Parking RV on Ramp & Experience w/ *Full* Plane Covers: Wings, Fuselage, Tail, Prop

[jackking123]

I am curious what people are doing about parking their RV on the ramp. Any advice to protect and maintain aircraft.
If you use full plane cover which one and time to unwrap and wrap.

 

[lr172]

I am curious what people are doing about parking their RV on the ramp. Any advice to protect and maintain aircraft.
If you use full plane cover which one and time to unwrap and wrap.

My 6 has been on the ramp for the last 7 years. Strong braided line ropes. Tight fitting wheel chokes and my cover goes from the back edge of the cowl past the rear window. Cover is home made sunbrella with a microfiber inner cloth. Very little scratches on plexi even after 7 years. I had to leave my 10 on the ramp for a month (asphalt work in front of hanger) and the lightweight nylon cover created all sorts of fine scratches. Choose wisely there. Strong ropes and good chokes are important. I survived an F1 microburst that wiped out three other planes.

Cowl inlet plugs are hugely important to keep birds out. I forget them ONCE and cost me 4 hours pulling nest materials. Simple $1 sponges are more than adequate.

Last, be certain you have adequate drain holes in fuse bottom. And take steps to insure fuel caps are adjusted correctly. In 7 years, have not found 1 drop of water in fuel. They don’t come that way out of the box though.

 

[jackking123]

My 6 has been on the ramp for the last 7 years. Strong braided line ropes. Tight fitting wheel chokes and my cover goes from the back edge of the cowl past the rear window. Cover is home made sunbrella with a microfiber inner cloth. Very little scratches on plexi even after 7 years. I had to leave my 10 on the ramp for a month (asphalt work in front of hanger) and the lightweight nylon cover created all sorts of fine scratches. Choose wisely there. Strong ropes and good chokes are important. I survived an F1 microburst that wiped out three other planes.

Cowl inlet plugs are hugely important to keep birds out. I forget them ONCE and cost me 4 hours pulling nest materials. Simple $1 sponges are more than adequate.

Last, be certain you have adequate drain holes in fuse bottom. And take steps to insure fuel caps are adjusted correctly. In 7 years, have not found 1 drop of water in fuel. They don’t come that way out of the box though.

thank you Larry.... Great intel. Did you go with Bruce's Custom Covers. The tip on soft liner over the plexi is golden.

Getting a hanger is difficult and very expensive. I could drop $2000 on covers for whole plane, prop, cowl, canopy, tail, wings, and ot would pay for itself in 5-6 mos. Looking at 30 min to remove and put back on, each time, if I go full meal deal... I just hate the idea of putting the thing on the ramp but, that might be what has to happen.

 

[lr172]

thank you Larry.... Great intel. Did you go with Bruce's Custom Covers. The tip on soft liner over the plexi is golden.

Getting a hanger is difficult and very expensive. I could drop $2000 on covers for whole plane, prop, cowl, canopy, tail, wings, and ot would pay for itself in 5-6 mos. Looking at 30 min to remove and put back on, each time, if I go full meal deal... I just hate the idea of putting the thing on the ramp but, that might be what has to happen.

I would have bought bruce, but am cheap and like doing things myself. I have a commercial sewing machine from when i made sails. Not overly difficult to make your own, but a lot time spent makig patterns. I also upholster my own seats.

 

[rv6builder]

I have a Bruce's canopy cover, Aerocovers wing, tail, and prop covers and of course cowl plugs. I also use exhaust plugs (will eventually get around to adapting dessicant into them) and an engine dehumidifier over winter when I barely fly. I also wax the entire airplane (going to try "rejex" next) and in the fall I fog the inside as much as I can with ACF-50. I park my plane right next to the ocean in BC. Not ideal but the hangar wait list around here is nuts.

I have had some paint and corrosion issues, but that was partially a result of bad paint prep, and a few years of reduced attention with a couple kids and a house project. Im hoping my new regime will pay off and my second paint job will last a lot longer. Definately should have got the wing covers earlier.

I sometimes feel a little looked down upon keeping my airplane outside, but you gotta do what you gotta do!


Alex

 

[RV-9erA]

Van's sells one that we use on trips.

Canopy Cover. All RV-6/7/9, Heavyweight

Heavyweight cover for continuous use.

store.vansaircraft.com

 

[lr172]

Van's sells one that we use on trips.
View attachment 119260

Canopy Cover. All RV-6/7/9, Heavyweight

Heavyweight cover for continuous use.

store.vansaircraft.com

You DO NOT want a cover like that for extended use. You want heavy and well formed. Those things flap around in the breeze and like a power sander for your acrylic. Also, the sunbrella stuff allows the water to better migrate out and quickly evaporate. They are fine for short trips, but no good for long term use.

 

[RV-9erA]

You DO NOT want a cover like that for extended use. You want heavy and well formed. Those things flap around in the breeze and like a power sander for your acrylic. Also, the sunbrella stuff allows the water to better migrate out and quickly evaporate. They are fine for short trips, but no good for long term use.

The ones that Van's sells are breathable nylon fabric (much like a tent rainfly). As mentioned in my previous post, we use this lightweight cover for overnight trips out on the ramp -- otherwise, we are hangered. It's always better to keep your plane covered in a hangar if you can.

 

[lr172]

The ones that Van's sells are breathable nylon fabric (much like a tent rainfly). As mentioned in my previous post, we use this lightweight cover for overnight trips out on the ramp -- otherwise, we are hangered. It's always better to keep your plane covered in a hangar if you can.

View attachment 119295

sunbrella is made of coarse acrylic fibers and is FAR more breathable than thin finely weaved nylon. not a big deal for use a couple times a year, but a huge deal for for something permanently sitting in the elements. it is the gold standard in marine protection over nylon or olefin for a good reason.

 

[RV-9erA]

sunbrella is made of coarse acrylic fibers and is FAR more breathable than thin finely weaved nylon. not a big deal for use a couple times a year, but a huge deal for for something permanently sitting in the elements. it is the gold standard in marine protection over nylon or olefin for a good reason.

Okay -- that makes sense as long as the Sunbrella acrylic cover doesn't hold moisture next to the paint. What does a Sunbrella typically weigh? Looks like they are a custom order product from this company?

Materials – Mac's Airplane Covers

www.airplane-covers.com

 

[lr172]

Okay -- that makes sense as long as the Sunbrella acrylic cover doesn't hold moisture next to the paint. What does a Sunbrella typically weigh? Looks like they are a custom order product from this company?

Materials – Mac's Airplane Covers

www.airplane-covers.com

Yes, they are a heavy fabric and you want that in a cover. It keeps the wind from moving it around and scratching the canopy and paint. Yes, water soaks through and is held against the paint just like nylon. Difference is the better breathability, which lets it evaporate out faster than nylon and other fabrics.

Sunbrella is the fabric brand name, not the cover. I know bruce uses it on their heavy covers. Suspect other quality brands do as well.