RVs Go Undercover
Protect Your RV Investment With a Cover or Portable Garage

Bill Siuru
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.

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.

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.

ADCO RV COVERS

ADCO Products Inc. is the exclusive supplier of RV covers to Camping World. ADCO offers a full range of high-quality RV covers using fabrics including Sunbrella Glen Raven Mills Inc., Dupont Tyvek and SFS Aqua-Shed. Their ready-fit covers come in SFS Aqua-Shed and Dupont Tyvek RV fabrics, while custom-fit covers are available in all three fabrics. Custom-fit covers not only offer the advantage of custom tailoring, but also the convenience of a zippered entry door.

Considered ADCO’s premier RV cover, custom Sunbrella covers come with a five-year warranty and feature a durable fabric, that is also used for marine applications, awnings, outdoor furniture and convertible tops. The fibers are solution dyed, so the fabric retains its color permanently. Woven acrylic fibers are also naturally resistant to moisture and mildew and will not harden or crack.

ADCO features Tyvek RV fabric in a 100% Tyvek custom-fit model and in the top paneling on Tyvek ready-fit models. Ready-fit covers come with a two-year warranty; custom fits come with a four-year warranty. Dupont Tyvek RV fabric features microscopic pores that both resist water and allow trapped moisture to evaporate from inside the cover. The polypropylene sides, used on the ready-fit models, ensure maximum breathability and virtually eliminate mold and mildew. With the ability to block 99.8% of the sun’s UV rays, these covers are highly recommended for locations with intense sunlight. Tyvek covers keep out 98% of dirt and dust particles larger than three microns and provide protection against rain and pollution, bird droppings and tree debris.

SFS Aqua-Shed, a new fabric for ADCO, is available in a 100% SFS Aqua-Shed custom-fit model, which has a three-year warranty. SFS Aqua-Shed is also utilized in the top paneling of the ready-fit version and comes with a two-year warranty. SFS Aqua-Shed features triple-layer resistance to high humidity and rainfall in addition to protection against UV rays. As can be found on all of ADCO’s ready-fit covers, strap and buckle attachments prevent billowing in windy locations and allow for a custom look. Reinforced corners resist tears and snags. SFS Aqua-Shed ready-fit covers are available to fit most recreational vehicle types.

In addition to RV covers, ADCO also manufactures Ultra Tyre Gards to protect RV tires from environmental damage, which can cause blowouts. These covers feature bungee-ball attachment systems and are a necessary addition to any RV in storage.