How to put a full-size caravan cover on

Knowing how to put a full-size caravan cover properly will give you the peace of mind of knowing that your tourer is safe from harmful UV rays, which could otherwise damage your van’s paintwork.

As well as this, the best caravan cover will protect your tourer from harmful airborne contaminants, such as tree sap and bird droppings, subsequently making the process of cleaning a caravan much easier down the line.

As if that wasn’t enough, it can also help to improve the security of your van. As a result, it’s easy to see why caravan covers are a good idea.

The best time to fit a caravan cover will be on a dry day, and in the ideal world, there will be two of you doing it too. This is because a full-sized cover is heavy and awkward to get into position. Try to ensure there is no muck or moisture on your tourer and the inner surface of the cover before you start putting it on.

Fit the hitch cover securely, first, if you have one. Then, get the cover out from its storage bag and place it, exterior side down, in front of your caravan. Be sure to have it with the front end of the cover set next to your caravan’s A-frame.

We’d advise getting a couple of extendable poles to help – it will make the process much simpler. These can be bought for around £12 each from a variety of online retailers, DIY shops and even the cover manufacturers themselves.

Fitting the pole into the cover's corner pockets — The pole fits into the cover’s corner pockets

Now, extend the pole so that you can reach and lift the cover over the roof’s highest point with it.

At this point, it will be time to slot the ends of the two poles into the small ‘corner pockets’ that can be found on both sides, at the end of the cover that is the furthest from the tourer.

Together, you should both lift the cover above head height, and then walk to the rear of the tourer, taking care to avoid any solar panels, satellite dishes or similar that could be on your van’s roof. Then, after covering the roof, take care as you pull the cover down, adjusting the fabric as you do so.

Now, check the hook-and-loop door panel is fully sealed, and where relevant, fix the front of the cover to the A-frame.

For the final stage, you will need to fit the adjustable straps around the corner steadies, feeding the side straps beneath the tourer to the clips on the opposite side. Make sure you tighten every strap, taking care to avoid stretching or stressing the cover fabric.

Find out more about the process of ordering a bespoke caravan cover if you’re looking for a custom-made option for your tourer.

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John Sootheran

John is a regular contributor to Practical Caravan and other magazines and websites. Originally trained as a photographer, he started his journalism career on Practical Photography magazine, moving onto automotive titles, The Economist, Caravan magazine and aviation media. “All these markets are fascinating, but only one gives you great holidays!” he says. John has won several Caravan Writers’ Guild Awards, and produced a TV pilot about caravanning adventures in Cornwall. His favourite caravanning holiday destinations are in France: “I love Normandy, especially the vibe around D-Day commemorations, Le Mans and the area around Biscarrosse on the west coast – we’ve had some amazing caravanning and motorhoming holidays in those areas.” And the very best thing about caravan holidays? “The sense of adventure – definitely”.