RVing and trailer camping can be expensive propositions. You can spend a lot of money on the vehicle alone. But start adding all the equipment and accessories you need to camp comfortably and the total cost gets even higher. It can be enough to cause anyone to ask if RV skirting is worth the investment.
The answer to that question isn’t black and white. It depends on multiple factors, including how and when you use your vehicle. RV skirting is definitely a must have for some RVers. It’s an unnecessary luxury for others. Figuring it out for your situation means stepping back and assessing a few things.
Are You a Seasonal Camper?
The first thing to assess is whether or not you are a seasonal camper. By ‘seasonal’ we mean someone who takes his RV or trailer out only during the summer months. RV skirting is designed mainly to protect the underside of your rig by keeping cold air out and warm air in. This may not be an issue for you as a seasonal camper.
On the other, year-round campers know that RV skirting is essential. In combination with a few other practices, adding RV skirting is the best way to prevent frozen pipes and cold floors. It doesn’t hurt that skirting keeps critters from crawling underneath the rig.
Where Do You Camp Most Frequently?
Another thing to ask yourself is where you camp most frequently. It applies to both seasonal and year-round campers. Perhaps you are a seasonal camper but you spend most of your time up in the mountains. It can get pretty cold at night. Investing in RV skirting might be worth it to you.
Another camper might like to spend most of his time in the American Southwest. RV skirting probably wouldn’t be necessary in the summer – at least to protect plumbing against cold temperatures – but winter camping would be another matter. It can get pretty cold in the Southwest on winter nights.
Don’t forget RV skirting during the summer months, either. As explained in the next section, a good skirting solution can help keep an RV or trailer cooler under the hot summer sun. So if you do the majority of your summer camping where temperatures get pretty high, investing in skirting might be a good idea.
Do You Want to Save Money on Heating and Cooling?
Finally, ask yourself if you want to save money on heating and cooling. According to the good people at AirSkirts, this is one of the most misunderstood aspects of RV skirting. A good skirting solution doesn’t just protect pipes from freezing. It also makes heating and cooling more efficient.
When it’s cold out, a good skirting product with decent insulating capabilities prevents cold air from circulating underneath an RV or trailer. But it also retains heat under the unit. Heat retention reduces the amount of energy spent on heating by reducing how frequently the on-board heating unit has to cycle. Less energy means money saved.
The opposite holds true during the summer months. Skirting keeps hot air from circulating underneath an RV or trailer. Meanwhile, convection causes air under the rig to cool when the AC unit runs. That cool air will keep the unit cooler for longer periods of time. The AC won’t turn on as often, saving more energy and money.
RV skirting is one of those accessories that pays for itself over time. Whether or not it represents a good investment for you depends on your circumstances. Hopefully this post has given you a starting point for figuring it out.