Large RV covers can be very frustrating to work with. Follow these tips to make it easier to put the cover on, take it off and store it.
Should You Cover Your RV?
Yes. Leaving your RV exposed to the rain and snow during the winter can lead to roof damage and leaks. The best way to protect your RV and prevent water damage during the winter is to keep it covered. Here’s what happened when I neglected to cover my RV one winter.
The best solution is to store your RV in a covered RV garage. The next best solution is to invest in a good quality RV cover.
If you decide to get an RV cover, you may find it frustrating to work with. Getting it up onto the roof is the first challenge you’ll face. So I want to share these solutions to help you out.
Here are some practical RV cover tips
Tip #1 – Don’t Cover a Dirty RV
When taking the cover off in the Spring I always get excited when I find a nice clean RV underneath. This is why I recommend giving your RV a quick wash before putting the cover on. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Tip #2 – The EASY Way to Put the Cover On and Take It Off
Your first challenge will be figuring out how to get the RV cover on the roof. This sounds easy enough but, while in its storage bag, an RV cover is pretty hard to handle.
If you’re not physically able to get it up there and unpack it, you’ll be stuck. Someone once told me that they never used their new RV cover, because they didn’t know how to get it on the roof. After I shared this tip with them, they were able to get it done.
The EASY way to safely get the RV cover up to the roof without hurting yourself
- Unpack the cover on the ground next to your RV first with the front of the cover positioned near the front of your RV
- Connect one of the long straps to one of the clips and climp up to the roof holding the strap
- While on the roof, use the strap to pull the cover up to the roof a section at a time
How To Remove The Cover
When it is time to take off your RV cover, simply reverse the process. Unclip the straps holding the cover onto your RV and gradually lower it back onto the ground. Once on the ground, you can roll it up and store it.
Tip #3 – EASY Way To Store Your RV Cover
Getting the cover back in its protective bag is one of the most frustrating things to do.
When you get a new RV Cover, it comes folded perfectly and packed tightly in a nice little storage bag. Once you’ve removed it and used it though, folding the cover back up perfectly and packing it into that storage bag is nearly impossible. Frankly, I think it’s a waste of time to even try. I’ve come up with a better way to store your RV cover.
- First, get rid of the storage bag that came with your cover
- Next, buy a large plastic garbage can with wheels on it from your local home store
- With your cover on the ground, fold it up as much as you need to, then stuff it in the can (It doesn’t have to be perfect)
- Put the extra straps and stuff that came with the cover in the can on top of the cover
- Place the lid on the garbage can and roll it away until the next time you need it
Tip #4 – Get an RV Cover That Will Last Longer
When selecting a cover for your RV I recommend going with a very heavy duty cover that will withstand the sun, rain and snow for as many years as possible. They will generally cost more but last years longer than the cheaper and extremely light weight covers.
I’ve been using a thicker cover from Empire Covers for 6 years now. It has held up pretty well through cold winter as well as hot summer days with minimal wear.
Here’s a link to the Empire Covers RV Cover on Amazon. I believe I can probably get another couple years out of it.
Cheaper covers I’ve used have had to be replaced after a single year. So spend the extra money and get the heavier duty one.