RV Winter Prep: Install and Upgrade RV Insulation

As we enter the final stretch of the year, the days inevitably become shorter and cooler. Cooler temperatures have many making a cozy nest at home while a few others get excited for a new season of travel. Are you one of the few?

Traveling and camping in cooler temperatures comes with its own set of challenges, specifically when traveling in an RV. Many RVs are not designed for cold weather travel, and getting them to winter capacity requires modifications. 

One big issue many campers battle in the winter is RV temperature regulation.

How can you keep your RV warm in cold weather?

One way to battle the cold temperatures is by installing or upgrading your RV insulation. Simply put, installing insulation is one of the best and simplest ways to keep a camper warm in the winter.  

RV Windows, Doors, and Vents

When considering a cold-weather adventure, preparation must include improving the window insulation.

Whether it’s summer or winter, a draft in your camper can mean the difference in a peaceful night’s sleep. If you notice a draft in your camper, outside air may be entering through the vents, doors, windows.  

A simple fix is weather stripping. Investing in good, insulated weather stripping for doors and windows can prove vital to RV warmth in the winter months. 

The windows in an RV are fairly lightweight as manufacturers want to ensure easy towing for your camper. Because these windows are more lightweight, cold air can easily pass through a thin RV glass window. 

The best winter weatherization and insulation kit for RV windows comes from Frost King. These kits help make it easy for you to keep the warm air in and the cold air out.

Many RVer’s buy these insulated curtains to aid in the fight for winter camper warmth.

The biggest issue during the winter months may not necessarily just be the cold air coming in, but the warm air going out. While heat loss through windows is a huge issue, heat loss through vents is just as detrimental. Because warm air rises, vent covers on your RV’s roof could be the biggest culprit for letting warm air escape. 

Vent covers on an RV’s roof are typically made from very thin plastic, which allows the warm air to escape. Purchasing insulated foam pillows serves as a great solution to this issue. 

Storage Bays and Exterior 

Many think of the indoor insulating process but completely forget about the necessity of insulating the outside of their RV.  

Storage bays can easily be insulated by using foam board. This can help create a layer of warmth under your floor, ultimately keeping you warmer.

Another smart insulating idea would be to buy a can of aerosol foam to fill significant gaps where hoses, pipes, and other connections enter underneath the RV. By reducing the size of these spaces you’re adding an extra layer between the inside of your camper and the outside elements. Just remember to not cover any of the connections, you’re simply filling gaps!

RV Skirting 

In addition to insulating the exterior of your RV, try RV skirting!

RV skirting has been proven to aid in warmth during the cold winter months. This strategy helps reduce temperature swings within the interior of your RV. It also helps with propane usage as many RVer’s report using much less propane during the winter months due to skirting. 

Utilizing an RV skirt involves exactly what you would think. To apply an RV skirt you simply wrap the belly of your RV to serve as a barrier between your RV and the outside elements. 

RV skirts are very customizable. Check out these RV skirts to begin your winter weatherization process.

Don’t wait until it’s crunch time, go ahead and make these small changes during the fall months so that you will be prepared for all your winter camping adventures!