Category: Ideas & Tips

What makes a successful general contractor? Their habits! While successes can happen every day, the idea of success is a long-term one. That means consistent progress is the only way toward improving yourself or your business.

Read on to learn about the habits that make a truly successful general contractor and how you can incorporate them into your own business plan.

Set Goals

Judging your success as a general contractor can be hard. Is it enough to be profitable, or should you be growing? If you need to grow your business, how much growth should you expect and over how long?

The best way to gauge your success is to establish clearly defined goals that are achievable and time-restricted so that you know you’re on the right path. Eventually, you’ll develop a habit of completing goals and setting new ones to consistently improve your business and your own skills.

Short-term goals

Short-term goals can be things that you complete daily, weekly, or within the next few months. There are a lot of potential short-term goals you can create for yourself, but it’s important to make them specific to your business. Here are some great examples of short-term goals to build your habits as a successful general contractor:

Acquire More Contracts

This goal is a very clear goal that almost any contractor can agree is worth pursuing. However, it’s important not to set a vague goal like just “increase contracts.” You’ll want to consider how many jobs you’re working on now and where you’d like to be in a few months. Pick a number that’s reasonable but not too easily achieved. Does that mean finding three new long-term clients or more?

Make sure you also choose a deadline date to have your new jobs under contract. Maybe you want two new contracts this month, but a total of 10 over the next three months.

Establish Yourself in a Specific Region

Being a local contractor means you can sometimes be limited to a specific area. But if you have a fully-upfitted van or truck, you can take your work practically anywhere! Expanding your business means reaching clients in new areas.

Promote yourself in these new regions and set a goal to generate at least two or three contracts there within a timespan that makes sense for your business. Repeat this goal across several areas as you grow your business until you feel comfortable in your overall service area.

Building Your Business or Residential Contracts

During your bookkeeping, you may discover that your business is missing out on residential or business clients. Another type of short-term goal is to shift your promotion to focus on the specific type of clientele you want. Residential clients are often easier to find, so make sure to set your goals accordingly!

Long-term goals

Not all your goals can be completed in the course of a few weeks or months. Long-term goals can be considered the “biggest picture” for your business. Here are some examples of long-term goals to help you on your journey towards being a successful general contractor:

Increase Yearly Profits

Year-to-year goals are an excellent opportunity for you to reflect on your business and see where you’re improving or need to improve. Because profiting is an important part of any business, your revenue and net profits are a great place to start with long-term goals. Look at your previous years and think of where you want to be in five years and ten years. Estimate a reasonable growth in profits and mark a date to achieve it.

Hiring More Employees

Even the best contractor with the best truck upfit can only be in one place at a time. Eventually, you’ll need to take on additional employees to complete the work coming to you. New employees cost revenue and time. Establishing set limits of where you need to be with your business before you can take on additional help is a great way to not only set a goal for growth, but to also ensure you don’t take on new employees unless you really need them!

Stay Organized

One habit of successful contractors that helps them complete their goals is staying organized. Great organization is more than knowing where everything is – you also need to streamline your processes!

There are several ways to help improve your efficiency through organization:

Develop a System for Paperwork

You have contracts, invoices and dozens of other forms to keep track of for your business. Misplacing just one can be anything from a minor annoyance to a major business setback. It’s not enough to simply keep your paperwork safe. Develop a system for when and how you take care of paperwork.

• Set times of day where you work on specific paperwork so nothing falls behind
• Create a paperwork workflow for how you interact with clients
• Invest in storage solutions to help organize your paperwork

An Organized Vehicle is Key

Unlike most careers, being a general contractor means traveling to new places almost daily. Because of that, your work truck like refrigerated truck or meat delivery truck is your office. You need to keep it organized like one!

While the chaos of a stock van loaded with buckets of tools and equipment just laying around may be familiar to you, it’s hardly efficient. If your clients see inside, it can hurt your reputation too!

A van or truck upfit is the ideal way to lock down your tools and create a mobile workshop that keeps you agile on the job. An upfit means when you need a tool, you know exactly where to find it.

Outline Your Schedule

Falling behind on your work means fewer referrals and less repeat business. Schedules keep you from falling behind. Successful general contractors get in the habit of knowing what to expect from their day. You can’t plan for everything but having a general idea of where you’ll be and when you should be done helps you stay on track.

Track Everything

Owning your own business means managing a lot of moving parts. While it may sound like a lot of work to document everything, it’s more likely to save you time. Keep your eye on your whole business to avoid unnecessary losses in finances or time:

• Pay attention to every cost, they all add up and you may identify a problem that can be solved with a major step instead of repeated patchwork solutions.
• Complaints happen, so make sure to document them in case they come up again down the road.
• Don’t discard old client files if they may be relevant again, you never know when someone might need your help years after you did a job for them.

You Must Be Available

The most successful general contractor will never be hard to reach. Whether it’s a current client, a past one or potential new business, a missed contact is a missed opportunity. Consider multiple forms of contact to help keep you available – phone calls, emails and even social media!

A website is one of the best ways to make yourself available 24 hours a day. It lets people find information about you, your service area and how to contact you. It’s also a great opportunity to promote your services!

Most importantly, don’t delay your responses. If someone reaches out to you, reply to them within the next 24 hours no matter what. If you miss this critical window, they’re likely to move on to another general contractor and possibly write your business off as unresponsive.

Keep Up the Pace

It’s easy to get complacent when business is thriving. Don’t be tempted! Successful general contractors know to take full advantage of a busy season. You never know when demand may temporarily dry up.

Finding new opportunities doesn’t just mean more work, either. Use your momentum to build on fundamentals: investigate additional learning opportunities, use your extra income to outfit your vehicle with newer upfits or tools and look towards expanding your services.

If things start slowing down, work even harder. The fewer jobs out there to be done mean they’ll go to the best contractors available. Keep your reputation pristine and you won’t feel the sting as severely as your competitors.

Market Yourself

Promoting yourself isn’t an option, it’s a necessity! Develop a marketing plan that shows your work quality and introduces your name to as many people as possible.

Speak with your most consistent or satisfied customers and ask for referrals. Send out seasonal promotions to drum up new business. If you incorporate a new service, tell everyone about it!

Remember: marketing yourself is a long-term endeavor. You won’t always see results instantly. Stick to it and keep your name visible. The key part of marketing is to be the first name someone thinks of when they need services you offer.

Network with Other Contractors

Not every contractor in your area is a direct competitor. Those in other fields or who work in specialized conditions make great partnerships. They can recommend you for services they don’t offer and bring you in for work that requires other trades.

Industry associations can also be important, depending on your area. These associations can help you find new employees, new work or educational opportunities.

Ultimately, successful general contractors know that every resource has its purpose. Find the ones that benefit your business and run with them!

If you rely on your pickup truck to transport equipment, then you know how critical cargo capacity is. With a ladder rack installed, you can save space and reduce the number of trips you take to get all your materials to a project site.

Why Use a Ladder Rack?

It’s all about efficiency, and a ladder rack is one of the most efficient pieces you can put on your truck. A ladder rack frees up truck bed space for light equipment while securely storing the essentials. Over bed racks are ideal for transporting large cargo items.

Ladder Rack Shopping Tips

Not all ladder racks are designed equally, so it’s important to pay attention to features when shopping.

A good ladder rack should be versatile enough to allow you to move a wide variety of materials, whether it’s long pieces, bulky pieces, or heavy items.

It should go without saying that you must pay attention to safety. A ladder rack that is poorly designed can become a hazard during use. This could endanger you or pose a public hazard if items become loose and fall off the rack while in transit.

To check for safety, look at the attachment style. A good ladder rack will attach securely to your truck and feature sturdy, yet simple, locking mechanisms.

Materials matter, too. Steel and aluminum are the most common choices for ladder racks. Generally speaking, aluminum racks are lightweight yet can be stronger than steel. They also have the advantage of being rustproof. Steel racks are subject to rust over time, especially discount models.

When you shop for a new ladder rack for vans, always buy the best ladder rack you can afford. A higher price point indicates better materials and workmanship, and this will more than pay for itself over the lifetime of the ladder rack. You should be able to get several years of use from a durable ladder rack, whereas if you buy the cheap model it may not last longer than two years due to heavy corrosion.

Don’t forget about installation. If you don’t install the van ladder rack properly, then it cannot do its job. Buy all of the equipment recommended to attach the ladder rack to your truck, then follow installation instructions. Cutting corners here is too dangerous, as you need your ladder rack to be securely attached so you can use it.

Ambulance trucks, vans, and SUVs rush to the scenes of accidents, incidents of illness, rescues, hospitals, and more, day in and day out, 365 days a year. The drivers and attendants in those vehicles, however, sometimes don’t make it to the scene. They end up arriving at the hospital for something other than their initial reason for dispatch – their own treatment.

Every year, accidents involving ambulances are estimated at around 6500. To the occupant or occupants involved, fatality or injury has resulted in over 35% of those accidents. Last year, 33 fatalities were experienced as a result of 29 fatal motor vehicle collisions involving ambulances. Those numbers are far too high!

But what can we do? Let’s take a look at some areas of concern and what might be done to increase EMS safety.

Procedures and Training

Ambulance safety requires a planned out, thoughtful strategy. It doesn’t just occur. With re-education and training, the reduction of injuries and accidents should be the fundamental goal of every EMS division and company. Behind the wheel testing and training, sufficient classroom time, etc. should all be part of a well-designed training program. Refreshers should be required as well as medical exams for physical fitness.

The Visibility of Vehicles

Key safety components where EMS vehicles are concerned are recognition and apparatus visibility. Not only must drivers and pedestrians see the vehicle, they must recognize it as an emergency vehicle. Factors that have been found to directly relate to the visibility of vehicles are environmental conditions, motorist distractions, active emergency warning systems, marker lights, conspicuity markings, color scheme, vehicle size, etc. The front, side, and rear of EMS vehicles must be recognizable and highly visible.

Devices For Sufficient Warning

Warning devices on emergency vehicles consist of emergency lighting, bright scene lights, lighting packages, audible warning devices, reflective tape, and loud sirens/horns. Studies are being done, and have been done in the past, to determine the effectivenesss of current warning devices and systems. Fluorescent colors such as orange and yellow-green have been found to be the most noticeable. Additionally, today’s LED lights are more seeable and recognizable than lighting systems of old.

Comfortable But Safe Seating

Ideally, if the seats for drivers and attendants can be ergonomically correct and comfortable, that’s a bonus. But above all else, they have to be safe. Seat issues that must meet safety standards involve seatbelt warning systems, child restraints, patient access, head clearance, and seatbelts.

Structural Components

The integrity of the vehicle is essential to the safety of those in and around it. How an EMS vehicle is built, its structural components, construction of the roof and walls, welded seams, interior cabinetry, rounded off corners, insulation, and more are all factors in this category. When in doubt, educate yourself by speaking directly to a manufacturer with any questions you may have regarding this topic.

Suspension and chassis selection – as well as design specification – are other areas of concern that should be looked into when attempting to ensure the safety of your EMS vehicle, its attendants, driver, and patients.

Other Areas of Concern

Motor vehicle accidents aren’t the only way that EMS attendants and drivers get hurt. Lifting injuries are plentiful. To fight these injuries, cot lifting systems, liftgate systems, or ramps have been installed in many EMS vehicles.

5 Space-Saving Cargo Van Shelving Ideas To Consider

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In 2015, 141,872 commercial vehicles took to the roads performing all kinds of jobs from delivering cargo and installing cable boxes to filling potholes and fixing power lines.

One of the biggest problems these workers encounter is hauling their equipment around and storing it a generic work van.

Are you always on the road and think your van could use a little organization? If so, van shelving might be the perfect solution to keeping your tools in order so you can get the job done, without the hassle.

In this article, we’re diving into six ingenious van shelving hacks you can use in your vehicle today to make your life a lot easier.

Grab your keys, we’re getting started.

5 Genius Van Shelving Ideas

Do you ever struggle to find the tool or material you’re looking for only to realize its under a pile of cables or hidden away under equipment? Do you seem to never have enough space?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then you’ll want to read on to find out how van shelving specific to your vehicle will change the way you travel with your stuff.

1. Bin Shelving

Does your job take you through rough dirt roads or streets covered in potholes? If so, you’ll want to install some bin shelving in your vehicle to avoid your tools moving around. This type of shelving is best for larger equipment items like cables or power tools.

When looking for a shelving unit, opt for steel framed shelves that provide you with the strength and quality you need.

2. Drawer Systems

For smaller tools and parts you may want to consider installing a system of drawers along your van’s walls for easy storage. The draws slide in an hour providing safe storage and easy organization for all of your equipment. The drawers can be easily labeled and stay quiet as your drive.

3. Fold Away Shelving

If you need more space in your van but at times, could benefit from a shelving unit, then your best option are shelves that fold away. They’re the best of both worlds.

These shelves are efficiently designed to be adjustable, lightweight, and strong. What’s even better is that they are rattle-free so you can enjoy and peaceful commute.

4. Custom Shelves

If you’re looking to upfit your van, but can’t seem to find the right organizational fit for you, then custom shelving might be the perfect solution.

These shelves are precisely tailored to your needs so no matter what equipment you carry, or what vehicle you drive, we can install something that works for you.

In the event that you depend on messenger work for your employment then your van will be the most vital instrument of your exchange. Vans are significant things and can regularly be stacked with materials and devices that are additionally tremendously costly and crucial to the effective workings of your business. Security, thusly, is of principal significance.

Having been included in the matter of logistics and dispatch work, I am exceptionally mindful of how alluring vans are to the less appetizing characters in our general public, thus I am additionally intensely mindful that getting van security right is a genuine interest in your business. Also, you could even lower your protection premium!

Top Tips for Improving Van Security

Make it a Priority
While picking another van, security ought to be high on the rundown of needs. Cutting edge vans typically offer a few components that expect to expand its security, yet in the event that not these might be accessible as extra alternatives, so ensure you go for them.

It is insightful to take a gander at how the van is made. Do you need back entryways that are coated as, in spite of the fact that they make for good perceivability, they likewise uncover the substance of your van to passersby? Go for a strong inside bulkhead to shield your apparatus from prying eyes.

Alteration
Everybody required in messenger work has diverse prerequisites with respect to their van, so relying upon how you utilize your vehicle, why not alter it to suit your necessities? Security organizations have a wide range of additional items accessible that you can introduce, for example, lockable tool kits, pummel bolts and redesigned stops.

Venture
A more current van will most likely have a caution fitted and also an immobilizer, however ensure these are Thatch am Category 2 affirmed. In the event that you need to contribute further you can move up to a more propelled caution framework or even a gadget that will empower you to track your vehicle if it disappear. These GPS trackers, once fitted, will hold your protection premium down as well.

Overhaul Cheaply
Overhauling security can be costly, however search around and you will see that a couple of minor changes that don’t cost the earth can have a major effect. Handbrake locks, guiding wheel locks, lockable fuel tops and passed out back windows all go about as obstacles to potential inconvenience creators.

Ensuring the Catalytic Converter
As exhaust systems are bigger and less demanding to get at on vans than autos, they are less demanding to take. Get a hostile to robbery gadget introduced on your van for genuine feelings of serenity.

Aside from the tips I have given you above, you need to recall being careful yourself. Dispatch work is requesting and tiring yet that ought not to occupy you from recollecting bolting your vehicle, taking out every one of your assets, for example, cell telephones and Sat-NavsPsychology Articles, and abstaining from stopping in back rear ways and dim calm boulevards.

Take every one of these contemplations on-board and you will guarantee that your messenger work business is secured as well as can be expected be.

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Have you considered starting your own business? Here’s something to think about: to complete everyday tasks, businesses rely on deliveries. Granted, overnight deliveries can be made by many traditional courier services. But what about when the business needs an odd package type delivered, or needs it within a matter of hours? This is where a non-CDL delivery service would come in handy – and, coincidentally, a great premise upon which to start your business.

If you’re looking to get out of that daily grind, step out from behind that office desk, breakout from that boring factory job, and be your own boss, this could be the answer you’ve been searching for. Best of all, in order to begin, the initial start-up expenses don’t have to break the bank. Let’s look at starting your own non-CDL delivery company.

Step One

The first process is a relatively simple one – obtaining a business license. You can apply for this license by visiting your municipality’s licensing office.

Of course, you need an operator’s license, but it is not necessary, as long as your vehicle weighs less than 26,000 pounds, to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

You’ll Need a Vehicle

Of course, you’re going to need a vehicle with which to make your deliveries. A bicycle isn’t going to cut it. What might work best, at least in the beginning, is a truck with a camper or a van. To protect your deliveries from the elements, you want to make sure that the cargo area is protected/enclosed. Though you can purchase a new vehicle down the line, consider picking up a used one for the time being.

Insurance Needs

Rest assured, you need insurance! In fact, you’re going to need various types. Commercial vehicle liability insurance, in the case of an accident, will protect the property of others. You will also, however, need general liability insurance to protect yourself. If, in the course of your doing business, items that you’re delivering are damaged or lost, you’ll be protected against claims made by the company you were delivering for or to.

Tools of the Trade

With today’s technology, finding addresses (and getting to them via the best route) is easier than ever. No more juggling paper maps! Invest in a reliable GPS system to help get your packages where they need to be on time. Pick up a notebook so that you can, while out of the office, still manage to take deliveries. Grab at least one mileage log book for now, and make sure that you have a cell phone that gets great reception everywhere. 

Now all you need are some customers. Remember that a positive attitude will get you further, faster; and do what you can to create some buzz about your business as soon as possible. Be sure to provide stellar service and word will spread like wildfire.

Our highly skilled and educated technicians can perform custom vehicle builds to fit the needs of our customers. Find the most convenient service center near you.

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Someone once said that a person could get more satisfaction from being a first-rate trucker than they can from being a tenth-rate executive. Maybe it’s because trucking isn’t just a career, it’s a way of life.

The industry’s history dates back to before the 1930s. In 1933, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) formed to represent drivers from coast to coast who made their livelihoods by driving the country, delivering the goods that make the United States such a great place to live. And the job is just as important to the country today as it was back then.

The Modern Faces of Trucking

These days, there are approximately 3.5 million truck drivers working in the United States, according to data released by the ATA. They drive more than 450 billion miles a year, haul more than 10.5 billion tons of freight, and help deliver nearly $740 billion into the nation’s economy.

But truckers aren’t the type to take credit for all they help the country accomplish. Instead, they keep their heads down, their eyes up, and just do their jobs, driving the freeways, highways, and city streets to deliver the American dream to people in every community across the country.

And truck drivers are in demand, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s also a pretty interesting job.

If you’re looking for a career that lets you see the country, play an important role in the country’s economy, and maybe even be your own boss, take a look at what a day in the life of a truck driver looks like–and how you can become one.

The Day Begins

Over-the-road trucking is a highly regulated industry, so drivers have to take at least a 10 hour break between shifts. Shifts vary, but many drivers start their days early–between 5 and 6 a.m.–with breakfast. Some are at home, some are on the road, sleeping in their cabs.

After breakfast, it’s time to inspect the truck, check messages, and do the logs. Before they hit the road, they’ll take a look at the weather, road conditions, and any safety alerts that need to be noted.

Drive and Dock

After making sure the truck is in working order, it’s time to get rolling down the road. Truckers typically make their way to a dock to do one of three things:

• Drop and hook, which involves dropping a loaded trailer off and picking up another trailer,
• Latch a live load, which involves sitting and waiting for a trailer to be loaded before heading on down the highway, or
• Unloading live, which involves unloading freight from a trailer before moving on to the next stop.

Many truckers are paid by the mile, so sitting around waiting to latch a “live load” can be a bit frustrating. However, technology has changed the game quite a bit, and many trucking companies have become more adept at being more efficient with their scheduling.

On the Road

Once a truck driver is on the road, the job really begins–because there’s a lot to think about.

Safety is always a top priority. Truck drivers have to look out for other drivers, dangerous road conditions, and the weather. They have to constantly keep an eye on their gauges to make sure the big rig is functioning properly. And they have to adhere to federal safety guidelines.

As the day gets longer, truckers start paying closer attention to the Department of Transportation time clock. This is important because driving past the hours-of-service limits can result in expensive penalties. A day comes to a close in one of two ways: Either the clock runs out or the driver reaches the destination.

Either way, after a day on the road, it’s time to get something to eat, shower, shut down, and call it a night.

At the End of the Day

Today’s 18-wheelers are high-tech, comfortable, and equipped with a long list of creature comforts. If you have one with a sleeper cab, you probably also have satellite TV, internet, and just about everything you need to relax for your mandated 10 hours before hitting the road again.

Of course, truckers also know all about the best roadside restaurants, places to park, and sites to see. If you’re feeling adventurous, you’ll also have something cool to eat, see, and do.

How to Get There

Truck driving is one of the last of the romantic American professions. It allows you to see the country, put bread on the table, and largely live life on your own terms.

Of course, getting there takes some skill, knowledge, and experience–all of which you can get from a formal education. If you’d like to explore this exciting and growing profession.Ask about how you learn everything you need to know to become a trucker.

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The open road. Seeing the country. Good pay. An important place in the hearts and minds of Americans.

Yes, there are a lot of reasons to become an over-the-road truck driver. The more truckers drive, the more they make, and they are in high demand (according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics). They also get to drive some sweet rigs.

If you’re interested in a career as a truck driver, you’ll certainly be interested in these tricked-out trucks:

It starts and stops with the sleeper

Each year, American truckers drive a combined distance that spans millions and millions of miles. Naturally, you’re going to want to get a good night’s sleep when you’re on the road–so you’re going to need an awesome sleeper cab.

Check out the customized sleeper on this 2007 Kenworth T600. It boasts two impressive bedrooms, three beds, a kitchen . . . and of course many of the other amenities of home–a bathroom, dining table and a television. Waking up in an awesomely comfortable sleeper is a great way to start your day, and knowing that you’ll have a comfortable place to sleep is a great feeling once you stop rolling.

Painted to fit your personality

If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine how many a killer custom paint job is worth. That’s right, you’ll be swimming in superlatives when you drive down the road in a truck with an amazing custom paint job–like this one, which features traffic-stopping red, orange, and yellow flames.

The thing that makes this truck so attractive is that the flames are layered, and its owner actually uses it to haul loads across the country.

But in case you’re not feeling full of fire, you could do something a little more personal, like this custom-painted truck that pays homage to and celebrates the brave men and women who help keep this country as free as the open road.

Customize the cab

Since you’ll be spending most of your working days inside your truck, you might as well make it your own, right?

There are so many sweet customized cabs out there that it’s hard to pick the top two or three. So take a look at these 10. They feature everything from wood paneling and floors to chromed-out dashboards to custom-made, lightning bolt-inspired gear shifts.

Most importantly, though, they all have custom seats, which makes the most sense because you’re going to want to be comfortable when you’re logging hundreds of miles every working day.

See the lights

Sure, government regulations dictate that your truck will have to be well lit with headlights, break lights, and well-functioning indicators. That’s a good thing. Safety does come first, after all.

But why limit your lights to those that the government says you need? Why not make sure everyone driving down the freeway sees you coming–and going?

Look at this big rig and its plethora of custom LED lights. It’s got lights on the hood, lights in the grill, lights along the chrome running boards and lights encircling the gas tank. No way is anyone going to miss this one rolling down the road.

The cool is in the chrome

Sometimes all it takes to take a good-looking semi-truck and transform it into a great-looking semi-truck is some chrome. Grills, exhaust stacks, fender guards, mirrors–they can all benefit from some custom chrome.

The owner of this Peterbilt knew that, and took every opportunity to infuse chrome into almost everything. Most impressive, however are the awesome exhaust stacks. They’re custom. They are chrome. And they are cool.

Simply impressive

Sometimes it doesn’t take a lot to create an impressive custom big rig. Look at this beauty. Sure, it’s got the chrome exhaust stacks and fender guard. Yes, it’s got the low-profile windshield and custom paint job. But its awesomeness is in its simplicity.

Black and orange. Not a lot of lights. Just simple and impressive. If ZZ Top were truck drivers, this would be how they roll.

Get rolling

If you’ve ever considered a career as a truck driver, these customized semi-trucks will probably inspire you to chase your dream. If you haven’t, you might want to now–especially if you can work toward owning your own custom big rig.

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Guide to buying a caravan cover

We hope the information below will help you to make an informed purchasing decision:

Does the colour of the inside of the fabric matter?

No, the colour makes no difference. It is the quality that is important. Aim to find a 100% waterproof and breathable material designed specifically for the caravan industry.

Can you breath through caravan cover fabric?

You should not be able to breathe through your caravan cover fabric, this would indicate there were holes in the fabric which would allow dirt and water to pass through on to your van making the cover useless. ‘Breathable’ fabric does not mean you should be able to actually take breathe with the fabric in front of your mouth, for example both gortex and your own skin are ‘breathable’!

Do you need to cover the windows before fitting a caravan cover?

No, not if you go for a caravan cover that is tailored to fit your caravan. If your cover is made from non abrasive material, this will ensure it does not scratch the windows.

Do you need to measure your caravan or motorhome?

Good manufacturers will have a huge database of caravans and motorhomes on file so in 95% of cases your supplier will already have the dimensions. If however you have an unusual van or an older model we may need you to do a few measurements. Ask your manufacturer for a dimensions sheet in this instance.

Can I access the caravan whilst the cover is on?

Yes, provided there is a Velcro access door.

Is there an allowance for the satellite aerial and flue?

Yes, there should be an allowance on the roof which we should have been marked on your cover pattern sheet.

What should be included with the cover?

Covers should come with a storage bag, A-frame cover and fitting kit. Kits should include foam inserts for the awning channel, fitting instructions, a spare piece of fabric and a sheet of breathable soft fabric for the windows if required.

How is the cover secured?

Quick release buckles are ideal for securing, they run all along the hemline of the caravan cover and are usually secured with webbing straps which pass under the caravan from side to side. All four corners of the covers can be elasticised for added security.

What is the weight of a caravan cover?

Dependent on the length of the caravan this can be anything from 6-11 kilos.

Should there be a guarantee with the cover?

Ideally, covers should come with a three year guarantee.

What benefits do caravan covers provide?

Covers provide a full range of protection from stopping the paint work from fading by weather erosion and bird droppings. Well fitted covers also prevent rubber seals from rotting and creating black streaks down the van which are hard to clean off. Covers stop the curtains and upholstery from fading and also creates an element of added security. You will find your caravan as you left it increasing caravans life span and holding its value.

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