By Cheri Sicard
There’s no doubt that RV skirting can help keep your RV warm in cold temperatures as well as cooler in warmer temperatures. There are many types of commercial and DIY RV skirting available, but RV AirSkirts have to be the easiest to install.
In the video below, Mike from RV Blogger put his favorite brand, AirSkirts®, to the test by actually measuring the temperature differences they can make.
Mike begins by discussing the various types of DIY RV skirts you can make, as well as neater-looking commercial options that snap onto the RV.
He also discusses some of the downfalls of these RV skirting methods.
For one thing, unlike air, these methods provide little to no insulation value. They are also vulnerable to gaps that let air in. Obstructions like your RV’s tongue can be difficult to navigate, and securing these types of RV skirts to the ground presents a whole new set of challenges.
The video below demonstrates installing the AirSkirts the very first time, with no prior experience, right out of the box.
If you are not familiar with this upgrade and brand, AirSkirts are inflatable tubes that fit snugly under the RV to create a barrier.
The entire process of unboxing the AirSkirts, laying them out in proper positions under the RV and inflating them, took only 15 minutes!
Beyond that demonstration, Mike also tests the RV AirSkirts’ efficiency.
In the first test, he tests how long it takes his RV to cool down during cold weather (35 degrees F outside), without the AirSkirts installed. Starting at 70 degrees F inside, without the skirting, the RV dropped 12 degrees F in one hour.
After installing the RV air skirting, he again raised the interior back up to 70 degrees and waited another hour. However, during that time the outside temperature dipped below freezing and the wind picked up.
No matter, with the AirSkirts installed, the RV’s interior temperature only dropped 5 degrees in an hour!
Mike then demonstrates how easy it is to deflate the AirSkirts and put them back into their carrying bag.
Give the video a view to see it all in action and see if RV AirSkirts might be right for you.
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We have a set of air skirts for our 30 ft. Airstream. They are neither difficult to set up or to take down for storage. Daily management of inflation level is required as outside temps change. As temp rises the air inside the bags expands. Too much expansion can result in damage. Management requires letting air out to compensate. Cost for us was not as high as are current prices. We have had our set for two years. Air skirt customer service is outstanding. The bags make a difference; no scientific study, just our word. Our “winter” temps are not extreme where we are. Note that Airstream trailers are not considered 4-season compliant. Alternative skirting would impact our mobility without providing any improvement in insulation level. Bottom line: we are happy with the air skirts we have. They seem to help, are easy to work with and manage and air skirt as a company is both helpful and responsive.
Great idea, but $2000 for plastic air bags? I knew they’d be high because the package says “RV” on it, but that’s ridiculous. How long would it be before one even came close to recouping the cost in propane savings, particularly since most RV’s are “seasonal use”? They make the comparison to “ugly foam panels” used for skirting as well, but honestly, the air bags aren’t all that attractive either, though that would not be a big consideration as far as I’m concerned. A solid “No” for me.
I guess they could be useful in a flood.
Tie a rope around all of them to keep them under the RV, and keep the RV afloat? 😆 I don’t know why that picture popped into my head. Sorry. Have a good day, Gary. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
So… how well does it stand up to my generator exhaust that it’s going to be nice and snug up against? 😀
$2200 for a kit to fit a Casita?? For $30 I can put a heat tape cable on the grey and black water dump lines to protect them from extreme freezing temps and I’ve got $2K left for a lot of propane if I lose electricity.
It’s a Rolls Royce solution to a Ford pickup problem.
This is not an inexpensive option. Most kits seem to be in the $1800-$2800 range. I think the test is lacking in basic scientific rigor. For example, the second temperature test appears to be with the occupants in the camper -their body heat would impact the results. Also, the tester does not attempt to analyze why heat loss/gain through the floor is so great and where it stands in relation to other parts of the camper.
Obviously they’re beneficial, now if they figure out how to close off the gaping holes created by the wheel wells. Lol
The ones I researched are custom-made to fit your individual vehicle. An inflated piece to cover all the wheels is provided. I would check for screws and sharp edges protruding from the floor and cover all sharp edges. I would also consider placing a pad of some kind between the RV and the inflatables. Foam board or other scrap materials would work fine to protect the tubes. This is a quite expensive solution at around $3,000
Thank you! A useful, informative, and serious article.