Ours is held on with a zipper as well as Velcro all the way around to keep the crap of the zipper.
Matt
Zipper and Velcrox2, all the way around.
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Zipper and Velcro
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x3 with some a few press studs where it meets the extender staircase.
Zipper and VelcroSame here. I could imagine how much of a pain the press studs would be though :cheers:
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Zipper and Velcro flap. Has 3 straps on each side to take up the slack
Zipper and Velcro flap. Has 3 straps on each side to take up the slack
Shock cord, Velcro and clip things I don't know the name of.
Edit - found the name Stayput fastener
(http://www.stayputfasteners.com.au/data/images/hsmt.jpg)
Ours is zipper and Velcro but the Velcro is only at the front and back I think then down each side there are 3 webbing straps to do up to pull the sides down a bit. We haven't had any problems with this type of cover except sometimes packing to much under it or not packing it the same way as last time it can be harder to do up.
I also put these loops on the zip tabs. Makes it much easier and quicker to do. Don't even need to pull Velcro apart when unzipping as the loop does that at the same time.
What's with those campers that have the tension straps down each side of the cover?
Does it flap around without them?
My camper doesn't have them and if anything the cover sucks down when travelling.
Good idea. I'm pinching that one ;DI've started to put them on all the zips in the tent, there are heaps! ( 8 per door including mesh)
:cheers:
What's with those campers that have the tension straps down each side of the cover?It allows you to expand the cover if required to store more stuff in there, and if you don't need to carry so much, then you shorten the straps to shorten the cover. Same way a tarp works on a truck.
Like many, ours is Velcro front and back, zipper all around and three straps with 2 d-rings on each side. When we got it the zipper wasn't working and the Velcro and straps had been used successfully by them for a while, and us too for a few trips.
I've since fixed the zip and now need to silicon spray it to make it easier to zip/unzip. The tie down straps are getting a bit long in the tooth too so will be replaced soon which will make them easier to use, new strapping has much less friction
For the people who have webbing straps over the cover, are they 25mm or 50mm?
I put some on mine today, replacing the existing D-ring straps. 50mm straps, 3 of them. Worked out really well, they are heaps easier to use and will make unpacking/packing up a lot quicker. I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow.
:cheers:
It allows you to expand the cover if required to store more stuff in there, and if you don't need to carry so much, then you shorten the straps to shorten the cover. Same way a tarp works on a truck.
Yours is the same cover as ours so would be interested to see pics. Our D-ring straps are not too bad one we had to fix ages ago but I still find that the top billows and the straps are a pain really at the end of pack up going around doing them up lol
Yeah Nay, that was the main reason I changed them. They really were a PITA to undo/do up (that's why it was SEMBO's job ;D ). I actually cut off the webbing straps that go over the tent when folded up and attached them to the underside of the bed base. Much better set up I reckon. I took it for a drive and no billowing at all!
:cheers:
Interesting did you find that you had plenty of length to do them up we put a fair bit under there and find even under the cover often those straps were tight. We usually do a side each of the D-ring ones haha
As promised, here are some pics of the webbing straps.
First, the original setup. Double D-rings, 3 down each side, fiddly to use and didn't really do much in terms of tensioning the cover.(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00896.jpg)(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00897.jpg)
I replaced them with the webbing straps and push type buckles that were going over the tent section:(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00902.jpg)(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00900.jpg)
Much quicker to use now ;D There is still at least a foot of strapping on each one after tightening them fully, so heaps of room to store more stuff under the cover if needs be. This setup also eliminates the billowing of the cover when on the road, hopefully reducing a bit of drag.
:cheers:
Matt
Yeah Nay, that was the main reason I changed them. They really were a PITA to undo/do up (that's why it was SEMBO's job ;D ). I actually cut off the webbing straps that go over the tent when folded up and attached them to the underside of the bed base. Much better set up I reckon. I took it for a drive and no billowing at all!
:cheers:
looks the goods... :)
can i ask where you got your strapping and clips from?
As promised, here are some pics of the webbing straps.
First, the original setup. Double D-rings, 3 down each side, fiddly to use and didn't really do much in terms of tensioning the cover.(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00896.jpg)(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00897.jpg)
I replaced them with the webbing straps and push type buckles that were going over the tent section:(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00902.jpg)(http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee511/brickiematt/Camper%20Trailer/DSC00900.jpg)
Much quicker to use now ;D There is still at least a foot of strapping on each one after tightening them fully, so heaps of room to store more stuff under the cover if needs be. This setup also eliminates the billowing of the cover when on the road, hopefully reducing a bit of drag.
:cheers:
Matt
Paceman, the strapping and clips were already on my trailer. They originally went over the tent when folded up, to hold it all in place.
I just cut them off close to the tent, and moved them to the outside of the cover.
Our tent base sits on an alloy frame, so I used large self drilling screws and washers to attach the straps to the frame. 2 at the end of each strap and they aren't going anywhere.
We can still fit everything we used to under the cover, and the straps hold it all in place and reduces billowing of the cover.
Hope this helps.
:cheers:
Thanks for posting the pics looks good. How much do you guys put under your cover? You have the 12 foot tent I think we only have the 9 but have a bit under there and it is never neat when packed up I think that is partly to do with the drifta bed head and table on the bed.
Yeah we do have the 12' tent Nay. Never seems to fold up the same way twice either! Under the cover we have our camp chairs (x4), 2 girls stretchers, solar panel, annexe matting, shadecloth for under the tent, sometimes the annexe walls and poles and whatever small stuff we can fit under there!!!!
The straps are long enough to go over that lot plus a bit more I reckon
:cheers:
Thanks for the info the 9ft tent never folds up the same either. I think that it has been harder to get it packed low since we got the drifta stuff in there. Under ours we have our 2 chairs (fold flat type) the ladder (step one not what came with it) the side awning walls and 2 sets of those square mats that we put under the tent floor (I often think shade cloth might be a better option but we already had the mats). Our solar panel is inside the trailer and we have 3 pole holders now so they are all in there except the inside tent ones we leave them along the side of the bed so they are ready at set up. It does sound like you get a lot underneath the cover. We do have room under the middle just some times it is harder to get the corners on I think the bedhead thing makes that worse maybe.
we are in a similar boat with the tiedowns and the d-rings. what strapping are you looking at using?Just using the same again from the local camping outlet. $1.20 per metre. Sitting in front of the box tonight with a needle and thread. Not concentrating though, half stitched a ring onto both ends of one :-[
Gidday Folks
The travelling cover on mine seems to be pretty heavy PVC covered material and has a sail track at the front, then shock cord running around the sides and rear. The shock cord loops under cleats attached to the base board.
Given the various prices for a new one of these being between $400 to $1,300, it seems that one should take good care of them! Just like the floor of any tent, whether camping trailer or normal.
The book of words for my CT states that while the materials of the travelling cover and the tent itself are UV resistant (etc), it also states that they are not designed or meant to be exposed to the elements or UV on a 24/7 basis ...
ATM, my CT lives outside, so the travelling cover is exposed to the elements and UV 24/7 ... :(.
There are other hazards to be considered - damage while towing from ballooning or flapping; damage from objects thrown up while towing, or otherwise falling onto the tent at speed to name but several.
To this end, I thought about various cheap solutions to all these scenarios. Seemed to me that a suitable solution is to protect the travelling cover while it is performing its primary function of keeping all the rest of the CT top protected from the elements and in one place. This might seem silly at first, but the more I thought about it, the better I liked it.
SCA sell some very cheap but robust PE ground sheets. When I say "cheap", I mean less than the $20 mark each ... :). I bought two of these with eyelets all around that are silvered on one side and black the other side. They appear to be coated with something. Not sure what. However, when I got them home and started to put in the rest of the eyelets (no ground sheet ever has enough of these installed when made, IMNSHO ... ), I discovered that the coating plus the PE sheet is made of sterner stuff than I thought! Three to five belts of the punch to get a hole through for each new eyelet ... Put in about 12 extra 1/2" eyelets. The sheets each come with 8 ... :(. These sheets are far tougher than the old PE tarps that I have. Probably of the order of 5-10 times tougher and cut/tear resistant.
This ground sheet covers the entire top and front of the travelling cover, and about half way down each side and the rear - i.e. it provides pretty full protection without being overly large and unwieldy. When removed, it will wrap around the travelling cover when in camp, hopefully protecting it from sticks, branches and stray sparks and such like.
I bought two of these, and a further one that has D rings at the corners, but no eyelets. I will put 1/2" eyelets in suitable positions on this sheet as well. It is to go on the ground under the ground floor room to protect the tent floor from damage.
A set of ratchet tie-down straps also came into my possession from Bunnings at a never to be repeated price ($2.50 ... The lass said "Grab it and run". I did ... ;) :) ). I intend to run two of these sideways and another two lengthwise when towing at high speed. I don't intend to sit on 80-90 kmh on the open road ... ;).
Sure, there is a set up and pack up time penalty arising from all this, but who needs to have their travelling cover damaged while on the road? I am very used to tying tarps down over odd shaped loads (read "time consuming"), so this is really pretty straightforward by comparison. The tarps I bought could have been made for my application, and at $13.88 each plus the cost of a dozen eyelets each, they sure beat stumping up $400 for a new travelling cover! The other one cost me a whole $18.88 ...
If your stone guard is the correct size and setup properly, the travel cover should not get damaged by flying debris. I definitely throw a tarp over the top if the camper is sitting outside at home to stop the stitching from crapping itself. Some may not mind it, but what a pain in the proverbial to have to throw another cover over a cover and strap it all down every time you setup/packup on a trip.
Gidday Grafy
Mate, I do not have, or want, a stone guard ...
Have you ever had a piece of stuff thrown up by a truck or another vehicle that's bounced off the roof of your car and then would have landed right in the middle of where your trailer would have been? I have. A stone guard won't help much in this situation ...
I have to take things pretty slowly anyway, so I don't think that anything is going to slow me down much further coming out of the blocks ... ;) :)
It's actually no big deal anyway. Took me around 2 minutes to pull the cover off the other day to put the new eyelets in, and probably about 4-5 to put it back on from scratch. Normally, it will not be fully detached like this in use, Just attached at the front, the same as the tonneau cover is when the tent is erected.
I don't want any parachute braking when I am sitting on 110 kmh (or so ... ;) ).
Mate, all I can say is, you must only drive on polished concrete roads then. Just ask the countless people on here alone that have had there rear windows smashed by rocks bouncing of the camper. Oh and I have never, not ever, had or even heard of anyone having something flying up from a truck, bouncing on their car roof and then bouncing down onto the trailer top. But I guess it must just be me, no one else uses a stone guard, do they. Must be a sneaky way for shade cloth manufacturers to make millions from unsuspecting idiots trying to protect the back of their cars.
Don't have a soft floor anymore but when we did my wife attached the travel cover >:D
Gold :cup: