VW Camper Van Covers - Are they waterproof? What you need to know

Welcome to our frequently asked questions, read on to find out everything you need to know about our boat, vehicle, scooter, motorbike, parasol, and VW Camper Van Covers

Q. Help! I'm not sure what I need, can I talk to you?

A. Of course. We are real people waiting to answer your call Monday to Friday 9.30 till 4.30. Call us now on 01543 473344

Lilly the VW High Top all clean and ready for her winter cover

Q. Are your covers waterproof?

A. No, a fully waterproof cover won’t allow moisture trapped underneath to escape; water gets under the cover due to condensation.

Occasionally we get the odd call where the customer has lifted the cover to find moisture underneath. The assumption is that the moisture has passed through the cover when in fact more often than not its condensation, due to atmospheric conditions like temperatures fluctuating suddenly or during prolonged wet spells.

Covers can’t really be truly waterproof; a 'fully waterproof' cover will trap condensation underneath, keeping it on your vehicle.

Q. Why do I need a “breathable” cover?

A. Breathable fabric allows condensation and moisture to evaporate through the fabric. From time to time condensation will inevitably form on your vehicles bodywork. Breathable fabric will allow this to escape.

The most efficient way to get rid of this moisture and to prevent mildewing of both the cover and vehicle is breathable fabric which is designed to allow trapped moisture to evaporate allowing your vehicle and its cover to dry.

Q. Can I use a cover in windy conditions?

A. We don’t recommend the use of a cover in windy conditions. A cover flapping against the bodywork over time can lead to abrasion damage.

From time to time gales will strike. They will uproot trees, damage buildings, overturn trucks and disconnect entire communities from the electricity grid. Most people understand that their cover will likely be damaged under stormy conditions, but for those who choose to test their covers against the fury of nature. You are doing this at your own risk. Your warranty does not cover storm damage.

Q. Will the covers cause damage to the bodywork?

A. The covers we supply are very water-resistant but more importantly, breathable. This allows condensation to escape. All our covers protect against bird droppings, tree sap, snow, ice, rain, knocks and scrapes. They will give protection from ultraviolet light, which over time damages paintwork and trim. In addition our covers have a special outer surface coating. This will protect the cover from UV damage and prolong its useful life

Some of our camper van covers even come with a fluffy fleece lining for extra soft protection.

It is best if your vehicle is clean when you cover it, so there is no surface dirt to act as an abrasive.

Q. Are your covers a good fit?

A. Our covers are designed to work with regular vehicle, boat, and VW Camper Cover profiles. They have elasticated hems, and fixing straps to ensure a snug fit and to minimise movement.

To ensure you get the best possible fit make sure you measure bumper to bumper, and then from your sill to the highest point on your vehicle. For boats, you just need to measure the length and beam (width). Your boat cover will allow for a centre console up to about 2.5 feet (76cm) above the deck/side level

Q. Why is the material so thin?

A. Our covers are made with strong, lightweight fabric that is designed to be light and easy to pack away. It is ideal for the job of covering all sorts of items and in fact makes putting your cover on much easier

Q. How do I look after my cover?

A. If any parts of your vehicle protrude, for instance an aerial, pop a box over it. (Ice cream tubs are popular for this).

Make sure you cover is securely strapped on. Don't over tighten the straps, use them to minimise any movement between the cover and the surface of your vehicle

If you have any other questions please do get in touch. Click here for tips on choosing the perfect VW Camper Cover

Choosing the perfect Camper Van Cover

Choosing the perfect VW Camper Van cover

So you have your VW camper van and it’s your pride and joy right? Whether you've got a modern day high top, a classic split screen, or any other kind of bus you care to mention if you keep it outside it will need a VW Camper Van Cover. We spend time, money (often far more money than we intended), and our well earned holidays and high days on them so it’s only natural to want to look after it as best we can when we aren’t using them

The fastest and most effective way has to be getting your van a great VW Camper Cover for those colder, harsher months when it’s sat around waiting for the next adventure. A cover can not only keep your van in great condition but it also hides it from prying eyes.

If your van is parked on a road it can be a deterrent to thieves (after all they just want to get in as fast as possible) and prevents stones chips hitting your van

Look for a waterproof and breathable cover. Waterproof will obviously keep your van dry but breathable will also help condensation evaporate and prevent moisture from building up under your cover. If you can occasionally remove your cover to let some air into the van then better still

Straps! Yep, make sure you have straps and enough straps for the size of your van at that. The better your cover is secured the less likely it is to blow about, the less moving about the cover does the less rubbing on the paint work. It will also make it harder for the wind to whip it off in a gale

A good quality cover will also come with internal zip protectors so that the metal zip won’t be able to touch the paint work. A zip cover that you do up over the fastened zip will also make it harder for the zip to undo itself if it moves in the wind

The very best quality VW camper covers come lined with a soft protective fleece which will really look after your paint work, these are for the very spoilt vans!

Think about getting a cover you can leave on whilst still allowing access to open the front and side doors, often you can simply unzip the flap and Velcro it up out of the way. This allows you to pop in and out, and load and unload whilst keeping it covered, especially helpful if you don’t want everything being loaded on show

Once you have got your perfect VW Camper Cover make sure you take care fitting it over your wing mirrors, aerial, and the exhaust tail pipe. The last thing you want to do is go and rip it!

Here's a top tip to go with my splashy photo. Try to avoid parking your van in the dark. I have had to get up from deep sleep to move my van twice. Once it turned out we were being battered by waves not yobs(!) and the second time heavy rains had caused flash floods that created a waterfall down the rock face we were next to. Oh and that reminds me of my husband moving the van in Wales during storms in a forest to find a fallen pine tree in the morning where he'd been sleeping hours before!
All part of the fun of course :) Laura

For frequently asked questions about all our covers click here