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**Stefrobrts** · 02-12-2008, 03:48 PM

FreshAir, you are so lucky! What a disaster, I'm amazed your beautiful convertible didn't get damaged!

Ed, I'd be pretty happy to get 5 years out of a cover. I'll look to see if I can get a cover made locally for it. I think the quality canvas is a good idea. Did you have your custom made? About how much did it cost?

BIGED52 · 02-12-2008, 04:02 PM

Steph, It was made by a local canvas shop and the cost was (I think) reasonable at $130.00 as they placed all the eyelets and elastic tiedowns for the flaps by using my old top as the pattern. Time will tell if it lasts longer or not. I think what helped my vinyl last so long was I sprayed it each spring with vinyl siding cleaner (for house siding) that I bought at Lowes. Then after cleaning and drying I sprayed it with Scotchgard fabric spill-proofing canned spray. The metal pole building sheets would hold up much longer but were not cheap and I was leary of using all those screws to attach it to the frame members. I may eventually go that route but want to give the new cavas a try first. Ed

safari57 · 02-12-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Weeeell, since my Nov. post I had a 'minor' problem. I know... I was asking for it. January we had a couple of tremendous storms roll through northern Cal. VERY high winds followed by heavy rain and then snow. We had plenty of warning so I reinforced where I could even tying the canopy to my pickup. The canopy survived the first storm then the second a week later fooled me. The winds bent 2 of the supporting poles a little then a few inches of 'Sierra cement' crushed it onto the convertible. The snow turned into ice and I had to cut away the fabric. NO damage to the car! 2 small scatches that I rubbed out. Since I have reconstructed the canopy 18" lower so it is just over the car. Last week I swept 6" of snow from it. The 28" X 12' canopy over the Trade Wind shifted a little but is A-OK.

Wow - close call Neil. When I first saw the pictures I suspect my heart leaped almost as much as yours must have.

You are one lucky guy. I had two side by side last winter with the Airstream in one, the car hauler in another. A surprise dump of snow big time overnight that turned to rain and high winds did them both in. A bit of damage to the trailer but nothing that isn't "fashionable" on a 1951. I went to one which is bolted to the side of my shop and is 33L x 12H x 12W. It has worked very well. A commercial style that I bought used for $300

Barry

**Stefrobrts** · 10-10-2008, 12:23 AM

Well, the cover on our shelter finally gave up. Got a little wind storm the other day and ripped it clean off along one side.

We spent the last few days calling around to see if we could get another top made for it, but it seems nobody wants the work, the best estimate we've gotten was $400! I could buy two of these carports for that price! One guy gave us an estimate of $1500! I don't know what he was thinking - except that he wanted us to go away. Done.

So I guess I'll call the company and get another top for it. Two years is pretty good for not having done anything to it.

richinny · 10-18-2008, 05:31 AM

i wonder if someone could sew some 'vents' in the cover to help bleed off some of the wind pressure?

Jim Clark · 10-18-2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richinny

i wonder if someone could sew some 'vents' in the cover to help bleed off some of the wind pressure?

I just replaced my cover a few weeks ago $130.00 shipped to the door. The cover lasted 22 months. The good thing is that all the UV damaged was absorbed by the cover and not the trailer and it did afforded some hail protection. I do wish the life cycle of the covers was longer due to the effort to install the replacement. I think I will sew up a replacement made from Sunbrella which has a 5+ year life span. The vents are a good idea.

**Stefrobrts** · 01-22-2010, 07:51 PM

This week I had to order another cover for the Caravel's carport. Got a little over a year out of this last one - a bad windstorm ripped it loose and shredded it. The main failure point this time was the cheap elastic bungies that come with it - they deteriorate and break loose. Once it gets loose it starts tearing at the remaining points.

Once again, I looked for someone to make a nice canvas top for it, but the only place in town pretty much discouraged me from bothering them with the job. So for $100 I called Moto Shade and ordered another replacement top. The frame is still fine. I keep hoping one of these days we'll be able to afford to build a real addition onto the shop for it, but not this year