I recently bought a 4 Star 2H LQ trailer. I am not able to park it in my husbands machine shed (yet). Is it wise to cover the whole trailer or will that cause condensation and other issues? I live in Minnesota with miserable cold temps several months of the year. Thank you for any help you can give.
Posted 2017-12-21 8:22 AM (#170971 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi
I will let someone else weigh in on condensation issues. I would be more concerned with it not being tight and with wind whipping the cover and causing "rub marks". A non polished aluminum area, could become "polished" very quickly. If regular roof maintenance is done, I personally don't see a need for a cover.
Posted 2017-12-21 6:52 PM (#170975 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Member
Posts: 13
Thank you for responding! I don't want to mess anything up. This trailer really looks nice. When I got it home last week we were lucky to get a 40 degree day. I cleaned it out, pulled matts and ran it into town to power wash it. When I got home I sprayed the underside and wheel wells in case some salt hit it on the 4 mile drive home. It has been winterized. I'm pretty sure it's all aluminum, they say it is. I was under the impression that trailers should be kept indoors when not in use due to the sun. So I figured a cover would be better than nothing. So, if not covered how do you maintain the roof? And, would you cover the tires?
Also, I didn't think of anything on the roof catching on the cover. Thanks for that tip!
Posted 2017-12-22 7:16 AM (#170980 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi
In an ideal world it would be nice to be kept indoors (not under a cover) however that isn't possible for all. There is a roof coating (edpm, acrylic sealent, etc) at seams, rivits, vents, AC, antenna, and anything mounted to the roof. This sealent will need to be replaced over time to eliminate leaks. A visual inspection will show "wear, cracks, missing areas", etc.
Not sure what year your 4Star is but some years (maybe all) have a stretched aluminum roof instead of sheets, eliminating the seams of sheets. (this is a plus).
If your husband doesnt have room in the shed, maybe there is a farmer nearby that has room. Around us, it is pretty reasonable. Not a requirement, but going back to the ideal world. If you go the barn/shed route, chances of mice could increase. Then you should use a deterant of moth balls, dryer sheets, etc.
Posted 2017-12-22 7:40 AM (#170981 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Member
Posts: 13
Thank you for your input.
I bought a 2004. There seems to be more of an arch to the roof compared to other trailers I looked at. I didn't really think too much about that at the time. The original owner passed away shortly after purchase and her husband put it in the shed for ten years. He then sold it to a gal that hauled it to her boarding facility where it sat for a year (I would guess outside). She never put a horse in it and sold it to the person I bought it from. It's been used I would guess quite a bit for a year and a half and I doubt shedded. The owner before me did seem to have an allergy to cleaning, so I would doubt there's much of a maintenance record. Thanks again for responding.
Posted 2017-12-25 9:12 AM (#170998 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Member
Posts: 13
Thank you to everyone for your responses! I showed my husband the last post (the hoop structure and it's price) and he's pretty sure he can now find enough room in his shed for the trailer!!! Merry Christmas to all!!
Posted 2017-12-27 4:20 PM (#171005 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Elite Veteran
Posts: 798
Location: Tenn/Ala.
Be sure and check the condition of the roof caulk. It will have a 1 piece roof , but has caulk around the LQ's vents as well as the outside edges. Leaks in an LQ are not good things.
Posted 2017-12-31 6:00 PM (#171061 - in reply to #171005) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Expert
Posts: 2953
Location: North Carolina
RTSmith - 2017-12-27 5:20 PM
Be sure and check the condition of the roof caulk. It will have a 1 piece roof , but has caulk around the LQ's vents as well as the outside edges. Leaks in an LQ are not good things.
I've gone away from caulking my trailer roof. After 5 years, the Sikaflex put on by Sundowner started leaking. Since it was in warranty, Sundowner provided several tubes of the same caulk. I installed it after cleaning the seam to bare metal. About 5 years later, it started to leak again. This time after cleaning AGAIN to bare metal I used Eternabond tape on the seams. It was a lot easier and neater than caulking from a tube. Eight years later it has still kept the trailer dry. I did have some issues with the air lifting the edge of the tape across the nose. Aluminum tape over the Eternabond and down the front solved that.
Posted 2018-01-02 4:55 PM (#171063 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Member
Posts: 13
Thank you for all the information. I have to say it has been a great help. I would have bought a cover and with the wind whipping the way it has I have no doubt I would have rub marks, tears and probably damage. I will go over everything on the top of the trailer while it's inside and repair when it warms up. It's so cold out I can't even put the trailer tabs on. Again, Thank you for responding!
Posted 2018-01-02 4:57 PM (#171064 - in reply to #170970) Subject: RE: Trailer covers
Member
Posts: 13
Thank you for all the information. I have to say it has been a great help. I would have bought a cover and with the wind whipping the way it has I have no doubt I would have rub marks, tears and probably damage. I will go over everything on the top of the trailer while it's inside and repair when it warms up. It's so cold out I can't even put the trailer tabs on. Again, Thank you for responding!