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When given the choice between DIY or Brand name RV Skirting for Winter, I used to think DIY was the way to go. But now that has all changed since we discovered AirSkirts. We cover AirSkirts, other brand name skirting, and also some popular DIY skirting options below.
You see, when you purchase an RV there is a lot you need to do to ensure that everything is running correctly at all times. This is especially true if you plan on taking out your RV during the winter. If you are planning on vacationing in the winter, you will need to seriously consider adding RV skirting to your RV.
RV skirting is a simple material that is placed around the bottom of the camper. It is used to help ensure that the undercarriage of your RV is protected from colder temperatures.
This is especially important in the winter when you are sometimes dealing with temperatures as low as negative 40 degrees. That is so low that the temperature is the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit.
When you go out in your RV during the winter insulation is always a worry. You need to make sure that your RV is properly insulated, or you may end up having many freezing, sleepless nights.
It can also cause you to get sick as you will not be able to stay warm. So, installing RV skirting and making sure that your RV is properly insulated is a must if you want to go out on the road during the winter. Otherwise, you are opening yourself up to a plethora of risks.
What Is RV Skirting for Winter?
RV skirting is a simple material that you place around the bottom of your RV. Its main purpose is to ensure that the undercarriage of the camper is protected from extremely cold temperatures and wind. Having RV skirting installed will help ensure that you stay warm in your RV during cold winter nights.
The RV skirting also helps provide a barrier from the wind. You see, the floor of the RV is the weakest point in the RV in terms of insulation. As a result, it is the area where cold air has the highest potential of leaking in. This means that the highest risk of your RV getting cold is from the floor.
By investing in RV skirting you will help keep yourself warm in winter and cooler in summer, and you will potentially be saving yourself thousands of dollars in freeze damage. Your propane costs will be lower as you will not need to spend as much heating up the RV in the winter.
And your electrical costs will be lower too especially if you use space heaters. You also will not need to pay for any freeze damage that can happen to your pipes or tanks in the RV.
Do I Need RV Skirting in the Winter?
While you are not at risk of dying or anything like that if you do not install RV skirting, it is highly recommended that you install it if you plan on regularly taking out your RV during the winter. It will greatly improve your quality of life.
If you do not install it, you may be asking yourself why you took the trip in the first place on the first night of a long vacation. In fact, it will not feel like a vacation at all without RV skirting. So, you could definitely say that it is essential.
RV skirting will do more than just improve your quality of life, it will also save you potentially thousands of dollars. Compared to the cost of installing RV skirting, it will be much more expensive to repair damages that can occur from freezing in your RV.
Propane Costs
The first expense that will come from not installing RV skirting is your propane costs. Propane is used to heat your RV, and if you do not have the proper insulation, more propane will be used to keep your RV heated.
As a result, you will be spending a lot more money on replenishing your propane. Even when you spend all this money, your RV will not be kept at a comfortable temperature.
Frozen Pipes and Holding Tanks
Furthermore, since there is no guarantee that your RV will be kept warm even with your increased propane costs, there is a high risk that your RV plumbing pipes could freeze. If this happens, you are in for a world of hurt financially.
You see, when water freezes it expands, which means that the water that was in your pipes will expand. When this happens the ice will eventually have nowhere to go and it will crack your pipes. And the same could happen to your holding tanks. The picture above is a holding tank that froze and split!
So, you will have more problems than pipes that do not work temporarily. You will have pipes that need to be replaced entirely because they have cracks in them. Replacing your pipes can end up costing you a significant amount of money.
Even if they have not sustained enough damage for you to replace them, it will still cost a lot of money to repair them. So, it is better to purchase your RV skirting than to risk all that time and money you will spend if your pipes freeze.
Do I Need RV Skirting for Winter if My RV Has an Enclosed Underbelly?
If you have a four-season RV with an enclosed underbelly, you have heat ducted into your plumbing areas. While this will help prevent your pipes from freezing and cracking, you will still benefit from skirting your RV.
RV Skirting in the winter is beneficial, even if you have an enclosed underbelly. It will help your ducted underbelly heat more efficiently and lower your overall propane costs. It can also help keep your RV more comfortable.
Is RV Skirting Effective?
Any time you can block cold air and wind from whipping around and underneath your RV, you’re going to notice a difference.
That difference may be that you realize you’re going through less propane, or your RV doesn’t feel as cold in the mornings when you wake up.
Other benefits include not worrying about cracked pipes or holding tanks. No matter which method you decide to use, RV skirting is effective for helping retain heat in freezing temps in your RV.
How Do You Skirt an RV for the Winter?
The first thing you need to do is determine which material you are going to use for your RV skirting. For this example, we are going to use rigid foam insulation boards, but there are several materials you can use, and the process is very similar.
Once you have your material you can pick any section to start. However, if you have a slide out it is best to start there. You then need to take measurements of the height and width for your sections. Once this is done you can mark out your measurements on your first board and cut them to the height and width of that section.
You can then put the board in place and push it into any grass or level it with the ground so that there is no gap. Once this is done, you should add tape to secure it.
You only need to use a few small strips to hold it in place. However, you should also use one larger strip that runs across the entire length of the board. You can then continue this process to run around your entire RV.
Next, you will want to use a box cutter to cut out small holes for any pipes or other small pieces that you need to workaround. You also need to make sure that you leave room for you to access your tanks.
Once everything is done you can walk around your RV and make sure that there are no openings or weak spots. If you do not find any then you are ready to go.
What Is the Best DIY RV Skirting for Winter?
Here we will look at a few of the best DIY RV skirting options for you. These are only a few of the options available to you. So, if none of them stand out to you then you can find another option.
You should also note that many campgrounds will not let you in in the winter if your RV skirting does not look decent enough. If it looks too cheesy, they will make you take down the skirting.
So, you need to make sure everything is set and ready to go before you head to the campground.
1. RV WindSkirt 48 inches by 120 inches Silver Skirt Panel
This option from RV WindSkirt meets all the new campground RV skirting requirements. It will keep wind and debris from blowing under your RV and into your socializing areas.
When storing your RV, you can also use the skirting to protect your tires from the environment. Finally, it will help ensure that your RV is protected from freezing during the cold winter months.
2. Double Bubble Reflective Foil Insulation
This reflective foil insulation has two layers of polyethylene industrialized air bubbles bonded between two layers of highly reflective metalized aluminum polyester film. They have industrialized strength and are lightweight despite being durable insulation. They are also designed to hold staples without tearing. It should reflect 97 percent of radiant heat.
The material it is made from is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, fiber free, and safe to handle. It has also passed the ASTM E84 test and ASTM E2599. It is also very easy to install.
This material is not affected by moisture or humidity, and it does not promote the growth of fungi, mold, or mildew. It also does not promote the nesting of insects or rodents which can become an issue with some materials.
This product will save energy by reducing stress on your heating system and keep you warm during the winter. It will reduce your utility bills and improve your overall experience on your next trip.
What Is the Best Brand Name RV Skirting?
Here we will be looking at a few of the most popular RV skirting brands. However, while these are all good brands, they are not the only ones out there. There are plenty of other brands that you can purchase from if you so choose.
1. AirSkirts (RVBlogger Recommended!!!)
We think the very best RV Skirting solution for your RV is AirSkirts. Airskirts has a ton of benefits when compared to conventional or DIY RV skirting, such as:
- Superior Insulation from Cold and Heat
- No Modification or Installation Needed on Your RV
- You Can Set it Up in Under 30 Minutes
- AirSkirts Stays in Place in Snow, Wind, and Rain
- More Affordable than traditional Snap-on RV Skirts
- Military-Grade Construction Makes it Incredibly Durable
AirSkirts will protect the underside of your RV from freezing pipes, heat or cold loss, and damage from the elements. AirSkirts uses air as an insulator, resulting in an increase in heat or cold retention up to 75% greater than traditional skirts. And, AirSkirts works all year round saving you money in warm weather as well!
Use Discount Code SEP24 to SAVE $300!
2. EZ Snap RV Skirting
EZ Snap RV Skirting has designed fasteners that function reliably and are easy to install. They are also available to be shipped all over the United States and Canada. After selling to thousands of customers, they have proved that their RV skirting is effective and easy to install.
This company is committed to manufacturing the highest quality products in North America. As a result, the products that they release can stand up against those of any company.
3. RVSkirting.com
RVSkirting.com is a small family operated company. They started making RV skirting in the fall of 1994 in Colorado. Since then they have branched out to many of the neighboring states. Now they continue to innovate and produce RV skirting that will help ensure that your RV is kept warm during the winter.
Since they are a family run business, they make sure that every product they put out is high quality. They are not some huge corporation that churns out products on an assembly line. Instead, they handcraft every product that they sell.
The founding generation has taught the younger generations how to sew and construct RV skirting so that they can make it quicker for customers.
4. Adco
Adco is another company that produces RV skirting for consumers. They produce skirts that turn wasted space into useful storage space. The skirting they make can be used to store bikes or other gear under your fifth wheel overhang.
Adco RV skirting has heavy duty zippers on all three sides of the skirting. They also have removable velcro. The fasteners and tent spikes are also included with your purchase.
Stay Warm this Winter with the Best RV Skirting for You
After reading, we hope you have all the information you need about RV skirting going forward. We know there is a lot of information to absorb, but it should all be helpful as you find the best RV skirting to prepare you for a winter trip. It might not be fun doing all this research, but it is necessary to ensure that you have a good time once you are out there in the winter.
RVing in the winter is not for everybody. Many seasoned RVers choose to never go on the road in the winter. Instead, they lock up their RVs in the winter and wait for the warmer months to come. However, there are many people that prefer to take their RVs out in the winter.
If you do this, you need RV skirting to be safe. By installing RV skirting you will be saving yourself lots of money in propane costs. You will also potentially save yourself thousands of dollars in pipe replacements if they freeze. So, it is best to have RV skirting installed.
The type of RV skirting that you install is entirely up to you. There are lots of options available, but not all of them will be appealing to you. So, you need to take a look at several options so that you know what is available to you. Then you can make a purchase and start getting ready for your next winter adventure.
Why are you interested in going out in the winter? What company do you think you will purchase RV skirting from? Have you gone RVing in the winter before? Let us know the comments!
I used black RV underliner from Recpro for my skirting, attached with Velcro and a few zip ties at the corners. Think plastic cardboard. Works well, cost about $300 for a roll, and looks great. Easy to adjust with a razor knife and provides adequate insulation. Recommend if you are the least bit handy.
Where can I list used Airskirts for sale?
Hi Beatrice,
I would guess you could sell used AirSkirts on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
All the best!
Miked