Is a Cover Really Necessary?

[ratfink09]

My wife and I are planning to purchase a Class A motorhome this fall. We currently have a Class C. I am concerned with the two of us trying to install a cover for storage with a bigger unit. We live in upstate NY. How many people leave their Class A without a cover over the winter and have you ever had a problem?

[LongWeekends]

We cover ours as we can't build a permanent structure at our house. Yes it is a pain but I think it is totally worth it. Here is what I can tell you based solely on my experience here in Arizona:

I have yet to see an RV left completely exposed, long term to our intense sun that had a nice looking finish. Keep in mind, we have 5 months of 100+ degree days. Many of those 110+.

I have seen lot after lot of RV's in storage out here and almost everyone of them has faded or oxidized if they have been there long term. This is the case with full body paint(often faded and/or covered with paint checking from the heat) and also non-full-body paint coaches. Decals don't stand a chance!

We had our last coach covered for 5 years without any negative effects from the cover on the paint. Yes we have dust storms and monsoons but it never damaged our coach.

Believe me, I would LOVE covered storage but that would have to be offsite for us and we like having the coach at home.

[RayChez]

We bought a cover for ours a few years back and only used it a couple of times. It is a pita to install them and to remove them. Last time I used it, it was with four inches of snow on the roof and man, it was a job and a half taking the snow and ice off the top. The cover could not be pulled off because of the weight of the snow and ice. So that was the last time.

I just keep my coach waxed with a liquid Mequiar wax to protect it from the UV rays, and I use dry wash most of the time to wash it (Solution). So far the paint job looks like new after thirteen years except the crown on top of the windshield, it was starting to peel the clear coat, but other then that the paint has held good.

[J-Rooster]

I also do not use a cover and my motorhome is stored outdoors 24/7/365. My current RV, I bought new in Jan. 2004, I had a small water leak in 2013 which i fixed myself. I now recaulk the seams every 8 years.

[Mile_High]

As others said above, when we were in storage here in high altitude Denver, the UV would eat the poly covers in a few months, and the wind would get the canvas ones. It seemed like a waste of effort and DW and I jumped at the chance to rent a garage. We've been storing there for 9 years.

The garage saves on UV fade and wear and tear, as well as it being super convenient (don't have to close curtains, cover tires, etc.) However it is a negative investment as we have sold two 5ers that we garaged and even though they sold fast, we didn't get enough over market to pay for the rent on the garage.

Also the full body paint and fiberglass roofs tend to hold up a whole lot better outside than the rubber roof fiberglass wall RV with decals. That is worth the investment in my mind over a cover or garage.

[wa8yxm]

Multiple answers:
For nearly all the US a cover, which is in contact with the RV can do more damage than good. If any dirt or grit gets under the cover, which moves slightly as the wind blows.. You have SANDPAPER.. If you wish a better understanding take a nice piece of polished metal, or well paited metial and apply a sander for a few minutes.. (Actually do not do this, just imagine it).

On the salty coasts... Well,, Decide

Second: Indoor storage.. A cover (building) that requires no application (just back or pull in) and which does NOT contact the coach, no sandpaper, no wind, no sun, no damage (Save rodent) costly

Finally what I do. Neither, Of course I full time.. RIG still looks (Save for some damage) new.. Finish is still shiney, 11 years and 22 wax jobs later.

[Jbrowland]

I store my RV with hundreds of others in a boat and RV storage lot just outside Los Angeles. The vast majority of the RV's there do not have covers and bake in the sun all day long. It seems that the only RV's that have very noticeable damage from the elements are the ones with covers half rotting off of them due to lack of use. IMHO, if you want to protect your RV, use it frequently.

[big_jim_2]

When I purchased our class a pusher I also invested in a pole barn with concrete floor! Best investment I made. After 105,000 miles and 13 years it still looks new. No decals faded or blistering,no need to cover tires,always clean and ready to go. I keep it plugged in all the time and after eight years my coach batteries were still good but a long trip to Alaska prompted me to change before really necessary.

[aerbus32]

I purchased a top quality cover for our previous 32' Class A asap. I knew of fellow boaters who had trailered their boats with covers insufficiently tied down and had damaged the boats. I made sure our cover was securely attached. First time I took it off I noticed slight damage to the gelcoat on the top edge of the front of the coach. I took steps to insure that didn't happen again. In my area of So Cal, we often got pretty good afternoon breezes. I soon realized that there was no way I could totally prevent that cover from moving in the wind on something as big as our motorhome. But not before I had to repair minor damage to the gelcoat. I trashed the cover before it trashed the RV.

[Dick_B]

For interesting reading search in the Class A section for RV `cover'. We use a Sunshield tarp to cover the top and a little of the sides, front and back. Much easier to get on and off BUT one still has to go onto the roof. When we pull it off we fold it up accordian style and unfold it on the roof.

[DutchmenSport]

A cover is a cover no matter what kind of RV. So in this, we all share the common experience.

You need to ask yourself (first), Why do you want to cover your RV? What purpose will it serve?

If you don't have a solid, valid answer, then covering is a waste of money and time.

If you are covering to protect it from something, like dropping from trees and birds because the RV has to be stored under trees, it's beneficial to cover.

If you care covering to protect from intense sun, like in South Florida or Southern Texas, it makes sense to cover.

But to cover, just for the sake of covering, is a waste of time and money. No, you do not need to cover.

Next question you need to answer: Are you young enough, flexible, and fearless enough to wrangle a cover over your coach and be able to do it without ending up in the hospital? If you've reached the age in life where every step is carefully taken because it may result in a broken hip or something else ... well ... covering is simply not worth it.

If YOU can answer those two questions, then you have your own answer.

Good luck!

I do suggest keeping the tires covered as much as possible. This does not hurt anything and it's kind of hard to fall when your sitting on your bottom on the ground to put the covers on! 😉

[rk911]

ratfink09 wrote:
My wife and I are planning to purchase a Class A motorhome this fall. We currently have a Class C. I am concerned with the two of us trying to install a cover for storage with a bigger unit. We live in upstate NY. How many people leave their Class A without a cover over the winter and have you ever had a problem?

from what I've read they're more trouble than their worth. some folks have reported damage to paint from the corners rubbing against the chassis due to wind. we've always stored our MH outside without covers. no issues.

[Executive45]

We live in ours year round so putting on a cover would not only be a PITA but it would really hamper our lifestyle. We are in our seventh year, so no, covers are not necessary. Wind blown covers damage the clear coat....Dennis

[TucsonJim]

Yesterday, I went to a storage lot in Phoenix Arizona to help a friend put some household goods in storage. This storage lot not only has storage buildings, but they also have a huge lot where hundreds of RVs are stored in the blazing Arizona sun. They have every imaginable type of RV stored here. There was not one unit with a cover over it. I mentioned this to the storage facility manager and he told me that several people have attempted to use them over the years, but they all get tired of the hassle of dealing with them. He said he frequently sees the covers in the facility's dumpster.

[wildtoad]

I don't like the canvas covers as it seems they would be a real PIA to put on, take off and as others have said may actually do harm. However, I did want to cover our new motorhome so I had built a carport big enough for our two cars and the motorhome. The main stimulus for this was a hail storm that did over $4k worth of damage to my then brand new Chevy sonic. It doesn't provide total protection from the elements but will greatly reduce UV damage, tree "stuff" on the roof, and a nice place to wash and wax when needed.