I have a 2009 Kingston BP with a fiberglass roof. It was sparkling clean when I bought it used in the spring, but a summer/fall under dense treetops has left it with some pretty gross black streaks and other leaf byproducts on the roof and sides.

I'm about to clean it up and park it for the winter. (I rarely use it in the winter except the occasional trip to the vet.) We usually don't get too much snow here (fingers crossed), but I'm afraid the ice we DO get will affect the roof. Also, when spring rolls around again, I don't want my trailer getting cruddy again.

Can I put a tarp over the roof, with some overhang on either side, to protect it from ice and/or the spring crud effect? Thanks!

Actually, scratch the winter issue. I did a little research and decided it wasn't worth it. ;)

I'm mostly concerned with keeping the roof clean when spring comes around and preventing the black yucky stuff from accumulating on my roof. If I buy a tarp and use tie-downs to cover just the roof, is that OK? :D

Depending on what type of trailer you have, (LQ or not) will determine if using a cover will be worth the effort or not. A LQ with air, vents, solar panels etc, will require a custom made cover. A one piece flat type will quickly wear at any point, where the installed equipment proud of the roofline, will chafe through the material. In addition, the custom fitting will make the installation and removal difficult, usually involving multiple people and ladders.

If you have a smooth roofline, installation and removal are easier, and can usually be managed mostly from the ground. There are several sources of covers. Here are a couple of them:

http://www.beverlybay.com/horse-trailer-covers.html

http://www.calmarkcovers.com/horse-trailer-covers/

Our trailers, one with a fiberglass roof and the other aluminum, sit exposed constantly to our various weather changes. Every couple of years they are inspected and the caulking is renewed. They have been trouble free. We have neighbours that used to tarp their recreational trailers. Most of the inexpensive tarps would be shot in a few months, one custom cover came apart at the seams. None bode well for long, whilst exposed to our Fall and Winter winds.

At one time I also considered covers. When faced with the initial cost of a good one, it's relatively short life span and the necessity of two people handling it a couple ofl times a week, it quickly was disregarded. Our ownership maintenance has been greatly reduced by their absence.