Looking to get a winter cover. Anyone have a view on Specialised vs Protec?

Protec seem to offer an easy fit panel to make putting the cover on easier than the specialised.

Is one a better made than the other?

Just had one from protec delivered here in France, but yet to use it, it seems though that the end opening isnt that important with the Eriba from what I was told when I ordered it. They processed the order well despite some bad reports and their admin probably isnt the finest but they seem helpfull. I also provided a photo of our van for their reference

I have a a cover for my troll purchased from AL in 2014, it has worn a bit near the chimney and where the awning irons stick out from the rail,in spite of padding around these places with some bubble wrap, but I have used the spare piece of cloth they sent with it and patched the inside.When I tried to order form Protec there was a 4 month waiting list. The better the quality of the fabric, the more expensive they are , but the longer they last.We use a couple of brooms to help it on, it's quite a tight fit but it does have an unzippable flap for the door.
I give my van a good wash at the end of September, and try to polish the roof, and cover up until the Spring.

I have a specialised for my Familia which I bought in 2012 and it is still in good order. It has a built in gusset to accommodate the chimney. I believe that the Protec doesn't have this facility and they provide a chimney hat?

g28p384-Familia-wrapped-up-snug-in-the-snow.html

As far as I am aware the cover has the chimney gusset integrated

It may have changed now Bryn, I asked the question back in July 2015 and got the reply below:
You will be looking at £290.00 for your Eriba.
We supply you with a flue hat.

Kind regards,
Kirsty

On 02/07/2015 23:02, Pro-Tec Covers. Caravan Covers, Motorhome Covers
and Tailored Covers
>
> Hi, do you make a caravan cover for the 2012 Eriba Familia 320, Also
> do they have gusset sewn in to accommodate the chimney? Thanks

We got a Kampa cover from AL which we used last winter and were really pleased with it. Despite some terrible weather it protected our Eriba . Seem to remember taking the cowling cover off and stuffing it with bubble wrap before we put the cover on. A few times we had to re-tighten the straps that went under the van after very strong winds.

Can't comment yet on durability but when we put it away it seemed to be undamaged. We will probably stop using Eriba sometime in November and probably keep the cover on until the end of April. MikeT

Hi Colin

If the question was for me I'm afraid I can't.remember off the top of my head. I store it in the box in the loft and would normally get the ladder down and have a quick look but as I had a new hip fitted two weeks ago the loft is one of the many out of bounds areas at the moment.

Thinking back I just rang Cameron at AL not long after we had got our 540 and he sent us the appropriate Kampa cover. I'm not sure if is specific to the Troll or generic for the Eriba. When we put it on last winter it didn't cover about an inch of the rear bumper but we might not have put it on exactly square and didn't think it mattered for an inch. MikeT

As a new Eriba owner, do most people use covers on their units over the winter? I recall that they were not recommended for "white boxes"!

I think I’m going to go with the specialised as I like the two tone option.