Protect your motorhome, caravan or van with a protective cover during the winter period!
It is a real practical and economical solution if you park your vehicle outside during the winter. It protects against the various bad weather: snow, rain, hail, humidity, UV rays, etc. Thanks to a cover, you can find your vehicle in good condition and reduce the number of future repairs.
With RVMasking, find out how to choose the best cover for your vehicle!
Winter is a particularly difficult season for motorhomes. Cold, frost, snow and ice are all factors that can harm your vehicle. To best protect your motorhome in winter, it is important to prepare it well in advance. During this preparation for wintering, it is important to find a suitable place and to cover your vehicle. But how to proceed? And why is it so important? This is what RVMasking will explain to you!
Why store my motorhome under cover?
When your vehicle (motorhome, caravan, van or van) is put into winter storage, it is generally stationary for a long period of time. This period corresponds to winter. During this season, many bad weather conditions can damage your vehicle: rain, hail, cold, frost, snow, ice, humidity, UV etc... This is why it must be protected!
If you do not protect your vehicle properly, several consequences may appear such as mold, rust, scratches and stains on the bodywork, degradation of accessories and parts etc...
To begin with, it is necessary to find a wintering place for your motorhome. Then, depending on the shelter, you will need to cover your vehicle.
How to shelter your motorhome? The choice between shelters, garage, exterior or guarding
There are several wintering places for a vehicle:
At a professional security guard
At an individual
In his garage or shed
Under a shelter
Outside in your garden
The choice of parking location will depend on your budget and the space available at your home. Preferably, the most suitable place is your garage or a shed. It is a high-performance shelter in terms of insulation and one of the least expensive.
If you park your caravan outside or under an outdoor shelter, it is essential to cover it. Moreover, the tarpaulin is the most common and most economical solution if your vehicle sleeps outside.
Should you cover your caravan?
It is essential to cover your motorhome or caravan, if it is parked outside. This is one of the best ways to keep your recreational vehicle in good condition over time.
By installing a tarpaulin, you provide protection against:
cold
humidity
UV rays from the sun
bad weather (rain, hail, snow, etc.)
dirt
More specifically, here is the damage that can be caused by each bad weather.
Cold: The cold must remain outside the vehicle. Like a house, the motorhome must be insulated to prevent the cold from entering. If it enters, it can cause damage such as the degradation of household appliances.
Humidity: Humidity is due to the different rains and the humid climate of the season. Moisture can even seep into the interior of the vehicle. For example, it can cause cracks in the roof and damage the seals of the openings. The tarp is waterproof while allowing moisture to evaporate.
UV rays: The sun's rays are very harmful in the long term. UV rays damage body paint.
Hail: Hail can cause major damage, whether on the roof, on the accessories present on the roof (antenna, solar panels, etc.), on the paintwork of the vehicle, on the skylights or on the windshield.
Snow: If you are in an area where it snows frequently, it can quickly accumulate on the vehicle. After it melts, water can infiltrate. And if the snow freezes because of the cold, it can create cracks.
Dirt: Bad weather brings dirt, which can damage vehicle components in the long term.
The tarpaulin has a considerable advantage: it allows air to circulate while protecting against external bad weather. Thus, you do not risk finding mold after uncovering.
Tip: If you protect your vehicle correctly during the winter, then you will certainly have fewer repairs to carry out afterwards. Practical !
How to choose your protective cover for wintering?
Are you convinced of the need for a tarpaulin for your motorhome? So for this winter, you will have to find the best protective cover! RVMasking guides you in your purchase so that you find your happiness. Let's go !
Tip: A protective cover and a winter cover correspond to the same accessory. It's the same thing !
The form
There are different forms of protective covers:
the full cover
the roof cover
wheel cover
the drawbar cover
cabin cover
windshield cover
the hood cover
bike rack cover
It is either a full cover or a partial protective cover. The covers can therefore be specific to parts of the vehicle.
The integral cover is the one suitable to be used for wintering. Of course, you can complete it with special covers.
The materials
Obviously, the materials that make up the cover will define its quality and longevity. Many materials exist:
polypropylene
polyester
acrylic
polyethylene
A polypropylene tarpaulin is breathable and waterproof. However, several layers are needed for perfect waterproofing.
A polyester cover is optimal for warm seasons.
An acrylic tarp can be treated to withstand the elements and provide protection for 4 seasons.
A polyethylene cover, also called Tyvek, is the recommended material for winterizing the motorhome. It is both breathable and waterproof, while being strong and durable. It is a good material for a motorhome tarpaulin!
The vehicle model
The full protective cover conforms to the shape of the vehicle model to ensure proper coverage. Therefore, you should check the compatibility of the winter cover with your vehicle before purchasing it.
Indeed, a streamlined motorhome is different from a coachbuilt motorhome or even a caravan. Thus, your choice will depend on the shape of the motorhome and the type of your leisure vehicle.
On the other hand, there are also universal covers. In this case, you need to pay attention to the dimensions.
The size
The vehicle model is closely related to the size of the cover to choose. To choose the right dimensions, you must take the length of the vehicle and its height (without the wheels) with a little margin for the accessories (antenna, mirrors, bike rack...). These dimensions obtained will be a basis for finding the optimal size of the protective cover.
The price
For a full cover, regardless of the vehicle model, the price varies between $200 and $600. The price will be different according to all the characteristics seen beforehand: the shape, the materials, the vehicle model and the size.
How do you put a tarp on a motorhome, van or caravan?
After you find the best RV tarp, you need to install it. To easily put a tarp on a van, caravan or motorhome, follow these steps:
Fold up all the accessories and exterior parts of your vehicle (bicycle carriers, mirrors, aerials, etc.)
Place accessories to protect and raise the tarpaulin on your motorhome: roof profiles, corner protectors, spacers...
Unfold the cover and position it on the roof
Once the tarpaulin is correctly positioned on the roof, slide the panels on each side of the vehicle. The tarp should drop just a little below the underbody.
pull the closures
Fix the cover with straps (fixing accessories) without putting too much pressure on it. The tarp should not be loose or too taut. It just has to fit the shape of your vehicle.
Tip: Accessories such as corner protectors prevent tearing of the cover.
To prolong the life of your protective cover, it is important to clean it and store it neatly in its storage bag. The tarpaulin must be absolutely dry and folded correctly.
