Campertrailer tarp cover thingy..

[Bird]

Team.

Just wondering on other peoples thoughts on the best type of cover for the trailer.  On my camper the base of the tarp is riveted to the trailer, and closes with a zipper.

IMWO, its the WORST and most annoying idea on earth to have it zip up, and then a strip of velcro folds over that. Yes it keeps dust out, and probably dry, but its a PITA - maybe its just the material.

When its cool, not even really cold (Im from Melb now, so my cold and yours maybe different!), the cover is very very rigid, and is almost impossible to fit up, it just does not give at all. Specially gettin the corners over with the velcro on it - it starts stickin to itself before its anywhere near in place

During the day out in the sun, its soft as a T-shirt, and just falls into place.

Is the old elastic rope stuff that threads through eyelets and hook over some plastic hooks like a ute tarp the best or at least a better option?

Thanks
Bruce

[D4D]

My Tambo cover uses a shock cord and works well. I asked Keith (Tambo) on Saturday if they'd thought of using a zip/velcro like yours. His comment was it's easier to fix shock cord in the bush than a zip.

[Bird]

My Tambo cover uses a shock cord and works well. I asked Keith (Tambo) on Saturday if they'd thought of using a zip/velcro like yours. His comment was it's easier to fix shock cord in the bush than a zip.

have already had that nightmare on the "extending" section...

[Symon]

I have the shock cord arrangement, and I thought it worked rather well until I went on the Cape trip.  I had that much dust inside the camper it wasn't funny.  I noticed on the Trackabouts they use the zip and velcro arrangement, and yes, it took them longer to pack up but they didn't have to pull the bed out and shake off the dust at each stop either.

Tarps do stretch a little over time so it may become easier, or you could get a new cover made up that gives you a bit more to work with.

[BigJules]

My Outback uses press studs, surely that is the worst idea ever? It is only a question of time until they give way really, and without having a good closure all the way around dust gets into the tent, much like Symon's. Mine have two string ties per side to tension, and these are necessary to get the studs done up, especially at the back.

I have used the zippered kind, and whilst I can understand your frustration, still think it is the best setup.  I will definitely be replacing mine with a zip around apron when the time comes.

In saying that, I would like some wide webbing straps with quick clips fitted across the cover, maybe two each way, sideways and lengthways. I would use these to strap down the load (as I would get a generous cover to allow for more stuff to be carried on the bed when moving day by day) and also allow you to get the zips done up by removing some tension from the cover.

You could easily retro fit straps like these I reckon, and even one each way might suffice?

[seqfisho]

Hi Bruce,

Yes it can be a PITA, but the alternative is a quicker system that as Symon said lets in a ton of dust, which might be fine for a weekend away but try a dust ridden bed for a few weeks and you will soon begin to like the double seal of the Lifestyle cover.

My trick which seems to work ok is to zip up the cover with the velcro strip rolled up, then starting at the front pull the velcro down especially carefully at the corners as they are the hardest to get into place. I found that if I pull down on the corner first with the velcro folded up till the cover is far enough down then just sort of roll the velcro into place, it's a lot easier to do than describe, I might try and take a pic this arvie to show what I mean.

[Bird]

My trick which seems to work ok is to zip up the cover with the velcro strip rolled up, then starting at the front pull the velcro down especially carefully at the corners as they are the hardest to get into place. I found that if I pull down on the corner first with the velcro folded up till the cover is far enough down then just sort of roll the velcro into place, it's a lot easier to do than describe, I might try and take a pic this arvie to show what I mean.

Thats what I do, but rolling the corners down, I've nearly lost fingers. its a 100% true @)#($*#(*$)@#(*$)(@#*)$(*@#)$(*@#$..... My corners are tighter than tryin to ram a whale shark into a drinking straw. Honest, I'd go the dust happily at the moment.. specially in the rain, I'd drown before I got all 4 PROPERLY in place.

[JayD]

Maybe you could try slitting the corners with a razor blade, from the edge, through the velcro, to just above (below??) the zipper.  This way, you may lose a little dust proofness, but it would be much easier to close up.  If it works ok, you could have the cut edges over locked or seam sealed.

Dunno if it would work, but may be worth a try

[blackstump]

gday Lost,

I have the zipper with velcro, but velcro only at the front of the camper on both sides where the zip starts and finishes.

I have found that with all the extra stuff I chuck on top after folding up the tent, it is a real pain to zip shut. I also noticed that when the thing was zipped up I had a heap of slack on the sides but tight as buggery on each end, so I tend to load stuff more to the middle and edges rather than have it tight at each end. This seemed to help as I wasnt losing as much length in the cover, from having it tight at the front and back, if that makes sense..

[Patrol King]

Fold the corners up onto themselves and then zip up . After it is just a matter of folding down the corners onto the velcroe .

[Spender]

Patrol King - I am with you.  We do the folding up trick.

We actually got a bigger tonneau cover made so we could store bedding and annexe walls etc on top of the bed.  It packed perfectly at home but when we came to pack away after camping it was pretty tight and we had done a good packing job - a mystery.

The problem with the larger tonneau is that it flaps in the wind if you have not filled it up.  Therefore, I use a strap diagonally across the top of the cover to stop this flapping.  I am thinking of using two in the future or a cargo net just in case the tonneau cover gives up the ghost in the futures

[D4D]

I have the shock cord arrangement, and I thought it worked rather well until I went on the Cape trip.  I had that much dust inside the camper it wasn't funny. 

My shock cord setup doesn't let in any dust. However Tambo comes with 2 covers. The fixed shock cord cover for 90% of the time and a 2nd cover that goes under the fixed cover which secures with velcro.

[rossow]

Hey spender we found a little "trick" for ours is to make sure you push the bed away from the edge a bit (closer to the window.) And make sure that your blankets are not bunched up near where the poles fold down.

Cheers
Rossow

[Spender]

Hey spender we found a little "trick" for ours is to make sure you push the bed away from the edge a bit (closer to the window.) And make sure that your blankets are not bunched up near where the poles fold down.

Cheers
Rossow

Thanks Rossow - the wife reminded me we had four pillows and 4 sleeping bags - as well bunk beds under the matress - so that did not help.  We tried having the two big bags of componentry (as Theo calls it) under the tonneau - which worked on the way to the campsite but a no goer on the way back.

[Bird]

Yea, still learning the what to put where inside the trailer.
All the kids bedding/sleepin bags, and mine go on the bed, with pillows, to aid in quick setup.

Just what to put INSIDE the trailer.. but all in time. I found Jerry cans to fit!

But the cover appears to be the correct size, tighter than a nuns... just the corners - no matter how you fold them up, round/backwards/twist them prior to folding down. they are almost impossible once it cools down.

[Darcy7]

He Lost

I'm with you on this.  The corners are a PITA but I've noticed the more I use it the easier it becomes.  I've also noticed if I cut back my finger nails, it doesn't hurt as much...!

Darcy

[Bird]

I'm with you on this.  The corners are a PITA but I've noticed the more I use it the easier it becomes.

I might go out one day when its hot (seriously, this material is like plasticine when its hot) and just stand there for an hour or so folding each corner to try and stretch it.

Thanks people..
Still think the shock cord gig is a better option.

[gbdid]

Hi Lost, know exactly what you are talking about. There are two "buggers" with the CT, one is the AT35, getting it just right to come off is a pain, and the second is when fully loaded up getting the Tonneau zipped up.
We turn up the corners, gives something to grip when stretching it to get it to cover the corners,and the velcro does not come into contact with its partner.
Front corners go reasonably well and then to about halfway down each side, from there on its a struggle until we get to the back of the trailer and here my lightweight wife( 45 kg) comes in very useful as she climbs up and stands on top and presses the whole lot down so that I can get the zip done up.
I usually finish a trip with broken fingernails from pulling the cover into place to get the zip done up.
The other trick we have is to ensure the zip is clean of dust before trying to zip it up. We use a brush and also at times use ezeglide stuff.

[seqfisho]

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words so here is half a dozen to help explain things a bit better, plus I couldn't be bothered typing that much.

The start and finished product



Zip open



Closing Zip



Folding the Corners Down







It is much easier with 2 hands



I must admit that my wife does struggle a little bit with the fold down of the velcro but she is usually doing the zip up as I follow with the velcro.

[Bird]

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words so here is half a dozen to help explain things a bit better, plus I couldn't be bothered typing that much.

The start and finished product



Zip open



Closing Zip



Folding the Corners Down







It is much easier with 2 hands



I must admit that my wife does struggle a little bit with the fold down of the velcro but she is usually doing the zip up as I follow with the velcro.

My 2 velcro sections are much closer, you dont get to roll it down so much. as soon as it starts rolling, the outside bit starts touching the main part.
I'lll try and get some photos on weekend.

[gbdid]

I would not post photos of mine, much too dirty.
seqfisho, you have to get out more.

[seqfisho]

seqfisho, you have to get out more.

Dont you start, thats what I get from the cook all the time, if only work would say the same thing 

[toeball]

The material is definitely more supple in the sun, you shouldn't have opened it up again after you left Fraser Is

I find with mine its easier to do up if I take a bit more care with packing up, folding and stuffing the canvas towards the middle, leaving less material on the edges.

[Bird]

Well my second cover has faded MASSIVELY.. Extremely disappointing...

[Ricey]

I am in the process of making a new cover for mine.
The old one was press studs and shock cord and it would let dust in even on normal dirt roads.
The new 1 will be zipped and shock cord.