Year-Round Protection
Shelter Your RV With a Cover  

RV View
Tuesday August 17, 2004

Your motorhome, travel trailer, fifth-wheel or other RV represents what could be the

second largest investment of your life—well, maybe third if you count your children’s college education. And unless you’re a fulltimer, your RV may sit for weeks, maybe even months, exposed to all of Mother Nature’s harsh elements including rain, snow, bird droppings, tree sap and wind-driven dirt and dust.

Especially harmful are the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Every day your RV is exposed to the elements can cause paint and interior surfaces to fade, while vinyl, rubber, leather and fabrics can dry, crack and deteriorate.

Portable Garage

Unless you are one of those rare individuals with a permanent garage in which to park your RV, you will have to rely on protection from an RV cover or portable tent/garage to help maintain your sizable investment.

The least expensive and most versatile protection you can get for your coach is an RV cover. While there are different cover designs and materials available, the most important thing to take into

consideration is ease of use and quality. Find a cover that is strong and durable yet easy to handle because even a quality cover does no good if seldom used because it’s too hard to put on the RV.

Custom Fit Covers

Custom-fit covers made for specific RV models provide better protection than universal-fit covers because they conform to the exact contours of the vehicle. For instance, a custom-fit cover will not move around in the wind as much as a typical universal-fit cover.

When ordering a custom-fit cover, make sure you mention such things as aftermarket roof-mounted air conditioners, mirrors, spare tires, racks and other appendages (See “How to Measure” story on page 57). Custom-fit covers can also have—either as standard or optional equipment—extra openings for side doors or rear ramps on the new Toy Haulers so you easily can go into and out of the RV without going through the trouble of removing the cover.

Material Matters

An important consideration when ordering a cover is selecting the right type of fabric for your geographical conditions. Compare RV cover fabrics to one another by the type of material, the length of the warranty and lastly, the cost. Quality RV covers are “breathable,” which allow moisture to escape. If the cover does not breathe well, unwanted moisture can get trapped against the vehicle’s finish and promote rust or discoloration of any gel-coat, paint or plastic graphics. Breathable covers are also designed to help reduce the formation of mold and mildew and allow heat to escape, keeping interiors cooler. Quality covers are also water resistant and provide protection against UV radiation.

Rubber Rot

Tires can also be destroyed by the environment in as little as one season if not properly cared for. It is essential that RV tires be protected from the damaging UV rays of the sun as well as from the ozone. Tires on RVs kept in storage are subject to premature cracking, especially in the sidewall area.

For vehicles used infrequently, this tire rot can be greatly reduced by blocking the sun’s rays. Quality coverings that guard against environmental damage, such as the ADCO Ultra Tyre Guard, are available for your tires for a minimal cost.

Quality tire cover construction should include overlapping seams, with double-needle stitching for extra strength. In some models, reinforced grommets and ties allow for a tailored look and prevent loss to wind.

While covers might be considered an expensive addition to an already costly rig, the real truth is that they will add resale value as the cover takes the beating from the elements instead of your RV. Imagine how much it would cost to repaint the exterior, purchase and install new graphics, reupholster the dash and front seats and replace the curtains. It’s easy to see how quality covers can actually come out looking like a bargain.

ADCO RV Covers

ADCO Products Inc., the exclusive supplier of RV covers to Camping World, offers a full range of high-quality covers using fabrics including Sunbrella (Glen Raven Mills Inc.), Dupont Tyvek and SFS Aqua-Shed. The Universal-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 easy-access, zippered entry doors.

Sunbrella

Considered ADCO’s premier RV cover material, Sunbrella (by Glen Raven Mills) is offered in the model-specific Custom-Fit line and includes a five-year warranty. 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.

DuPont Tyvek

ADCO also offers DuPont Tyvek RV fabric in the Custom-Fit line in addition to the Tyvek Universal-Fit models which also feature zippered access. Universal-Fit covers come with a two-year warranty; Custom-Fits come with a four-year warranty. DuPont Tyvek features microscopic pores that both resist water and allow trapped moisture to evaporate from inside the cover. The polypropylene sides, used on the Universal-Fit models, ensure maximum breathability to eliminate mold and mildew. With the ability to block 99.8% of the sun’s UV rays, these covers are also 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, pollution and droppings.

SFS Aqua-Shed

SFS Aqua-Shed, a new fabric for ADCO, is available in a 100% SFS Aqua-Shed Custom-Fit model, which includes a three-year warranty. SFS Aqua-Shed is also utilized in the top paneling of the Universal-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. All ADCO covers feature strap and buckle attachments to prevent billowing in windy locations and allow for a custom-tailored look and fit.