Winter covers

[mjb666]

I'am sorry for appearing to ask a daft question but why do some people want to put a cover over their Demountable?

I thought that part of their appeal was the all season type of use & therefore could withstand all the elements thrown at them.

Although my unit is very old, it appears to be very well constructed, no signs of water ingress. In the four years of my ownership all i have done is strip off & re new the sealant around the rim on the roof where a small amount of rain water sits. I always park it leaning forwards so 99% of the standing water runs off.

Once a year in the spring i just climb on the roof & wash/scrub the staining from over winter off with car wash bubbles & hose off.

[rubberrat]

I guess that for those of us who have had motorhomes, its an irrational fear of leaking seams.
Followed by wood frame rot and a big bill. The seams are only as good as the mastic, which after years if expansion, contraction and hardening can fail.

So for me, the options are building a tall carport or buying a Tischer with a grp moulded roof.

[mjb666]

Thanks for that Rubberrat. Are able to explain to me in simple terms what a GRP moulded roof is as opposed to the mastic sealed type and does that mean that hardwall Tischer's are 100% waterproof?

I have noticed that a lot of people rate Tischer, is this the main reason i wonder?

[zildjian]

I think when you look at the standard of fit alone its difficult to rate much else against them really.

Probably the fact they've been making them for decades and got it of pat now, I mean even the older ones are still around,
although not of the same roof construction as these days (indeed having a pop-up roof with moving parts) which was probably an oversight looking back

[Sheriff]

Has anyone considered using one of these tent garages?
http://www.dancovershop.com/uk/products ... tAodtFIAfw

[zildjian]

There was in fact a chap selling a Tischer on a caddy some months back and I found some pictures in a link where he had one of these in his back garden and very good it looked too!

they don't seem such a bad price really do they

[rubberrat]

Thanks for that Rubberrat. Are able to explain to me in simple terms what a GRP moulded roof is as opposed to the mastic sealed type and does that mean that hardwall Tischer's are 100% waterproof?

I have noticed that a lot of people rate Tischer, is this the main reason i wonder?

So... a GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) roof is a single moulding, rather like an upturned boat, and thus is just as water proof.
Despite impending ridicule from certain other members - I'll include a picture of a camper we owned some years ago, a Romahome Duo which has monocoque construction and can never leak.
Even if there was some ingress from a rooflight for instance, there is no wooden frame to rot and any damage is easily and cheaply repaired.

See Mikes Oh No What Has Happened thread to see just what a pain serious water ingress can be.



Tischers newer models have a similar roof construction, although not a monocoque body, but the seam is lower down the side away from standing water. Tischers build quality is probably the best available in Europe, followed by the various SKarosser models.

Like this...



Some demountable are built like a caravan where the side walls are bonded to the roof with
an edge seam, this is the one that is susceptible to leaks/water ingress.

We also owned a big American RV (GBM CruiseMaster) that had a rubberised roof bonded to the GRP sidewalls. That worked well, but I was always concerned about it losing its bond.

[zildjian]

[rubberrat]

Just to prove there has never been any logical progression in our camper buying - Smallest - Biggest (Neither were right, but one was far better made than the other)

Oh.. one did 50mpg, one did 6mpg - guess which was which..

[mjb666]

Thanks for the explanation, it all makes sense now, i think.

Is the Tischer way of building unique to them or do other builders follow this way. The Northstars imported from the States by Niche RV for example? For the price they are new, i would not expect them to ever leak or am i just being naive.