Cheap RV Winter Skirting: Best DIY Options Explored
If you’re expecting the temperatures to drop to single digits, you will need to fill up your propane tank a couple of times a week. And your RV still might not be warm enough. In comes RV winter skirting.
One excellent solution to keeping the propane costs low and making the RV warmer is skirting.
RV Skirting is any material positioned around the bottom of an RV that acts as a barrier to extreme weather.
With it, freezing air won’t enter your RV from underneath, and the warm air in the RV will get trapped inside. Also, the skirting will keep your holding tanks and pipes from getting damaged.
But there’s one big problem. RV skirting is expensive and can cost upwards of $1000!
The best way to get your hands on cheap RV winter skirting is to make some yourself. DIY RV winter skirtings are just as effective as any skirting you can buy.
But more importantly, they’re much cheaper to put together and don’t take too much effort to build. We discuss your options for building a cheap RV winter skirting below.
Cheap RV Winter Skirting: The Best DIY Options
You might not have thought cheap RV winter skirting exists, and you’re right, but only partly. Putting together a solid winter skirting will cost you a couple of hundred dollars while buying one can set you back thousands.
Some of the most common DIY skirting options include:
#1 Vinyl RV Skirting
Fabric RV skirtings are by far the most common winter skirtings you will find. And vinyl skirtings are the most common of them all for obvious reasons.
Vinyl is economical, and DIYing a winter skirting with it is quite easy. Plus, storing it is simple, and the skirtings have high reusability. You could reuse the same skirting for years!
You can buy custom-made vinyl skirtings for your RV, which are very expensive. But if you buy the materials and build one yourself, you will spend a fraction of a custom-made vinyl skirting’s quote.
Bear in mind that you will need to attach Velcro straps, grommets, and suction cups to stick the panels onto your RV.
#2 Tarp RV Skirting
Tarp is just as affordable as vinyl and can be used to make a cheap RV winter skirting. The material is reusable and quite durable, and getting your hands on insulated tarps is easy. You can find them for next to nothing online.
The downside of using tarp is that you will need to spend a lot of time cutting and installing it. Not to mention, you will need the right tools and skills. Tarp is heavy and takes up a lot of storage, which are other important factors to consider.
#3 Foam Board RV Skirting
Foam boards are extremely affordable and super easy to install as skirting. You don’t need a lot of skill to install them, either.
But the downside to this type of skirting is that foam boards aren’t environmentally friendly. Plus, you can only use it to get through a single winter season.
You will need to buy more foam board the next year, and having to spend the money again might cause you to spend more on skirting in the long run.
#4 Plywood RV Skirting
RV skirtings made from wood are quite common, and most of these skirtings use plywood. You can get plywood anywhere and for cheap, and it’s certainly one of the better materials to build a skirting with.
However, to build this type of cheap RV winter skirting, you will need to cut the plywood into shape. Also, correctly installing it will take time, effort, and skill.
Plywood is heavy, and once the skirting is installed, you cannot move your RV unless you remove the skirting and store it away.
But if you’re going to keep your RV stationary – at least for the winter – you cannot go wrong with plywood skirting.
The main downside to plywood skirting is that it will get dirty and wear out over time. On the flip side, installing plywood skirting will give you extra storage space for camping gear under your RV.
#5 Hay Bale RV Skirting
You might find some straw close to where you’ve parked your RV. Getting your hands on some is a quick and cheap way to put together an effective skirting.
Stuff the bales around your RV, and that’s it, you’re set for the winter. But remember, hay attracts vermin and insects and is a definite fire hazard, so using this method isn’t risk-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is insulated skirting worth it?
You could always use vinyl to insulate your RV. Using vinyl certainly makes more financial sense. However, putting together some insulated skirting will keep your RV warmer and reduce heating costs by as much as 25%.
Can you live in a camper during the winter?
Living in an RV in the winter can be comfortable and rewarding so long as you’ve got the right tools to protect yourself and your RV from the elements. Getting a skirting and installing it are the first things you should do if you’re going to live in your RV in the winter.
Conclusion
If you’ve found a nice spot and want to set up your RV in the same spot throughout the winter, you can also use snow to insulate your RV. All you need to do is pile it up around your rig. The cold air won’t be able to enter from underneath.
But remember that the heat from your RV will cause the snow you’ve piled up to melt away slowly. So, you will need to keep piling up snow if you choose to use it as a skirting.
There’s no need to be nervous if you’re spending the winter in an RV. Rest assured that no matter your budget, there’s an insulating solution for you that will keep you cozy through snow and hail.
And remember to leave a comment below if you’ve found this post helpful.
