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When considering an RV cover, be sure to look at breathable, polypropylene covers with zippered entry doors that allow easy access to the interior of the RV. The entry doors are espcially useful if you plan to cover your RV for extended periods of time. Covering an RV or motorhome with a full size cover protects your RV from sun damage (UV rays), acid rain, dirt, bird droppings, sap and more. Some covers resist water though they are NOT water proof. Actually they are designed to shed water like condensation, dew, or light rain but allow trapped moisture to evaporate.
RV covers are not without problems though. One should be aware that certain animals and bugs find it quite comfortable under the covers as they appreciate the same protection you are trying to give your RV or motorhome. Wind can be real problem as well. Strap and buckle attachment systems prevent billowing to a degree but be aware that ANY heavily repetitious movement could cause abrasion damage to weaker components like a plastic mirror casing or backup camera lens. If you buy an RV cover, make sure the edges and seams are reinforced to prevent tearing especially over the ladder.
RVs Go Undercover - Protect Your RV Investment With a Cover or Portable Garage
by Bill Siuru, reprinted with permission from RV View, Monday October 8, 2001
You have a large investment in your motorhome, travel trailer, fifth-wheel or other RV. Unless you’re a fulltimer, it may sit for weeks, maybe even months, exposed to elements including wind-driven dirt and dust, snow, bird droppings, tree sap and acid rain.
Especially harmful are the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause paint and interior surfaces to fade, while vinyl, rubber, leather and fabrics can dry, crack and deteriorate.
Unless you are one of those extremely lucky and rare individuals who has a permanent garage in which to park your RV, you will have to rely on protection from an RV cover or portable garage.
The least expensive protection for your coach comes with an RV cover. While there are different cover designs and materials available, the most important considerations are ease of use and quality. So it is important to find an RV cover that is easy to handle yet strong and durable. After all, a cover does no good if it is seldom used because it is too hard to put on and take off.
Custom-fit covers made for a particular RV provide better protection than universal or ready-fit covers because they follow the exact contours of the vehicle. For instance, custom-fit covers will not move around in the wind as much as an ill-fitting universal-type cover. When ordering a custom-fit cover, make sure you include provisions for such things as roof-mounted air conditioners, mirrors, spare tires and other appendages. Covers will also usually have, either as standard or optional equipment, openings for doors so you can go into and out of the vehicle without going through the hassle of removing the cover.
An important consideration, when selecting a cover, is the type of fabric. You can compare RV cover fabrics to one another by the weight-per-foot of material, the length of the warranty and the cost. High-quality RV covers are “breathable,” which allow moisture to escape. If the cover does not breathe well, corrosion-causing moisture can get trapped against the vehicle’s finish and promote rust. Breathable covers help reduce the formation of mold and mildew and also allow heat to escape to keep interiors cooler.
High quality covers will also be water resistant and will provide protection against UV radiation.
Speaking of UV radiation, tires can be destroyed by the environment in as little as just one season if not properly cared for. It is critical that RV tires are protected from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays as well as ozone. Tires on vehicles kept in storage are subject to premature cracking, especially in the sidewall area, which can lead to blowouts. Incidentally, for vehicles used frequently, oils in the tires come to the surface during flexing and protect the rubber from ultraviolet light.
For vehicles not used frequently, tire damage can be greatly reduced with the use of protective coverings. Quality protective coverings that guard against environmental damage are available for your tires.
Tire cover construction often features seams that are overlapped, with double needle stitching for extra strength. Also, in some models, reinforced grommets located on each side of the cover allow for a tailored look and, most importantly, eliminate loss to wind.
An alternative to an RV cover is a portable garage such as the Cover-It Instant Garage. Although they often are more expensive and not as convenient as an RV cover, there are many styles of portable garages available on the market. Typically, these use a steel or aluminum frame covered with a fabric material much like that used for RV covers. If you are considering a portable garage, first check to make sure that your local building codes and neighborhood covenants allow “temporary” structures.
The big advantage of portable garages is that you can drive in and work in and around an RV with ease — that is, if you buy one that is big enough. When selecting a portable garage, it’s important to check the construction of the frame and how the fabric is attached to this framework. The fabric used on portable garages, like covers, must provide protection against sunlight damage and keep the RV moisture free.
Portable garages used in northern climates must be able to handle snow loads and in windy areas must be securely anchored and constructed so they don’t take off like a kite. Again, when ordering, make sure to account for appendages like air conditioners, antennas and other considerations.
Although an RV cover or portable garage can be an expensive addition to an already costly rig, in this case, an ounce of protection is definitely worth a pound of cure.
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