Can anyone recommend a decent cover for my bus (43 feet)?

belfert · February 03, 2015, 07:52:35 AM

I bought a cheap cover for my bus last summer. It was advertised as 43 feet, but it really seems to be 42 feet. Anyhow, it is completely destroyed now from wind and such.

Can anyone recommend a cover that is really 43 feet and might at least last a few years? One issue I have is the mirror on one side that sticks forward. I can't zip the corner of the current cover due to the mirror.

TomC · February 03, 2015, 08:35:52 AM

Don't use a cover. Rare is the bus or truck that spends it's time indoors. Most big vehicles will never see the inside of a garage ever. If you have good paint, then don't worry about it. Good Luck, TomC

belfert · February 03, 2015, 01:00:46 PM

I believe there are still leaks in the roof. I fixed the really big leaks, but I am not convinced I fixed them all yet. It really needs to be covered until I work on the roof again this summer. I plan to put liquid EPDM on the roof.

Emcemv · February 03, 2015, 04:07:24 PM

I use a good waterproof small tarp over the roof openings and then I bought a 20'x40' heavy silver tarp from McMaster Carr industrial supply that covers the whole bus down to the bottom of the windows. It cost me around $200 for the silver tarp. It has worked well for 3 winters now. Key point is that none of the usual tarps are really waterproof, I used a small piece of waterproof material just over the vents and skylights and cover it all with a tarp.

Bruce

I can send picture if you want.

B_K · February 03, 2015, 07:38:09 PM

Get a hold of Nick and see what brand tarp tent that was he used to (or still does) keep his bus under! Better than "just a cover" because it (A) doesn't rub the bus (B) it gives you room to walk/work around the outside of the bus while protecting you & bus from the elements!

BK

Gerry H · February 03, 2015, 07:39:40 PM

Brian: I bought a 37-40 ft Coverking brand cover this year. Should have bought it years ago. I don't have a garage or out building to put my 40' LeMirage in. Same company also has a 43 ft cover. I was worried my chosen size might be short, but it was long in every direction. I did learn about securing it AFTER it started to rip a seam, due to high winds. Easy fix this spring. The cover comes with rope to tie underneath, but after trying and breaking even some expensive super strong sailing ropes, I bought 4 - 27 ft x 2" cargo straps (they are really 29' long) that hook under the bay doors every 8 ft and over the roof to the other side bays. Now I have 5 - 8 ft "bags" instead of 1 - 40 ft bag of wind. I also put some rubber inside the hooks to "soften" the strain on it under high winds. I bought the cover thru Walmart.com and would buy it again. Check it out. No sellers seem to want to publish any specs about height, width, or length, but mine seems to be about 11' high x 10' wide x 41' long. Nice heavy duty tent like 600 denier material. Careful - some covers are meant for summer only weather, this one is for Minnesota winters and the price is reasonable. I had the mirror issue also, I chose to loosen and fold in to the body. Good luck Gerry H

belfert · February 03, 2015, 07:51:14 PM

Coverking only shows up to 42 feet on their covers. Walmart.com actually has them on clearance right now. I don't know if the 42 foot model would really work or not.

I like BK's idea of a real RV cover like Nick has, but the cost is a lot more than I want to spend. I am saving to build an RV garage, but it will be a few years yet before I can do the project.

Gerry H · February 04, 2015, 06:36:29 AM

Brian: I went to the Mfg's website and saw that they have changed the length for the long one. Last fall, I had been searching for a cover and considered the longer one cause I knew my bus was 40' but some things on the bumper stuck out past 40' along with mirror issues and I was considering the longer one and at that time it was noted as 40-43'. Maybe they had size complaints/returns and shortened the advertised length. I called the Mfg and they couldn't connect me to anyone that "really" knew the dimensions. I took a chance when buying mine, and so far it has worked out for me. All the dimensions were long. I paid much more for mine than Walmart.com is charging now, still thought I got a ok deal. Some alternatives are over $700.00 Good luck with your search. Gerry H

mung · February 04, 2015, 08:48:55 AM

What about making something custom? Do you know anyone with an old all metal sewing machine?

belfert · February 04, 2015, 11:09:06 AM

I called a place about doing a custom cover and they estimated around $5,000. Someone emailed with the idea of using a billboard to cover my bus. Billboards seem like they might be too heavy to easily get on the bus.

mung · February 04, 2015, 11:20:35 AM

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pro-Tuff-Outdoor-Solid-Fabric-Royal/17331794

I have used it to cover outdoor stools and make a huge shade/rain cover for my bar area. Sews just fine with my old Necchi all metal machine.

Shouldn't be that hard to make not that many seams.

eagle19952 · February 04, 2015, 02:07:06 PM

Quote from: mung on February 04, 2015, 11:20:35 AM
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pro-Tuff-Outdoor-Solid-Fabric-Royal/17331794

I have used it to cover outdoor stools and make a huge shade/rain cover for my bar area. Sews just fine with my old Necchi all metal machine.

Shouldn't be that hard to make not that many seams.

Did you mean this one....

Gerry H · February 04, 2015, 02:23:47 PM

If it were me, I would buy the 42' Coverking from Walmart.com, I bet it will fit due to it's extra length and width, but in the event it doesn't, just have a canvas place split the last rear side seam and sew an extra 1 ft panel at the rear on both sides and a 1 ft. panel at the bottom back. You'll still have less than $400 invested. The MOST IMPORTANT THING is to secure it properly or the wind will shred it no matter what you get. I recommend my version noted above. I've tried several others that did not work and cost me extra money to learn. Enough said

mung · February 04, 2015, 02:24:40 PM

No I meant this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pro-Tuff-Outdoor-Solid-Fabric-Royal/17331794 Don't know why the : got stripped out of the other link. But thanks for your valuable input Don.

Jeremy · February 04, 2015, 02:27:17 PM

Quote from: mung on February 04, 2015, 11:20:35 AM
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pro-Tuff-Outdoor-Solid-Fabric-Royal/17331794

I have used it to cover outdoor stools and make a huge shade/rain cover for my bar area. Sews just fine with my old Necchi all metal machine.

Shouldn't be that hard to make not that many seams.

The difficulty when making big covers (and I've made lots for boats) is not usually the sewing but the physical man-handling of all that heavy and bulky fabric, most especially the bit that you need to feed under the sewing machine's arm. Doing small covers is child's play, but when you're sewing together two (and more) full widths of 55" or 60" wide fabric it can very quickly become a two or even a three-person job - one to operate the machine, one to feed the big roll of fabric through the machine and one to pull it out the other side. Even then, with a domestic machine (rather than an industrial machine with a walking foot) you'll be constantly bending and breaking the needles as the weight and bulk of the fabric causes it to move erratically while you're sewing.

Just to mention as a possible alternative, for waterproof fabrics that have a smooth plasticky finish (rather than a woven finish) you can potentially stick (rather than sew) the panels together using double-sided sailmaking tape. But if it's basically just a big flat tarpaulin you need - frankly I would just go out and buy one.

Jeremy