T@G Covers: AllPro Adventures vs Classic Accessories vs Any Others?

The_Rigger

So I made the spring pilgrimage to the storage lot to wake Wanderlust up and drag her home today, to begin the preparations for this year's camp-outs...  And I was mildly disgusted to find several rips in the Classic Accesories camper cover I'd bought in mid-2023 (model #80-298-163101-RT, as recommended in these forums). Granted it's two years old, but CA puts a three-year warranty on them, although trying to get a camper cover serviced under warranty just makes my imagination hurt.

So I went looking for other alternatives, letting my fingers do the walking through the Google Pages. The folks at AllPro in Ohio, who make those fabulous T@G and T@B awnings, also make a T@G cover, although it's considerably more pricey than the Classic version - ~$500 to fit my T@G XL 6-wide, as opposed to the $160-or-so for another Classic cover. But I imagine the AA cover is considerably more robust than the CA model... Or is it?

Anyone have any experience with the AllPro cover? It might be a case of "buy-once,-cry-once" with a five-hundered dollar cover that lasts forever, rather than shucking out a hundred and sixty bucks every couple of years... Or are there other covers that I may have missed?

(and NO, I am NOT inclined to just buy a big ol' WalMart plastic tarp. No point in covering an expensive teardrop with a mildew generator.)

JamesDow

Original Post - November 2022

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I originally ended up buying the PeraPRO cover from Classic Accessories. (8'-10' Long X 5' Wide) (80-398-151001-RT) 08/28/2019. Up until recently it has done well. The material started getting thin and the  zipper  (side door) started to have issues. I ordered a new one and then noted that both the old and the new had a lifetime warranty. (I believe now just three years) I contacted Classic Accessories and sent some photos and they promptly sent a new cover out to me. I really appreciate companies such as Classic Accessories who stand behind their product. I expect that in three years it will start to show wear. No, the Classic Accessories warranty does not cover ordinary wear and tear, fabric fading, mold and/or mildew; damage that occurs from high winds, extreme weather, acts of nature, or pooling water; damage caused by sharp areas or protrusions...    

Zombiecat

I just replaced my Pahaque cover, purchased in January 2021, with the same model. It’s heavy canvas, with zippers to access one of the doors and three tie down straps. There wasn’t a single tear or puncture. The waterproofing was mostly still good, except on the center top, which is why I decided to replace it. The Teardrop Shop currently has them on sale for a good price. 

If you have the roof rack option on your trailer, I recommend you build a simple, flat pallet to lay across the rack to keep the cover from sagging between the bars. Otherwise, water (and ice!) will pool there and cause deterioration of the cover and mildew. 

Sharon_is_SAM

Try using pool noodles under the cover to create more tension and prevent pooling.

AZTag

I bought the AllPro for my T@G Boondock 4 years ago.  Except when camping, it has been on the T@G every day exposed to the harsh Arizona sunshine, 110+ temps, and sometimes thunderstorms/wind.  Today it's still in great shape.  Zippers working, no rips, no leaks, and both the inside and outside look good.  The heavy-duty integrated straps have kept it in place 100%.  AllPro was also great to work with when I ordered it.  I needed an extra-long pocket/zipper for the side awning, and I needed the door opening on the opposite side than usual.  They handled both for me without delay.  I give them 5 stars for the product and 5 stars for the company.  Addressing the cost: yes, it cost more than the thin cheap ones.  But I've already got 4 years out of it with no end in sight.  The value is clear for the higher cost.

The_Rigger

Thanks, @AZTag. I appreciate your experience.

I'm not really scared by the price, since I'm already $170 in and with no cover to speak of; if I had to buy another Classic cover every other year, I'd be even with the AllPro in four more years, and losing money after that.

ragtag2

I'm looking at the cover (CA PermaPro) for our 5-wide T@G as essentially a "wear item". Something that will need to be replaced on a "regular" basis. If I get 3 years out of this item, then buying a new one is the cost of doing business. 

I put tennis balls on the ends of the Yakima bars hoping that would prevent wear points at the bar ends. But, water pooled up there and things would definitely get colorful here in the Great Pacific Northwest (Seattle) with water sitting around on fabric of any kind.


To prevent the bird baths from continuing to form, I made a framework (scrap furring strips and pipe insulation) to support the cover and provide positive drainage. 

We've just celebrated our one year anniversary of ownership and are pleased with how this rig came through our "NorthWet" winter. That said, we do not deal with deep freezing and freeze/thaw cycles of Michigan, nor the triple digit heat and intense UV/sun of the Southern states. Replacing fabric teardrop covers every few years is a lot cheaper for me than building a shed/pole-barn or paying for indoor storage.

@The_Rigger you don't mention where the rips in your cover were located. Is there some shielding or padding of edges (assuming the fabric failure occurred at the corners of the teardrop) that could enhance the life of the next cover? 

Zombiecat

@ragtag2, that’s very similar to the framework I made to support the center area of my trailer cover. I’ve not had any issues with wear due to the ends of the roof rack, but the tennis balls are a very good idea.

@AZTag, I almost bought the AllPro cover, but got an excellent price on my replacement Pahaque cover. Thank you for the positive review. 

I’d also recommend waxing your trailer to maintain the exterior. NuCamp previously recommended Meguiars Tech Wax 2.0, but it’s no longer available. Another item that suffers from UV/weather damage is the plastic trim covering the screws around the doors and ridge lines; it gets brittle and will crack, but is easy and inexpensive to replace.