Keep Yourself Covered this Winter!

As a great fictional TV character once (many many times) said; Winter is Coming. While for most of us that means cold weather, slush in our boots and less than ideal travel conditions-it also means that RV owners will start unpacking their covers and making sure that everything is in good condition to protect their baby from the coming cold weather.

Why use a cover?

There are probably a million and five reasons why you should consider covering your RV when storing it for the winter! (Yes even if you’ve found reasonably priced indoor storage!) Some of the best reasons, but not all, to cover your RV are:

                -          Keeps sun, snow and other damaging elements off of the roof of your RV, helping to                              avoid premature replacement of the roof material.

                -          Prevents oxidation of side body surfaces. Prevents exposure to the elements                                        ultimately creating unsightly and damaging rust spots.

                -          Keeps the hardware and seals from rusting and drying out. Less maintenance to get                            your RV road ready when the weather starts to get warm!

                -          Helps to keep mold out of the unit, ultimately preventing mold from forming on the                              body surface and damaging the structure.

Well I mean that all makes sense, but I have a big tarp I was going to use, wouldn’t that be enough?

Unfortunately, no. We wouldn’t suggest using a tarp for long-term storage of your RV, Motorhome, Travel Trailer, 5^th Wheel... Or really anything else that will have long term exposure to the elements. Tarps are really good for keeping things dry when you don’t want them to be otherwise, but for an RV this isn’t what you want-not exactly. Covers designed for RVs use special fabrics that keep your RV dry, but still allow moisture to escape from underneath. This helps to prevent things like mold, oxidation, and damage to the hardware and seals that hold your RV together.  Not to mention tarps are made from a very rugged material and have a high chance of damaging/scratching the roof and sidewall surfaces when moved by wind (like a giant colourful piece of sandpaper.)

What kinds of vehicles are covers made for?

A cover can be found for almost any motor vehicle/ towable.

                          -          Class A Motorhomes

                          -          Class B Vans

                          -          Class C Motorhomes

                          -          Fifth Wheel

                          -          Travel Trailers

                          -          Toy Haulers

                          -          Truck Campers

                          -          Folding Trailers

                          -          Horse Trailers, Gooseneck Trailers

                          -          Trucks/SUVs

                          -          Cars

Types of Covers/ Which Should I look for?

While most cover manufacturers will make universal RV covers for most sizes, there are different types of materials that are best suited for different conditions:

SFS Aquashed – Ideal for wet type climates (think West Coast of Canada, Midwest of the U.S.) If you’re storing your RV in an area that has above average rainfall, or a really humid climate this might be your best bet.

Wind Tyvek – These covers are designed to be best equipped to cope with extreme weather conditions and harsh environments. We would especially recommend for areas where your RV will be exposed to excessive UV rays, Snow and below 0 temperatures, as well as dust! Wind Tyvek covers also come with four tire covers for ultimate protection!

Okay so I know why I should get a cover, what kind would be best for my situation, but how do I know which size would be the best fit for me?

Measuring your RV is a pretty easy task, and because most covers are universal (you can order custom makes) finding one to fit your RV should be rather simple! In order to get the proper measurements you want to:

                          -          Start at the very front of the body of what you’re covering.

                          -          Measure to the farthest away extremity on the back of your                                                                  RV/Motorhome/Trailer etc. (this would include things like spare tires, bike                                              carriers, bumpers etc.)

And that’s it! RV covers are fitted on a by length estimate, with the width and height calculated the longer the unit. So, with those measurements you’ll be able to find an RV cover to fit your home-away-from-home and keep it protected from whatever the winter wants to throw at it. When you receive your cover and begin to apply it, you’ll probably notice that it fits a little loose at first. That’s perfect. After slipping the RV cover on, utilize the included straps and create a snug fit around your RV/ motorhome!

There are also covers for external accessories for your RV for more information please see below:

                          -          Tire Covers (Mounted Spares)

                          -          Tyre Guards (For tires on the vehicle – single, double and triple axle.)

                          -          Propane Tanks

                          -          Air Conditioners Covers

                          -          Solar Vent Covers

                          -          Bike Covers

If you still have questions about RV Covers not answered in this article, please do not hesitate to contact us at customerservice@thepartshops.com and we will answer your questions as soon as possible!