SPOTLIGHT ON…

Towing covers

“SO WHAT’S THE point of them?”, “Just get a bucket and sponge, and clean the caravan!” and “Something else to take up space,” are just a few of the comments I’ve heard (and said myself) about towing covers. Several months ago, we happened to be towing in the filthy weather that the Beast from the East brought in and, arriving at our site in York, the caravan was plastered with dirty slush from top to bottom. It was then I started warming to the idea of a towing cover. Add to that the state of our county’s roads, which has put a small stone chip on one of the front windows, and getting one really made sense. When I look back, I realise how useful a cover might have been on past trips, too, not only during the winter months. In the summer, how many of us arrive at our destination, only to find the front of the caravan resembling a battlefield as hundreds of insects met their demise on our journey? I know that after setting up, I’ve regularly had to clean the windows so we could see out. And since I’ve started taking an interest in towing covers, I’ve begun to notice just how many caravanners use them. On one recent trip, almost every other caravan we saw had a cover of some sort or another.

Specialist firms

Earlier in the year, I visited two well-known towing cover manufacturers, Pro-tec Covers (www.pro-teccovers.co.uk) and Specialised Covers (www.specialisedcovers.com). As it happens, both are just a stone’s throw from each other in West Yorkshire, and both were in the final stages of expansion programmes, with Pro-tec moving premises. Specialised Covers was established in 1981 by Douglas and Carole Long (still active within the company), after they’d had several enquiries about a cover they had made to protect their classic car from bird droppings and other debris while it was in storage. The company now has many contracts from prestigious car manufacturers to make their own branded covers, as well

as making their own caravan and motorhome covers and some caravan manufacturer official branded accessories. During the latest expansion, the company has installed an electric hook-up point, so that customers can stay overnight if necessary. Pro-tec Covers was founded in 1996 by keen caravanners Keith and Anne Proctor, who are still active in the company. Indeed, during my visit, Keith was hanging light fittings at the new factory premises. Pro-tec Covers also makes a range of car, caravan and motorhome covers, as well as their Towing Jacket, which was launched at the February 2018 NEC show. The two manufacturers take a similar approach to how they arrive at the finished articles. For the past few years, virtually all new caravan models from individual makers have been measured, to ensure that the covers will be a perfect fit. The data collected is used to design the new covers, which then go into production. That’s a very simplistic overview, but you get the idea.

Bespoke covers

The covers we’re taking a look at here are bespoke items that are designed to fit our 2015 Lunar Clubman. Pro-tec Covers manufactures both the new Towing Jacket and a generic, universal-fit cover, while Specialised Covers’ range starts with the Tow Pro Lite, a similar generic universalfit cover, and via a couple of other models (one of which we will be looking at) up to the Tow Pro Elite, an 8mm-thick high-end cover that was originally designed for use in the Australian Outback. It is good to see that both of these companies make their products in West Yorkshire, rather than overseas. And what they are producing is very high quality indeed. What’s more, customer service and satisfaction are clearly very important to both, so after-sales back-up is always available. Now let’s have a look at how the covers are fitted.

Towing Jacket

As the name implies, the Protec Towing Jacket is supplied in two halves (and in a small caravan-shaped bag). Each half of the cover slides into the respective awning channel on either side of the caravan, and they are then zipped together at the centre. Awning stops can be used to prevent the cover moving, if needed. Elasticated hooks attach to the bottom of the front valance and a clip-on strap fastens below the A-frame. Job done: it really is that simple. The caravan’s lights are still visible through clear plastic panels, and nice design touches include small flaps that allow access to the grab handles.

By unclipping the hooks from the fairing and undoing the hook-and-loop straps from the bottom, you can also have access to the front locker with the Towing Jacket still in-situ.

Tow Pro and Elite

Both of these covers fit in the same way, and are one-piece units. They are very easy to handle and can be fitted quite simply by one person. First, you feed the nearside awning bead into the rail (again, this can be held in place by awning stops if necessary), then the cover is laid across the front of the caravan. You then unzip the awning bead on the offside from top to bottom, and feed it into the awning channel. With the bead in place, rezip the two parts together. It’s good to see that the zips are hidden behind hook-and-loop secured flaps. Again, elasticated clips attach to the front valance and a strap fixes under the A-frame. Then the tops are further secured by adjustable straps for some additional security. The road lights are clearly visible through plastic panels on both covers, too. The Tow Pro Elite (perhaps the Rolls-royce of covers?) also has some added features. Not only is it made of much thicker material, but each cover is designed to give full access to the front locker (bespoke for each model of caravan), by unclipping the elasticated hooks and strap, and then unzipping the panel from the bottom on each side. You can also drop the panel covering the windows if you’re just making a quick overnight stop and don’t want to remove the cover completely. An accessory pack is supplied with the cover, which includes straps to stabilise it if you do use the window facility. After trying out each of these covers, I am really impressed. They are all very high-quality, fit perfectly, and didn’t move, even on long motorway tows. Above all, the front of the van remained spotlessly clean. I have to say, I’m converted.

Thanks to Dave O’brien and Paul Smith from Pro-tec Covers, and Louise Burnell and Gavin Hughes from Specialised Covers