DIY RV Skirting Ideas: Does RV Skirting Work? (Helpful Guide)
Having a permanent location means that you have far more design options to use on your RV. Once it is stationary, you can dress it up any way you want. However, you should make sure that the smaller varmints do not have access to your travel trailer when you do this.
Does RV skirting work? Skirting can help make your travel trailer look more like a home. Plus, it helps insulate against the cold weather when it comes. It will depend a lot on your purpose for using skirting but generally, the answer would be yes it does work.
To learn more about adding skirting to your RV when it is parked for a while, just continue to read our article. it has the information you need to do the job just right. Skirting is a good addition when the job is done well.
RV Skirting 101
What is RV Skirting?
If you are going to stay in one spot for a while, then you should consider putting some RV skirting underneath your trailer. This material helps insulate your RV’s interior features that are underneath the trailer and not locked up inside.
RV skirting is made from different materials and comes in different designs. It is used to help block the wind from blowing the cold air in and freeze your pipes. that same wind will also catch the heat coming through your RV’s floor and whisk it away leaving that are unprotected from the cold air.
The key to finding the right RV skirting will be choosing which one will work best for your situation. Not all trailers are designed the same so you may have to choose one option over another. That doesn’t make the other one bad, just not the right one for your situation.
How Does RV Skirting Work?
This will depend on the type of skirting you purchase. The one thing they all have in common is that they perform one duty. They block out cold air and keep the heated air underneath your trailer or other RV.
Once you set it up, you should have less of a wind and cold air problem underneath your trailer and your pipes should remain unfrozen. However, skirting doesn't replace insulation.
Even when insulated itself, you should still take the time and insulate your pipes, valves, and other essential parts just in case there is a leak, crack, or hole in your skirting.
Skirting is only effective up to a certain point and when the cold temperatures get past that point you will want another line of defense in place. Skirting is mainly a cold air blockade that can be efficient when it is added correctly to the bottom of your RV.
What Does RV Skirting do?
Most of the time, the RV skirting just sits there and looks good. It is like a fence you put up around your traditional home. That fence keeps out unwanted visitors, whether human or animal and keeps your home safer.
That is similar to what RV skirting does. It acts as a fence and works hard to keep out unwanted cold air and wind. When built right, it will keep on doing that job for many years.
The only problem you should have with well-constructed skirting is if you decide to pack up and move to a new location in a few years. Then you will have to tear the skirting down and reassemble it at the new place.
The good news is that there are skirting options that are easy to take down and put up again. All RV skirting does the same job so finding one of those options is not hard.
Does RV Skirting Work?
If it is done right, yes it will. We emphasize those words, if it is done right. Sloppy work or inferior quality materials, and so on, will undermine the job RV skirting is designed to do.
The main purpose of RV skirting is to stop the wind from bringing cold air underneath your vehicle and removing the hot air on its way out. Good skirting accomplishes that objective very well.
In some cases you will not have to add insulation to the skirting material as the area underneath can be heated without worry. Then, since no one sleeps underneath your trailer, you only need to keep the area warm enough to prevent any of your pipes from freezing.
Then when the skirting does its job, you can use less propane and electricity to heat your RV. That savings always produces a good feeling. The only drawback to adding skirting is the cost of constructing it. Some low-cost options should work for those on a tight budget.
Does RV Skirting Help in the Summer?
It can and since you are not protecting your RV from the cold, skirting can also protect your trailer from other natural enemies. Those natural enemies would be mice, rats, raccoons, and other smaller creatures that like to wander around at night.
Then, the skirting under your RV provides you with an excellent storage area. Depending on the type of material you use and the design of the material, you can add a hinged door or two for better access.
That extra storage space will let you clean up the area around your RV and keep items out of sight from neighbors who do not like messy yards and from thieves looking for an easy score.
Also, the skirting can protect your tires from the wear and tear the sun puts on them each day. Leaving your skirting up over the summer provides lots of benefits and saves you the work of dismantling and reassembling.
Who Makes RV Fender Skirts?
ConnX and icon seem to the two companies that make fender skirts. There may be more but the better question is where can you buy fender skirts. There are a lot more options with that last question than the original one for this section.
You can find fender skirts just about anywhere RV parts and accessories are sold. A quick internet search turned up more outlets than we could possibly place here. Camping World, Camper ID, RV shop, and many more outlets have different brands waiting for you to stop by and pick them up.
Other brands you may be familiar with are Alpha, USAmade, Recpro, Keystone, JMTAAT, Crossroads, and Enixwill. All you have to do is pick the brand and the outlet you like best and buy the ones that make your RV look great.
How Much Does RV Skirting Cost?
This will depend on the type of materials, how much labor costs, and the amount of time that needs to be put in before the job is finished. You can go cheap and use throw-away materials like thin plywood and Styrofoam or some other insulating materials.
This combination will be around $500 if you get the materials cheap and do it yourself. You could go cheaper and get some hay from a farmer but hay attracts mice, etc., and could help cause a fire.
Then there are the vinyl sheets with snap-on closures. That will run you about $1500 approx. but every inch is covered. Airskirts are next on the list and they run around $1500 depending on the style. You just have to blow them up with some air to get them ready for installation.
There are other materials you can use and their costs will vary. Lattice is not expensive but you will have holes to contend with and that will add to your cost.
Is RV Skirting Worth it?
This will be up to you to decide as while there are some savings, those savings take some time to add up. You may make your money back by cutting fuel and electrical usage but not enough to cover your upfront skirting costs for at least a year or so.
RV skirting is worth it in other ways though. It does prevent your pipes and other parts from freezing. The cold weather can break parts which means you will end up paying for some expensive repairs. More than what some skirting will cost.
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that holds true for RV parts. The small cost to protect your parts is better than spending large sums of money replacing them during the winter months. It is your decision to make on this issue.
What is RV Skirting Made Of?
This again will depend on which option you choose. The Styrofoam and wood components are obvious. As is the vinyl sheeting and snaps option. The airskirt is probably made from tough nylon. Once inflated they are held by the ground and the bottom of your RV. It would take a lot to move or destroy them.
But the other styles of skirting can be hard vinyl like the ones used for stationary mobile homes. Those are very hardy materials but they take a little extra accessories and work to install around your RV.
In addition to those options, you can use thick fabrics like canvas or foam board and so on. There are many different options for materials than you would think. Some people use lattice backed by plywood to get 100% protection and a good look. And wood is paintable.
RV Lattice Skirting
This is a good option when you want a good look at your trailer. Lattice has a nice design to it and adds an element of upper-crust style to any RV. It is found everywhere so you may be able to get a break on the cost.
Also, since lattice is made from wood, you can cut it to size and fit it in like a pro would do it. This versatility makes assembling the skirt very easy to do. In addition, lattice comes in non-wood materials that are easy to cut but you do not have to paint it.
The drawback to lattice will be those holes. Those holes may stop larger animals from getting underneath your rig but it won't stop those smaller animals like mice and rats. To stop all animals from entering your RV, you can do what other people do and place some plywood behind the lattice.
You get a sturdier skirt and peace of mind.
Plastic RV Skirt
This skirt material is okay and will do the job. Remember you do not have to maintain a high temperature underneath your trailer in order for the skirt to work. It just needs to block the wind and cold air and plastic skirting will do that well.
Plus, it is lighter than other materials making it easier to transport to your next location. But it may not be the strongest skirting material you can buy and you may have to replace different pieces over time.
The good part of using plastic is that it should come in a variety of colors so you can match your trailer’s exterior color quite easily. It should also be easy to put up.
Plywood RV Skirt
Like lattice, plywood is easy to cut to the size and shape you need. That ability helps you cover every inch of your trailer’s shape and make sure all holes are plugged. Plus, you can add hinges, locks, closures, and doorknobs to make some great storage doors for easy access.
Plywood is also very sturdy when purchased in the right thickness and that is what you want. You want thicker skirting if you do not want to do this job every year or two. With the wide variety of paint colors, you can easily match your trailer’s exterior color easier than you would if you bought plastic. Just mix and paint.
The drawback to this option will be the cost of the plywood and all the hardware you would need. Larger trailers will need a lot more plywood than those compact ones.
Vinyl RV Skirt
This option will be a lot like plastic except that you can get vinyl in flexible sheets like canvas, or you can get it in the hard form like manufactured home siding. This opens up different possibilities with the vinyl sheeting being the easier one to put up and transport.
The hard vinyl option is tough, durable, and strong. Three elements you need if you want the skirting to last for years. Plus, like plastic, you can get vinyl in a variety of colors or paint it to match your trailer’s exterior color.
The cost will be cheaper than plywood and you can still add locks, hinges, or make a sliding door to gain access to the underneath area of your RV. You are not locked out of that area when you use vinyl. The doors will just be lighter and easier to move when you do need to go under there.
Insulated RV Skirting
It is possible to get insulated skirting but that is an option you may have to take up with the company that provides and installs RV skirting. The reason we say that is because you really do not need insulation on your skirting in most situations.
The insulation may help reduce your propane use which is a big plus as the cost may be a little more expensive than the options we already mentioned above. Slide-outs will present a little problem for this and all options and add to your costs.
One company we checked did not list prices but asked that you fill in a bit of information and they would e-mail you their cost. Another had no price list and no form to fill out.
Insulated skirting is good when you are going to be in really cold regions of the country but it is not always necessary.
How to Make RV Skirting
If you are a do-it-yourself type of guy or lady, you will know that the method of making your skirting depends on the materials you have chosen to use. Some people use J channel tracking to place their plastic, aluminum, or vinyl skirt sections into.
Then they use 7-inch nails to secure that tracking to the ground. For plywood, you may need another foundation to lay it on and secure it in place but lattice can easily be affixed to the bottom of your RV.
The vinyls flexible sheeting would just need to be cut to size and then add some snaps to the spots where you want the skirting to sit. Those snaps may need to be permanently fixed to the bottom of your RV. A special tool will be needed to add the other part of those snaps to the vinyl sheeting.
What to Use for RV Skirting
In answering this question, the influencing factors will be your budget, your need, and how long your trailer will remain at its current location. If you do not have all the money in the world, then you would be looking at the lower end of the cost scale to find those materials.
Then, your location will also play a role. If you are making your trailer a permanent cabin in the woods, you will want materials that will keep mice and other small animals out of your trailer.
But if you are going to be moving after a month or so, then you will want light easy to assemble and dismantle skirting like the airskirts or vinyl sheeting. You will have to analyze your situation to see which option works best for you and your budget.
How to Install RV Skirting
This too will depend on the type of materials you choose to use. Lattice can be glued, screwed, nailed, or loosely attached to your RV. It is one of the easier options to attach.
For vinyl sheeting, you would need special tools to attach the snaps to the metal on your RV and the vinyl material. It is painstaking work as you want as many snaps as possible on both items to keep that air out.
When using J channel tracking long nails will hold the tracking in place on the ground. Then you would have to use small screws to attach it to your RV before placing your vinyl or plastic panels in place. The panels will be secured by the J channel.
After cutting plywood to size, you can screw them into place. To do a good job those screws should be countersunk to keep the surface smooth. You can put plugs into those holes to cover the screw heads.
Best Way to Skirt an RV for Winter
The best way to skirt your RV is to stick to your budget. Since you do not have to keep the underneath area at 70 degrees F, you have lots of leeway in the materials you use. Your goal is to simply keep that area above freezing no matter what time of night it is.
Then you want a material that makes it hard for small animals to get inside easily. Solid pieces or materials are also the best to use. Whether vinyl, plastic, or wood a solid piece makes sure there are no holes to fill.
When it comes to actual materials, vinyl sheets, either flexible or hard, and plywood make the best options. They are solid, strong, and can handle years of weather changes. Plus, you can paint them any color you want to make sure the skirting matches the trailer color.
Some Final Words
To get even more skirting ideas for your RV, look at manufactured homes and see what works best for them. Manufactured home owners have been adding skirting for decades and they know a thing or two about protecting underneath their trailer.
Then go to the best RV skirting supply and see what the costs are before you decide.
