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Old 09-02-2017, 06:07 PM   #1
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Skirting for your Motorhome in winter

I know its a bit early but I am planning to spend the winter in Vancouver BC where in mid winter at night it gets to about -5 or -6C (mid 20s's F) and wonder if anyone can enlighten me about skirting around the motorhome.
What material is best to use? Can you buy skirting? How do you attach it? Does it even work?

I have a 35 ft. gasser.

Thanks in advance.

John
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Old 09-02-2017, 07:39 PM   #2
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Mobile home vinyl skirting made by t-lock or lifestyle or stylecrest are not very cost effective or install friendly on a motor home application as the upper trim pieces must be screwed to the motor home every 6" and ground channel is spiked into the ground. The vinyl will only stop wind chill and keep underside slightly warmer. There is an insulated skirting that installs about the same and is extremely expensive. If your looking for something temporary, I might suggest 1" or 2" thick blue board from lowes or home depot, stand up from ground to base of motor home, put wood stakes and attach blue board with screws and large washers thru blue board into stakes. I would not use the cheaper foil backed insulation board because carpenter ants love to hollow out the styrofoam and make huge nests inside,(I have seen this). They don't seem to be attracted to the blue board. Without knowing all of the particulars, that is the most that I can offer. Hope this helps.
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Old 09-02-2017, 07:52 PM   #3
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I doubt that skirting would have much effect on the heating of your coach. Years ago, we had to travel in below 0 in January in WI. That was much colder than what you will have. I had the bottom of our 40' coach sprayed with 2" of urethane insulation including the wet bay tub. I then cut holes for the drain. That helped keep the coach warm in -15*F. If your coach is heated in the basement, you shouldn't have to do anything except possible an aux heater in the wet bay or just a light bulb.
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Old 09-02-2017, 09:45 PM   #4
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Thanks Rapid Rick and Crasher. Your posts are very good and helpful. I would also love to hear from others who have skirted their coaches.
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Old 09-02-2017, 10:14 PM   #5
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Saw some in Alaska last year with straw bales as a wind break.
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Old 09-02-2017, 10:38 PM   #6
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We stayed in our 5'er while our house was being built (ok, we didn't stay in it every night, but probably about 3 or 4 nights per week).
The house was started early September and finished in March.

I can tell you from that experience, keeping the wind from blowing under your RV makes a huge difference in heating.
On a cold windy night, the heat ran a lot. After underskirting, the heat only ran about half as much.

I would also suggest parking strategically. Try not to park east-west. Try to park north-south, so you have less exposure to the cold north wind.
I would also try to park in such a way as to take advantage of any available wind block (building or large trees).

The underskirting I put up wasn't pretty. I used scrap plywood from the house construction, cut to enclose around the underside. I staked it in place with wood stakes.

Underskirting would probably do a lot to prevent plumbing from freezing. A heat lamp strategically and safely placed would probably help keep the plumbing from freezing and the underside a little warmer.
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Old 09-03-2017, 12:04 AM   #7
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Here is a link...

https://ezsnapdirect.com/products/rv-skirting/

They have a warehouse in Kelowna also. Lots of good info on their site!

One of the guys in my previous storage lot used this in the winter and he was pretty happy with it.
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Old 09-03-2017, 06:42 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lancslad View Post
Saw some in Alaska last year with straw bales as a wind break.
This was my first thought.
Lived in fridged Northern NY for 11 yrs.
Many mobile homes did this.
Hard to find small bales these days?
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Old 09-03-2017, 07:42 AM   #9
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The only issue I see with bales of hay is the mice seem to love that , I saw one guy with a 70 ft mobile home, used bales of hay and put each bale in a large plastic contractor bag, he was happy with the warmth factor and he could reuse the bales as long as plastic was not torn. I would not use any type of heat( probably not needed anyway) with this method. Again like someone else said (NOT PURDY).

edit
I think the skirting that chinewalker mentioned is probably the best solution but $1,000.00 to do it is questionable unless extended stays in the mh are a definite.

edit #2

I insulated the inside of my entire basement and cargo holds and bottom of floor (ceiling of basement) using eco fiber carpet pad, same product as what is used under all auto carpets,glued in place except for bottom of outer cargo hold, I made those pieces removable in case they get wet or dirty. Made a big difference in warmth,(I had to reduce the heat going into the basement) and made coach ride a little quieter(less road noise). Some mh manufacturers ,I think it was either Tiffen or Newmar use the same product under the floor,but not floor of basement. Cost was under $200.00, labor was about 16 hours ( A weekend). Wet bay I used puzzle mats from lowes, as they are washable.
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Old 09-03-2017, 08:00 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chinewalker View Post
Here is a link...

https://ezsnapdirect.com/products/rv-skirting/

They have a warehouse in Kelowna also. Lots of good info on their site!

One of the guys in my previous storage lot used this in the winter and he was pretty happy with it.
Thanks for that link. This product looks really nice and efficient. I really like the idea of not having to drill holes for all those snaps.

For a 5ver I could see it working well because in the off season you could store it in the trucks tool box or something but in a MH it would it would take up a lot of storage space unless you had a really large MH with dual, full pull out trays. I'll need something like this but a good product to refer others to.
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Old 09-03-2017, 11:41 AM   #11
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I lived in AK. for 13 years. Two years in a TT. I used the blue foam that is two inches thick.
Make a frame the size of your rig with 2x4 on the ground. Attach the foam to the frame and use wire or light chain just under the rig going across and attaching the two sides together. Remember to make a hole that is closeable to dump.
I used 4x8 ft. foam. It went up 4 ft. on the sides. Do not cover the heater vents.
I had an electric heater under the TT.

Propane heat makes moisture in the rig. Electric heat removes moisture in the rig. Put towels in the bottom of the windows to soak up the water. Leaving a top vent open helps get water out and prevents CO buildup.
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Old 09-03-2017, 11:50 AM   #12
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If you're staying in an RV park , they may have limits on what they allow as preparation for cold weather , and look into propane delivery . Some delivery outfits , have a minimum that requires ( renting or purchasing ) a large external tank.
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Old 09-03-2017, 12:28 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crasher View Post
I doubt that skirting would have much effect on the heating of your coach. Years ago, we had to travel in below 0 in January in WI. That was much colder than what you will have. I had the bottom of our 40' coach sprayed with 2" of urethane insulation including the wet bay tub. I then cut holes for the drain. That helped keep the coach warm in -15*F. If your coach is heated in the basement, you shouldn't have to do anything except possible an aux heater in the wet bay or just a light bulb.
I don't see how spraying 2" of insulation on the bottom of a motorhome would even be possible. I sure wouldn't want to be the guy who tried to trace a wiring problem through a harness blasted with 2" of urethane insulation. Looking under my MH it is really busy under there with all the gadgetry necessary to make this thing go down the road.
I'll pass on this idea.
Lynn
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Old 09-04-2017, 06:50 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LETMGROW View Post
I don't see how spraying 2" of insulation on the bottom of a motorhome would even be possible. I sure wouldn't want to be the guy who tried to trace a wiring problem through a harness blasted with 2" of urethane insulation. Looking under my MH it is really busy under there with all the gadgetry necessary to make this thing go down the road.
I'll pass on this idea.
Lynn
I agree,
Before retiring, I saw many mobile homes (not motor homes) sprayed underneath with foam insulation, what a nightmare to get to plumbing leaks, the pipes on mobile homes run under the floor and along side of heat ducts, so leaks went undetected for quite a while, nice and warm from heat ducts=mold. Home owners were told by many mobile home
parks if you spray underside with foam, you leave and take mobile home with you, because no one would work on them. I have seen homeowners abandon their place due to mold, and park owner had to take backhoe and load a 14x70 mobile home into dumpsters, many,many dumpsters. Spray foam has it's use and place, but under a motor or mobile home is not it.
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