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I'm forced to leave my truck outside this winter and I'm looking for a cover -- at least for the cab canvas. I know it's gotta breath or the canvas rots. They can be really expensive or dirt cheap:
http://www.heartlandamerica.com/browse/ ... C=WIG20001&
(Budge B-2 Car Cover)

Bottom line: I'm cash strapped (a.k.a. there ain't nothin' at the bottom line). Any thoughts, guys?

Have you considered taking the canvas top off and putting a waterproof tarp on instead? Might have to keep shovelling snow off of it. Other thought is the shrink wrap they encase boats in for the winter but again, take the canvas off.

WarrenD wrote:Have you considered taking the canvas top off and putting a waterproof tarp on instead? Might have to keep shovelling snow off of it. Other thought is the shrink wrap they encase boats in for the winter but again, take the canvas off.

I have. But a good tarp doesn't cost much less than the "breathable" car cover I was looking at. And if the cover really "breaths" shouldn't it protect the canvas without harming it?

I would take my canvas off and store it inside and then put a plastic tarp over the truck and secure it down for the winter.

OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WINTERS I HAVE LEFT THE CANVAS TOP ON AND THEN COVERED THE TRUCK WITH A TARP. IT WORKS GREAT AT KEEPING OUT THE RAIN AND SNOW, BUT THE TARP, NO MATTER HOW I TIE IT DOWN, MOVES IN THE WIND AND CAUSES WEAR SPOTS ON THE PAINT. I RE-PAINTED MY TRUCK IN THE SPRING AND WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER METHOD TO KEEP OUT MOTHER NATURE.
GOOD LUCK BOB

8543bob wrote:OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WINTERS I HAVE LEFT THE CANVAS TOP ON AND THEN COVERED THE TRUCK WITH A TARP. IT WORKS GREAT AT KEEPING OUT THE RAIN AND SNOW, BUT THE TARP, NO MATTER HOW I TIE IT DOWN, MOVES IN THE WIND AND CAUSES WEAR SPOTS ON THE PAINT. I RE-PAINTED MY TRUCK IN THE SPRING AND WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER METHOD TO KEEP OUT MOTHER NATURE.
GOOD LUCK BOB

So the tarp (I assume is standard blue-plastic type) will screw up the paint but does not cause the canvas to mildew(?) I could live with that for 1 winter. It's the canvas I was worried about....

Riverrat wrote: So the tarp (I assume is standard blue-plastic type) will screw up the paint but does not cause the canvas to mildew(?) I could live with that for 1 winter. It's the canvas I was worried about....

If your concern is the canvas then I stick by what I said. Take the top inside and store it for the winter. On many of my MVs over the years I would have two tops. My Summer top would be a canvas top that was either an NOS one or a good quality repo and my winter top was a vinyl top that again was either NOS that I picked up at a show, on-line ect. or like on my M211 where the Army never made a vinyl top went to a boat/canvas shop in town and had one made. This way the vinyl took the abuse of the winter months and the canvas was there for driving in the summer. The vinyl top also allowed me to drive the vehicle in the winter if I needed to.

These are just my working knowledge and opinions from being in this hobby for 25 years and are not meant as this is what you should do, but as suggestion as possible corses of action to take on your truck. Good luck.

Thanks, guys, for all info!