Covering your Airstream

[wazzup]

I have recently stripped and polished my 77 Land yacht with Nuvite products and thanks to all at this Forum for the information as to how to proceed with this very tedious task. There appears to be an issue with covering the AS for storage during various times of the year with with a RV cover. I have not and do not intend to seal the unit with a coating as it seams user friendly to use the products to keep up on maintenance for the mirror finish. This will be my first year after polishing and I do not know the outcome of the AS being in the elements during winter or summer. Has anyone any ideas as to what should be done? Where can a cover for the Airstream be purchased. I have read many threads and searched the internet for a cover and no manufacturer shows the AS under cover

Newbee and Thanks to All for the site

[ROBERT CROSS]

Welcome aboard, glad you could make it.
IMHO
I think most will agree, use a good wax or paint sealer and leave un- covered. You will not be able to keep moisture from getting under the cover and it could do more damage than good.

[rickandsandi]

Wazzup- Covering a newer AS with clear coat is a big no, no. As for a polished rig I would say the same. There is a reason you can't find an AS cover. All the chaffing of wind and what have you will scuff your skin. You can always purchase on of those portable garages if you'd like. I leave both of ours out all the time and just keep them cleaned and polished.

[Lumatic]

Ditto. A cover will do more harm than good.

[Aage]

I'm all for the "portable garage" idea, keep it cleaner, and eliminate potential sun damage to curtains, etc.

But not in a residential neighbourhood, right? They look like crap when used as a permanent structure.

[SilverToy]

Aage -

Well, there you go.... that must be why none of the neighbors talk to me anymore..... OOh well. Gotta do what you gotta do to protect what is important to you - Aluminum RULES!

BTW - I am kidding. I don't have a perma-garage over the AS. I DO however, have an AS in the driveway in a residential neighborhood. All but 1 neighbor really like the SilverToy. Several think that it adds a neat element of character to the area.... Me too!

Thanks for the chuckle.

Axel
SilverToy

[safari57]

I have a permanent industrial lean-to that I put the Airstream under for safe keeping. It is a very heavy duty unit that would typically be installed at a commercial shop, that is attached to the shop out back. No one sees it, it works great, and there is very good air circulation. I call it my Air-hanger.

I would not put a cover directly on it. I left mine out until I acquired my set up. The weather did not hurt it. My Silver Streak I had first I covered and it looked like crap in the spring with rub marks that were a bugger to polish out.

Barry

[jnerges]

I have the same issue. We let our AS hang out under the tree last winter and spring and scrubbing her clean took days. I move the shed from one part of the yard to the other so I could build a carport(RV port). The problem I am having is finding one that does not look industrial and doesnt cost more than the AS.

Any suggestions or pictures would be greatly appreciated.

John

[87MH]

Originally Posted by jnerges

Any suggestions or pictures would be greatly appreciated.

3 Grand all up for a 16' (12' between uprights) X 56' long X 16' high (14' clear) Airstreamport - 2K for materials, 1K for labor. 20' 6" X 6" WF I-Beam for uprights, salvaged open link beams from an old grocery store being demolished for rafters, purchased "seconds" (scratch and dents, leftovers, drops, imports) for the purlins and roofing panels. Hand dug 3' X 3' X 3' holes to cement the uprights into, rented a mixer to actually pour the cement for the uprights. Used a cheapie MIG welder to tack everything in place, then either stick welded or bolted everything together.





Don't know if I could bring it in for under 3 Grand today or not, but I have certainly recouped my investment by keeping the projects out of the rain while I work on them.

[centennialman]

Mine is under a portable garage that I have planted around and made to look very neat. The neighbors are fine with it and it protects the Airstream from sun bleaching, keeps the curtains nice etc.....and when it hails I just crack open a beer and watch as it bounces off the portable garage.

[wazzup]

This looks very nice for your set up. Thanks for the additional ideas

[wazzup]

Thanks for the info and nice polish job

[Cauuck]

I will be storing my As from Mid Oct to Mid march 2010 and was wondering about putting a plastic tarp over it. Its a 98 . Any pros or cons to this?


Paul

[barbara4rb]

The previous owner of my *new* Airstream covered his trailer with a tarp last winter because he was worried about hail and later snow damage. The tarp left marks all over the top on both sides. He sold it due to health issues, so the Airstream came with these marks. Hey, I'll be learning how to polish it.

I'm also trying to figure out an RV carport for it. This picture doesn't show the marks very well. I should take another one straight on from the side. Will try and get that and post it here.

[craftsman]

Covercraft makes excellent custom covers. They cover cars with paint jobs that cost as much as Airstreams. Most everyone on this forums says you can't cover an Airstream without causing damage to the clearcoat but I disagree and and so do people at the factory but they won't officially say that do to liability issues. A tarp would cause damage.

[happygrrly]

Originally Posted by barbara4rb

The previous owner of my *new* Airstream covered his trailer with a tarp last winter because he was worried about hail and later snow damage. The tarp left marks all over the top on both sides. He sold it due to health issues, so the Airstream came with these marks. Hey, I'll be learning how to polish it.

I'm also trying to figure out an RV carport for it. This picture doesn't show the marks very well. I should take another one straight on from the side. Will try and get that and post it here.

Hi Barbara,

Would love to see a close up picture of those tarp marks. I've just covered my recently acquired 1972 AS with one (only the very top portion of the roof, from the "rail" where the awning would normally attach to about the same height on the other side) in an attempt to cover any potential leaks while I live in it for the winter. Unfortunately, I didn't know that the tarp could do damage to the skin!

It may be just as well, as I probably won't be able to polish it anytime soon anyway due to the time and expense involved, but it would be good to be aware of the consequences; maybe I'll decide to remove the tarp after all and take my chances with possible leaks...

Thanks!
Barb

[frlcad5]

At our previous home I had no way of protecting our Airstream from the elements or the birds making their berry rich deposits. When we built our retirement home I had a requirement that I have a large building for the Airstream, my antique car and other equipment that usually went in the garage leaving our truck and car outside. I built a 30 X 36 metal pole building that is large enough to park a 34 footer if I go there. It is gray like the house and not obtrusive. Now all that stufffff is where it belongs. I no longer worry about hail damage at home and no longer have to brush the snow off my car in the winter.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by craftsman

Covercraft makes excellent custom covers. They cover cars with paint jobs that cost as much as Airstreams. Most everyone on this forums says you can't cover an Airstream without causing damage to the clearcoat but I disagree and and so do people at the factory but they won't officially say that do to liability issues. A tarp would cause damage.

Most car guy's I know wouldn't store there P&J outdoors in the elements covered or not, thats the difference.

The exception would be leaks, water damage can be a much bigger problem than some marks on the skin.

[Mikethefixit]

First I would check with the powers that be, and look at the local zoning laws. Then I would take a look at Northern Tool and Equipment. They have an online catalog. Look under Shelter Logic. If I recall correctly there are 219 items. All sizes of Portable Shelters if you are not able or do not have room for a permanent building. We have a 30 x 40 Airstream hanger. Its not big enough fer all my stuff. You never have enough room and if ya do, ya just go out and get more stuff,LOL TOO answer your question,No I do think its a good idea,a tarp will leave marks that you will have to polish out AGAIN .
GOOD LUCK with your search
Roger

[craftsman]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Most car guy's I know wouldn't store there P&J outdoors in the elements covered or not, thats the difference.

The exception would be leaks, water damage can be a much bigger problem than some marks on the skin.

True enough.