RV Skirting Benefits and How it Can Save You Money

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If you’re an RVer, you’ve probably heard about RV skirting. But what exactly is it, and why is it a worthwhile investment? Simply put, RV skirting is a protective barrier that encloses the space beneath your RV. While it might sound simple, its benefits go far beyond appearances. It’s a game-changer for energy efficiency, comfort, and cost savings, especially in very warm or cold climates.

In this post, we’ll explore how RV skirting can help you save money while keeping your RV in tip-top shape, whether you’re a full-timer living in extreme weather or a newbie just trying to learn the lay of the land! Let’s dive in!

After you read this article, be sure to check out our other articles on this topic:

• 10 Ways to Skirt a Camper: Skirting Options for Every Budget
• Airskirts: The Best Skirting On the Market?
• How We Made $200 Vinyl Skirting for Winter
• How to Make Camper Skirting Out of Foam Board Insulation
• The Best Skirting For Trailers

What Is RV Skirting?

I like to think of RV skirting like a cozy jacket for your RV. It wraps around the base, covering the area between the ground and your RV’s undercarriage. This creates a barrier that keeps cold air out and warm air in (or vice versa in summer). Common materials include:

• Vinyl: Durable and professional-looking, perfect for long-term use.
• Foam Board: A DIY favorite, combining affordability with decent insulation.
• Hay Bales: A budget-friendly and temporary solution often used in rural areas (that we DON’T recommend–read on to find out why)
• Inflatable RV Skirting: A unique type of RV skirting that can quickly and easily be moved from place to place

Every RV skirting option has its pros and cons, but the goal is the same: protect your RV and improve its efficiency!

The Benefits of RV Skirting

1.  Energy Efficiency

When the weather gets extreme, maintaining a comfortable temperature in your RV can feel like an uphill battle. Who hasn’t battled the AC in the summer? Skirting helps by minimizing heat loss in winter. The result is less money spent on running electric space heaters and refilling of the propane tank! It also gives your HVAC system a break.

2. Plumbing Protection

No one wants to deal with frozen pipes or tanks, especially in the dead of winter. RV skirting creates an insulated buffer zone that helps prevent freezing, saving you from costly repairs and a lot of hassle.

3. Weather Resistance

Wind, snow, and debris can wreak havoc on your RV’s undercarriage. Skirting acts as a shield, reducing wear and tear and keeping your RV in better shape for longer.

4. Improved Comfort

Ever notice how drafty your RV gets in winter? Or how cold the floors can be? Skirting reduces drafts and helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature, making your living space much cozier! We think that alone makes it worth it!

How RV Skirting Saves You Money

1. Lower Energy Costs

By reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or cool your RV, skirting pays for itself over time. Less energy usage means lower propane and electric bills – a win for your wallet and the environment.

2. Preventing Costly Repairs

Frozen pipes, burst tanks, and weather damage can cost a small fortune to fix (not to mention so much time finding a mobile RV mechanic or sourcing the right part!) Skirting helps prevent these issues, saving you both money, stress, and time.

3. Boosting Resale Value

An RV equipped with professionally made skirting gives potential buyers more options for when and where they can travel. This can make your RV more attractive on the market and fetch a higher resale price when the time comes.

Types of RV Skirting and Costs

1. Professionally Made Vinyl Skirting

Vinyl skirting is one of the most common and durable options for full-time RVers. This type of skirting is often custom-made to fit your RV and is designed for long-term use, especially in harsh weather conditions.

• Cost: $1,000–$3,500
• Pros: Vinyl skirting is highly effective at insulating your RV, which helps regulate temperatures inside and protects your plumbing. It’s weather-resistant, easy to clean, and designed to last for many seasons. Many vinyl skirting systems come with a professional installation option, meaning you’ll get a perfect fit with minimal hassle. Plus, they are typically available in a variety of colors, so you can match your RV’s exterior.
• Cons: The main downside is the upfront cost. High-quality vinyl skirting is an investment, but it can be worthwhile for those who live in extreme climates or full-time RVers who need a reliable solution year-round. Another con is that some professional skirting requires attaching fasteners to the side of your RV with screws, which

Check out Airskirts easy inflatbale skirting kits!

2. DIY Foam Board Skirting

If you’re a handy DIYer or on a tight budget, foam board skirting might be the way to go. This type of skirting uses foam insulation panels that are easy to cut and install. Foam boards provide good insulation, and you can customize them to your RV’s size.

Check out this step-by-step tutorial for making DIY foam board skirting for under $100!

• Cost: $100–$300
• Pros: Foam board skirting is one of the most affordable options, especially for seasonal RVers who only need it for part of the year. It’s relatively simple to install with some basic tools, and you can even paint or cover the foam boards for a more polished look. You can also find foam board at just about any hardware store, so it’s a quicker option than getting a custom vinyl design. Additionally, foam board skirting offers decent insulation, helping to maintain your RV’s interior temperature.
• Cons: Foam board skirting is not easy to transport and reuse, so it is typically thrown away if you have to move your RV to a different location. This creates a lot of waste and requires you to do the work all over again the next time you need RV skirting.

3. Hay Bales

For RVers looking for a quick, budget-friendly fix, using hay bales might seem like a good short-term way to protect your RV, but we actually don’t recommend using hay bales. Read on to find out why.

• Cost: $50–$200
• Pros: Hay bales are one of the most affordable options for skirting an RV, especially for those in rural areas. They provide a decent amount of insulation and are easy to set up and remove, making them ideal for short-term or seasonal use.
• Cons: The biggest downside to hay bales is that they are actually a fire hazard, because hay and straw bales can spontaneously combust, especially when wet. They can also attract mice and other rodents, which can chew through electrical wiring. Finally, they are messy and you have to have a good way to haul them.

4. DIY Vinyl Skirting

If you like the look of vinyl skirting but custom RV skirting isn’t in your budget, another option is to make your own DIY RV skirting out of vinyl.

Some people use insulated tarps to make their own skirting, but this material is very costly, and actually the thickness of the skirting material is less important than that the skirting is totally sealed, because the insulation actually comes from the layer of air trapped under the RV.

A cheaper (and more environmentally-friendly) material to use for making DIY RV skirting is billboard tarp vinyl. This is the actual vinyl a billboard has been printed on, so there will be an advertisement printed on one side of it, but the side that will be visible is solid black or white.

Read this detailed article showing how a full-time RVing couple made their own vinyl skirting for under $200.

• Cost: $150–$200
• Pros: If you do a good job with your installation, DIY vinyl skirting can look just as nice and work just as well as professionally made skirting at just a fraction of the cost.
• Cons: Making RV skirting is a lot of work and requires careful planning. If you use

5. Inflatable RV Skirting

One of the biggest drawbacks of all the types of skirting we’ve mentioned so far is that they make frequent travel in cold weather virtually impossible, since they are so time-intensive to set up and designed to stay in place all winter.

That’s the problem Airskirts set out to solve with the invention of heavy-duty inflatable RV skirting, which can be set up or taken down in just a couple of hours and folds down small so you can pack it away while you’re traveling to your next location.

Read our in-depth review of Airskirts inflatable skirting here.

• Cost: $1,900–$3,200
• Pros: Quick to set up and easy to transport, making it the best option if you travel frequently
• Cons: One of the most expensive options

Tips for Installing RV Skirting

1. Measure Twice, Cut Once

Accurate measurements are crucial when installing RV skirting. To ensure that the skirting fits properly, you need to measure the height from the ground to the bottom of your RV’s undercarriage at various points around the vehicle. Remember that RVs can have slight variations in ground clearance depending on the model, so measure both the front and back and the sides.

If you’re using materials like foam boards or vinyl panels, you’ll want to make sure that they are cut to the right length and fit snugly around the edges. A loose fit can lead to gaps, decreasing the insulating efficiency and allowing cold air or moisture to get in.

2. Secure Materials Properly

Once you’ve got your skirting material ready, you’ll need to secure it to your RV. Whether you’re using vinyl, foam boards, or insulated wraps, there are various ways to fasten the skirting in place:

• Vinyl Skirting: Most professionally made vinyl skirting uses clips or fasteners screwed into the RV to secure the skirting. There are some adhesive options that can provide a less permanent alternative.
• Foam Board: You can use tent stakes or two-by-four lumber to secure foam boards to the ground. If you’re parked on gravel, you can push gravel up against the foam board to help hold it in place. (Read more about how to do this in this article.) Foil HVAC tape is a good choice for attaching foam boards to the RV’s frame because it can withstand any weather and yet is easy to remove later.

Securing the skirting tightly will help it stay in place through all types of weather, from windy conditions to heavy snowstorms.

3. Account for Accessibility

While skirting provides protection, it’s also important to be able to access your RV’s undercarriage for maintenance. When installing skirting, consider how you will need to access things like your propane tanks, waste valves, or plumbing connections.

• For vinyl skirting, you can use zippered sections or Velcro strips to create easily removable panels.
• If you’re using foam board, you can cut the material into sections that can be lifted or removed when you need access. Just be sure to re-secure the panels when you’re done.
• Professionally made skirting often has easy-to-remove or easily opened sections for access, which is a key feature if you need to do regular maintenance or repairs. One of the most popular makers of this is EZ Snap!

DIY vs. Professional Installation

DIY installation can save you money, but it requires time, effort, and careful planning. If you choose the DIY route, we recommend watching several online tutorials and reading blog posts about other people’s experiences so you can learn from their mistakes and know up front what to expect.

If you can afford it, we recommend hiring a professional to make and install skirting you can use again and again, unlike cheaper solutions which typically have to be thrown away after one winter’s use. for a more permanent and professional result. Professional installation ensures a perfect fit and may offer warranties for the materials and work.

So now you see all the pros and cons of each type of RV skirting! RVs keep being made more efficiently as full-time RV living becomes more popular, and we’re excited to see the progress in skirting options, too. RV skirting isn’t just a winter upgrade; it’s a year-round investment in your RV’s comfort, efficiency, and longevity. The benefits far outweigh the initial cost or effort, from reducing energy costs to protecting your plumbing.

So, consider adding skirting to your “Must Have RV Accessory” list, whether you’re a seasoned full-timer or just starting your RV journey. It’s a practical step toward not only surviving but actually thriving while RVing in cold weather.

Want to learn about other ways to stay warm in an RV? Check out these articles:

• How to Insulate RV Windows (Without Blocking the Light!)
• Everything We Do to Prepare Our RV for Cold Weather
• Cold Weather Preparation Checklist
• Is It Safe to Use a Space Heater in an RV?