We all know the importance of a quality RV cover. However, if you’ve ever been tasked with buying one, you may have run into a few snags. Length, height, width, door location, style, and material are all considerations you must account for.
In this article, we’ll review everything you need to know about picking the perfect camper cover.
How Much Is an RV Cover?
The price of an RV trailer cover can vary substantially and is impacted by many factors. The most obvious is size. If you have a large fifth wheel trailer, you’ll need a much bigger cover than someone shopping for a pop up camper cover. The more fabric there is, the higher the price will be.
Another factor to consider is material. There are different materials, some better for certain climates than others. For example, all-weather covers will be much more expensive than a single-season or RV storage cover.
Last but not least, we have features like zippered panels for easier door or compartment access. The more premium features a cover has, the more it will cost. It’s no different than options on a new vehicle.
As size and type are the biggest factors that affect price, we’ll break down the average price range of a cover by type.
| Type | Price |
| Travel Trailer | $150 – $500 |
| 5th Wheel | $250 – $600 |
| Class C | $300 – $450 |
| Class B | $200 – $300 |
| Class A | $350 – $700 |
| Truck Bed Camper | $200 – $400 |
| Pop Up Camper | $100 – $250 |
Which Brand RV Cover is Best?
Thankfully, there are many great manufacturers. We offer options from Eevelle, Camco, ADCO, and Classic Accessories.
ADCO
One of the biggest and most well-known RV cover manufacturers is ADCO. They offer an Olefin HD and UV Hydro line of RV covers. These are all-season RV covers that are great for any camper. The UV Hydro is slightly more durable due to the extra layer of protection.
Camco
Another leading RV cover manufacturer is Camco. They are known for their Ultra-Shield, which features polypropylene construction, and Pro-Shield line, which features Tyvek. These are both great options that will protect your RV for years to come.
Classic Accessories
Classic Accessories offers the PermaPro and PolyPRO 3. The PermaPro features polyester ripstop fabric, which is great for areas with a lot of wind and sun. The PolyPRO 3 is constructed of triple-layer polypropylene, which is great for areas with a lot of moisture and snow.
Eevelle
Eevelle is a leading manufacturer with premium options. Goldline is their highest-tier product, followed by S2 Expedition. Goldline has a polyester top and a five-year warranty, while S2 Expedition has a polypropylene top and a three-year warranty.
What Is The Best RV Cover for Winter?
The best place to store your RV in winter is inside a garage, indoor storage facility, or simply under a carport. Unfortunately, that’s impossible for most of us, so the next best thing is a cover for RV storage. However, not just any cover will work; you need one with features specifically formulated to combat harsh winter conditions.
One of those features is a durable top layer, as it must withstand snow and ice. It also needs to be waterproof so melting snow or pooling water does not enter the camper. Lastly, the cover should be breathable so moisture doesn’t get trapped and create mold or mildew. If you’re looking for a cover with all these features, consider an “all-season” or “all-climate” cover for your RV.
All-climate and all-season covers typically have durable and water-resistant Tyvek or Olefin top layers. The side panels are typically made of a more breathable material like polypropylene.
How To Find the Right RV Cover
The most crucial step to finding the perfect cover for your camper is measuring to ensure a good fit. Other considerations, such as the type of material and features, are also important. We’ll cover the critical measuring details in our final step, but let’s first touch on the important points surrounding your material and feature choices.
Material
Many different materials are used in cover construction. In most cases, you’ll have more than one material, one for the top and another for the sides. The most common materials are canvas, polyester, polypropylene, Tyvek, and Olefin.
The top layers are typically more durable as they must withstand constant exposure to sun, snow, rain, hail, sleet, and other environmental factors. The sides are commonly more lightweight, as they must let moisture escape if it gets trapped.
Features
Some covers have features that help with installation, provide a better fit, and improve accessibility. Let’s take a look at some of the most common camper cover features:
- Zippered entry panels allow you to enter the RV with the cover still in place. Pay attention to where they are located in relation to your RV’s door. If you have a toy hauler, ensure rear access to the trailer.
- Reinforced corners reduce the chance of rips and tears. The corners are typically where you see the most rips and tears, usually due to pulling and stretching the cover over them or sharp objects.
- Weighted buckles make installing the cover much easier, as you can throw them more accurately from one side of the camper to the other.
- Cinching systems provide a more custom appearance and reduce billowing. As most RV covers are universal, it can be hard to get a tight fit without the ability to tie up excess slack. That’s where a cover with a cinching system helps.
- Edge guards prevent sharp objects like ladder caps and rain gutter guards from protruding through the cover. Although reinforced corners can help, sharp edges must still be covered to avoid punctures.
- Patch kits help with repairs on the fly without using up a warranty replacement.
- Storage bags keep RV covers protected and compact, making them easy to store.
Use Camping World’s RV Cover Selector tool to quickly find the right cover for your camper.
How To Measure for an RV Cover
One of the challenges of selecting an RV cover is that it isn’t specific to your RV’s make and model, but rather the size and type. For example, the correct cover for a Keystone Coleman could be the same for a Jayco Jay Flight SLX.
Therefore, you need to measure to ensure a good fit. Otherwise, you’ll be left with more than one headache after ordering the wrong size; not only will you have to wait for a new one to arrive, but good luck getting the cover back in the box it was sent in, seriously!
The correct way to measure varies by type, so let’s review these below:
Technician Tip: Most manufacturers include air conditioning units, vents, and antennas in their size guide, so there’s no need to measure for these when it comes to height.
Travel Trailer RV Covers
You must obtain two measurements for a travel trailer: length and height. The length includes the rearmost point, whether the bumper or ladder, but not the tongue. Measure your travel trailer’s height from the bottom of the frame to the roof.
5th Wheel RV Covers
Measure the length and height like a travel trailer. Regarding the length, include the rear ladder and bumper but not the pin box. For height, measure from the bottom of the frame to the roof.
Class B RV Covers + Class C RV Covers + Class A RV Covers
The measuring process for Class B, Class C, and Class A motorhomes is the same. Simply record the overall length from bumper to bumper, including any rear spare tires or ladders, and then the height from the bottom of the body to the roof, excluding air conditioners, etc.
Pop Up RV Covers
You’ll need to measure the length and height of your pop up camper to select the right cover. The height must be taken with the top closed, and the length does not include the trailer tongue, just the body.
Truck Bed Camper RV Covers
Measuring for a truck bed camper is pretty straightforward. The first measurement is the overall length, from the forwardmost point to the rearmost point. Be sure to include any ladders or rear-mounted spare tires. You’ll then measure the height of the body from bottom to top.
Although these measuring guides apply to most manufacturers, they are not always the same, so you’ll need to check the cover manufacturer to confirm measurements before ordering.
Technician Tip: If your trailer is inaccessible and you must rely on the manufacturer’s measurements, pay close attention to where they’re measuring. For example, if the manufacturer states the trailer is 20’ long, this likely includes the frame or trailer tongue, which is not covered. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to subtract 3’.
Choosing an RV cover that fits is crucial, so it’s important to cover all the details. Hopefully, we answered some of your most pressing questions, and you are now confident in your selection. If you still have questions, review some of our other great RV cover articles.
Let us know in the comments below what RV cover you have and if you like it!
