OT -- Custom Oversize Hot Tub Covers -- OT

HendersonTRKing

Any suggestions, recommendations, warnings?  Lots of vendors and fabricators pop up on the google machine and most have a significant trail of customer complaints. 

My need is a replacement for an inground, oversized, custom tub that was built and installed before we arrived -- I'd never have designed the Rube Goldberg albatross that graces my patio, but it works when it's working; the last cover I bought has reached the end of its useful life and is badly in need of replacement.   

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.  

lousubcap

This thread may be just the diversion needed on a Tuesday.  
Curious as to the life of your current cover.  Max I could get was about 3 1/2 years (commercial tub and cover).  Could is the operative word as Got Junk became the owners of the spa a couple of years ago.  Did work well for about 19 years but a computer glitch started to cause major programming challenges to the point where it was time to go.  

GregW

I owned a hot tub. I bought it new in 1994. It lasted me 20 years with very little trouble. I replaced the cover twice in that time period. I finally got rid of it to free up space on the deck for a larger smoker. It was fully operational when I got rid of it.
As far as the replacement covers go, I bought them from the dealer, but they were aftermarket.

HendersonTRKing

Existing cover failed, and failed spectacularly, after a long illness that has all but ended its unexpectedly long 5-6 year life.   At 107 x 107, it was prone to failure. 

Sadly, not much in the way of recommendation or comment from the forum.  Will head over to the hot tub forum and see what they have to say.  [j/k, I'm not on the hot tub forum -- too political and too many posts about things not hot tub related.]  

brentm

Do you not want to use the same manufacturer?  We have a tub and I grew up in a house with a tub, and those covers (the styrofoam lined covers with patent leather and baseball stitching) seem to last about 5-7 years

I think my next cover will be one of these.

https://smartopspacover.com/ - they do custom covers.

do you need a cover lift assist?  because it's in-ground, do you need to be able to support people walking over it?

Markarm4119

Try the cover guys, I bought one from them after the original grove down. The replacement lasted8+ years 

HendersonTRKing

Thx, all.  Researched a bunch and they all seem to have lots of reviews online (many of them not terrific, noting specific/individual problems that sometimes turned into customer service nightmares).  Went with Hot Tub Works -- very easy to deal with on the front end.  I guess now I'm either an expert or a fool.  Maybe a bit of both.  Time will tell!