winds, large amounts of wet weather and lack of shade will all be factors in how long the cover will perform satisfactorily. You are definitely better off covering the camper, and a couple of tricks may help a cover last a bit longer.

Try using a closed cell foam, something that will not hold water, and putting it in areas that the cover seems to rot or tear the soonest. Build these areas up so water does not set on the cover and so there is cushioning at areas where the cover is stretched tight. This helps us get extra life out of our tractor covers.

expert reply by: Robert G