Do you really need an RV Cover?

Have you been wondering if you really need an RV Cover? The answer is ... probably. Here's what you need to know:

Because your RV motorhome, 5th Wheel or Towable Trailer camper is one of the most expensive investments you can make, protecting its roof and finish from unnecessary damage is a top priority for many of us. And an RV cover just may be the best way to do that.

Choosing the right RV cover and knowing when to use it can all be very confusing.

In Episode 346 of the RV Podcast, we talk with Scott Shemtov of Empire Covers, one of the leading manufacturers of RV covers, to learn what to look for in choosing an RV Cover, what they protect from and how and when they should be used.

Click the player below to hear the entire episode. Scott's interview comes on about 20 minutes in. And keep scrolling down for an edited transcript of the interview with specific tips and resources.

Why is an RV cover necessary?

Here is an edited version of our interview with Scott Shemtov of Empire Covers.

Mike Wendland: Let's start off with the real broad question. Why is an RV cover needed for today's RV-er?

Scott Shemtov: A cover is a very inexpensive way to keep your RV in fresh conditions season after season especially when you store it away in the off-season when you're not using the RV on the road.

A lot of people will want a cover. A  cover protects from so many things beyond just the sun, which beats on the RV. It helps protect the paint. You have, obviously, precipitation that you want to keep off, but there are tons of other things throughout the seasons, such as, right now in springtime we're kind of dealing with a lot of pollen.

If you're going to an RV park or a place like that, or parking under a tree, there's a lot of things that can go on. You got debris from the tree, you got leaves, you got pollen like I said, and you also got the inevitable birds that'll kind of take a toll on your RV rooftop.

Mike Wendland: Now, a lot of people say, "Oh, the rain's going to wash that pollen off." I don't think people realize how damaging pollen can be to a painted surface like on an RV.

Scott Shemtov: Yeah, it gets in all the cracks and crevices. If anything rubs against it while the pollen dust is on the RV, it'll create micro-abrasions on the paint. So, a cover in general just is like your first layer of protection against everything that's outside.

 I mean, none of us would last too long outside completely unprotected. So, think of it as like a jacket or a coat for your RV.

Bonus related material: Click the video below for our epic roundup on all the different ways to winterize an RV video

https://youtu.be/enbpc7wxeB0

Is an RV Cover needed in the summer?

An RV Cover on truck camper

Mike Wendland: You mentioned putting it away at the end of the season, but is an RV cover needed in the summertime when people are using their RVs, you recommend them then?

Scott Shemtov:  It depends on how long you're going to be park...