Top Up or Down Storage

[olypilot]

I have the ability to store my camper indoors with the top either up or down. Is there an advantage of one over the other? It seems that long term it would be better for the vinyl not to be folded in on itself, but I am not an expert. I have purchased 303 to keep the vinyl in good condition.

Thanks

 

[Utah]

I don’t think there is a significant reason for one over the other. I prefer to store with the roof raised. Possibly the gas lift assist struts may be happier being extended.

 

[Jon R]

I also have a dolly and tall garage. I don’t think the answer is obvious. There’s the long term folding concern you identified, but minimizing UV and ozone exposure is important too. Finally, making sure it is good and dry inside and out before you store it down to prevent mold and mildew is critical. I generally start the storage period with it up for a week or two, and then keep it down unless I need it up for some reason.

 

[ckent323]

I second the UV concern.

Store it closed outside unless you can cover it, particularly the vinyl windows, if you can cover it or if you can store it inside with top up then best to store it with top up. A friend of mine has an early 1980's Keystone with original soft side material still in good shape. He always stores it inside with top up to minimize permanent creasing of the material.

Sadly I left our 2007 FWC Keystone camper stored outside last summer with the top up for a couple of months. One of the clear vinyl windows on the South side of the camper became brittle from the UV and cracked. Now I store it with top down. No room inside the garage for it.

 

[olypilot]

I second the UV concern.

Store it closed outside unless you can cover it, particularly the vinyl windows, if you can cover it or if you can store it inside with top up then best to store it with top up. A friend of mine has an early 1980's Keystone with original soft side material still in good shape. He always stores it inside with top up to minimize permanent creasing of the material.

Sadly I left our 2007 FWC Keystone camper stored outside last summer with the top up for a couple of months. One of the clear vinyl windows on the South side of the camper became brittle from the UV and cracked. Now I store it with top down. No room inside the garage for it.

I can store it inside in my hangar at the airport. I was just curious of there were any reasons not to leave it up long term. I do like the ability go actually use it in the hangar to eat lunch or cook a meal. I even spent the night in it once.

 

[rubberlegs]

In our previous home, we left it up all the time, with a corner* of the windows open and the vents slightly open. It was in a carport and saw no sun. Also we left the fridge ajar. Well, once we didn't and paid for it! Anyway, I miss that carport. We could pop it all the way up and it was so easy to load/unload at home, and to clean it, etc.

* The corner away from the stretch cord loop. I tried not to cycle the velcro where it gets pulled by the cord too many times.

 

[Beach]

I leave mine closed except if we dont use it for awhile. In that case i open it to air out and uncrease the fabric. After 20+ years in the inflatable boat/liferaft business, you see the damage done when boats and rafts remain folded for months/years at a time. Hard creases will eventually cause a failure in the coating at the crease. especially where the crease comes to a point. This is more common as the fabric ages and becomes less pliable. Keeping the fabric clean and applying 303 at least once a season is a good way to prolong the life of the fabric. P.S. Never use conditioners that have petroleum distillates in them.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

When we store under cover, the top is up, a window and vent opened slightly. If outside, air it out, then top down, window and vent opened slightly.

 

[jclifb]

If you can store indoors with top up, I'd imagine that would be the best method. If it's relatively climate-controlled and sees no sunlight then the canvas/vinyl, struts, interior, etc should all benefit from the extended state.

I store mine in my climate-controlled garage open and it also allows me to tinker, fix, pack, unpack, etc.

 

[nikonron]

I keep it opened inside the shop. Easy to access when needed.

 

[Jon R]

I leave mine closed except if we dont use it for awhile. In that case i open it to air out and uncrease the fabric. After 20+ years in the inflatable boat/liferaft business, you see the damage done when boats and rafts remain folded for months/years at a time. Hard creases will eventually cause a failure in the coating at the crease. especially where the crease comes to a point. This is more common as the fabric ages and becomes less pliable. Keeping the fabric clean and applying 303 at least once a season is a good way to prolong the life of the fabric. P.S. Never use conditioners that have petroleum distillates in them.

Based on this I think I will change my default to roof up for long indoor storage periods, and minimize the number of times i leave the camper on the truck with the top down for a few months between trips. Probably my camper should be inside on the dolly with the roof up more than I’ve been doing that.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with the fabric.

 

[Jon R]

Question: I have the Arctic Pack, and I have not removed it and applied 303 Protectant to the inside yet. I’ve only applied it to the outside. It a 2021. Should I be applying 303 to the inside surface annually?

 

[jclifb]

Question: I have the Arctic Pack, and I have not removed it and applied 303 Protectant to the inside yet. I’ve only applied it to the outside. It a 2021. Should I be applying 303 to the inside surface annually?

I'd like to know as well because mine has the arctic pack as well and not sure its ever been taken off since new in 2016.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I'd like to know as well because mine has the arctic pack as well and not sure its ever been taken off since new in 2016.

Question: I have the Arctic Pack, and I have not removed it and applied 303 Protectant to the inside yet. I’ve only applied it to the outside. It a 2021. Should I be applying 303 to the inside surface annually?

To the best of my knowledge, it’s external only, and that is all I’ve done.

BTW, check Amazon for larger quantities, they’re typically much less expensive than brick and mortar.

 

[Beach]

The coating is single sided, I only apply to the exterior.

 

[smlobx]

I was advised to store it with the top up indoors.

 

[RicoV]

Hmm, I've been applying 303 protectant on the inside vinyl as well the outside for lots of years now, hope it doesn't turn out to have been my bad? To be honest, can't say I've seen any vinyl deterioration as a result on either side, thankfully.
Rico.