Skirting Your RV to Skirt The Cold
03-08-2018
Author: in Henley's Happy Trails
Cold weather and RVs are not always the best of friends. When the temperatures dip below freezing, it can be difficult and costly to keep an RV comfortably warm, especially if it’s windy. Wind chill can take a toll on the outside temperature of a rig.
I have seen well-insulated rigs with arctic packages suffer freeze-ups when the wind chill starts getting into negative temperatures. Since RVs sit above the ground on wheels, the wind blowing underneath is the most likely cause of these frozen mishaps.
Putting a skirt around the bottom of an RV is one of the best ways to combat the cold wind. They can be homemade or professionally custom built to fit any rig.
A tarp is not the only material I have seen used. Some RVers have used foam insulation boards or plywood. If you plan on making a do-it-yourself skirt, you should probably consider the following points:
It’s easy to see that a little forethought may be required before one rolls their own RV skirt.
We made our own skirt for our first year. It held up well enough and served its purpose, but it started to get a bit worn when we attempted to put it up our second year. We opted to have a company make a custom skirt. We couldn’t be happier with the product. It is easy to take down, set up, and we have used it in all types of weather.
Regardless of what type of skirt is used, they make a big difference when it’s below freezing outside. Not only do skirts prevent freezing, they also have an added bonus of making the floor warmer. Ultimately, this may result in some propane savings in the winter. How much depends on how well the skirt keeps the wind out. Additionally, if it’s really cold, I have heard of people putting utility lights under their RV to heat the skirted space up.
Have you ever skirted your RV, and if so, what did you use?
I have seen well-insulated rigs with arctic packages suffer freeze-ups when the wind chill starts getting into negative temperatures. Since RVs sit above the ground on wheels, the wind blowing underneath is the most likely cause of these frozen mishaps.
Putting a skirt around the bottom of an RV is one of the best ways to combat the cold wind. They can be homemade or professionally custom built to fit any rig.
Snow
If you are staying in a place that happens to snow a lot, you have a natural skirting material at your disposal. This method will require a lot of shoveling as it is literally completed by packing snow up against an RV. This creates a snow cave underneath. If the plan is to stay in a cold place for the season and the snow isn’t going to melt while it’s cold, this is the cheapest and most eco-friendly approach to skirting an RV.Related Read: Keep Ice in your Freezer, Not your RV Water Lines
Tarp, Wood, and Other Things
Materials used to create a wind barrier can be made out of anything really. Our first skirt was made out of tarp. We attached it to our rig with industrial velcro tabs. I cut the tarp to the size needed and installed grommets along the bottom trim so it could be secured to the ground with tent stakes.A tarp is not the only material I have seen used. Some RVers have used foam insulation boards or plywood. If you plan on making a do-it-yourself skirt, you should probably consider the following points:
- What is the budget?
- What material is going to be robust enough to withstand the wind, rain, and other weather elements?
- Do I want something just for this season or will I want to reuse it in the future?
- How will I secure the material to my rig?
- How will I secure it to the ground?
- What are the rules and preferences regarding skirting at my RV park?
It’s easy to see that a little forethought may be required before one rolls their own RV skirt.
Professional Custom Skirting
By far, the most expensive way to skirt a rig is to have a professional make one specific to your RV’s size and structure. Depending on the size of the rig, skirts can cost a couple thousand dollars. To their credit, these one-of a-kind designs usually last a very long time and are generally made of heavy-duty vinyl. They are also aesthetically pleasing so parks don’t question their usage.We made our own skirt for our first year. It held up well enough and served its purpose, but it started to get a bit worn when we attempted to put it up our second year. We opted to have a company make a custom skirt. We couldn’t be happier with the product. It is easy to take down, set up, and we have used it in all types of weather.
Regardless of what type of skirt is used, they make a big difference when it’s below freezing outside. Not only do skirts prevent freezing, they also have an added bonus of making the floor warmer. Ultimately, this may result in some propane savings in the winter. How much depends on how well the skirt keeps the wind out. Additionally, if it’s really cold, I have heard of people putting utility lights under their RV to heat the skirted space up.
Have you ever skirted your RV, and if so, what did you use?
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Author: Levi and Natalie Henley
