THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BROUGHT
extreme weather conditions to many parts of the U.S. Cities are reporting higher temperatures during the summers and lower temperatures during the winters. If you are like the majority of RVers, you probably store your RV where it’s either really hot or really cold. In both scenarios, the weather will rapidly take a toll on your RV.

The Big Test
Will an RV cover effectively reduce the temperature of a covered Motorhome?

• Equipment—Thermal imaging camera on loan from the Los Angeles Fire Department
• Vehicle—2008 Keystone “Raptor 3612” 5th Wheel Toyhauler
• RV Cover—ADCO Designer DuPont TyvekRV 5th Wheel Cover
• Location—Chatsworth, CA

The subject RV was placed in the center of an asphalt parking lot, similar to the conditions found at local RV storage facilities. The RV was left unattended for three hours until 1pm. our temperature gauge read a searing 105 degrees. The thermal imaging camera captured the following:

The vehicle was literally cooking. Exterior surfaces were surpassing 130 degrees and interior temperatures were exceeding 150 degrees. At these temperatures, lami- nates, seals and plastics will dry and warp. Worse yet, invisible ultraviolet exposure is degrading the RV’s exterior and interior surfaces.

The RV was then covered using a Designer DuPont Tyvek 5th Wheel Cover by ADCO Products. TyvekRV fabric is durable, lightweight, and scientifically designed to prevent dirt, dust and bird droppings from coming in contact with your RV’s exterior. Triple-ply sidewalls and roof panels take the brunt of Mother Nature’s fury, be it sunshine, snow or rain. While it’s always advised to remove RV covers in the event of strong wind, ADCO has added vents to these covers to both reduce moisture buildup and allow trapped air to escape the cover. As an upgrade to ADCO’s Aqua-Shed covers, the Designer covers offer strap and buckle attachments on the end as well as weighted assist buckles for the bottom—both of which allow for easy installation.

The subject RV then sat covered for two more hours until 3 pm. The thermal imaging camera captured the following photo:

The vehicle had substantially cooled. Most impressive was the temperature change on the roof of the motorhome, the area protected by the TyvekRV fabric.

An essential Investment
Investing in a cover goes a long way towards protecting your RV’s appearance, functionality and eventual resale value. A quality cover helps prevent your RV’s sidewalls from yellowing, the rubber roof from cracking, the plastic from clouding, the decals from peeling and the exposed surfaces inside the windows from fading. If you do the math, the actual cost of a cover usually breaks down to only a few cents per day while protecting an investment of many thousands of dollars. Suddenly purchasing an RV cover seems like something you can’t afford not to do.

Preserve, Protect and Enjoy Your RV
Your RV may represent what could be the second largest investment of your life. In shaky economic times, it is more important than ever to slow down the decline of your RV’s value. Sooner or later you will be selling or trading in your RV. Its worth can be greatly increased by simply utilizing an RV cover now to protect it from the elements.