A camper is a major investment, but it can save you the money you would otherwise spend on lodging and meals as well. Yet, even so, many people cannot afford the price of indoor storage and others think the job is done once they complete some weatherizing before storing it for winter. That's why it is essential to make sure you invest in a cover as well.

If this describes you, and you have just brought your camper home to roost so to speak, you're most likely doing a lot of research on camper covers. If so, you have probably found they run the gamut as to price and quality. However, there is one type of cover you should avoid at all costs — the familiar blue tarp. While you may have quite a few of these around your yard, covering bicycles and barbeque grills blue tarps are not appropriate for campers for a variety of reasons. In fact, there should be a sticker on blue traps reading Warning: Using this piece of plastic may endanger the health of your camper.

How Camper Covers Can Protect Your RV

A true camper cover is a specialized product designed to do more than just cover your vehicle. Camper covers cost more than blue tarps but leaving your camper without adequate protection can cost a lot more down the line. Here are some of the ways that a good cover can help protect your camper, not just keep it clean.

On sunny days, U-V rays beating down on the camper's roof can heat the interior to as much as 144 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, on the outside, the heat build-up will be damaging the seals.
That direct sunlight can damage rubber seals due to extreme heat build up, but it can also cause damage to the paint as well as any fabric accessories such as awnings.
Snow, sleet, and rain can further weaken the now-compromised seals and leave them vulnerable to leaks.
Dirt and debris will leave unsightly black streaking and stains that can be difficult to remove.

On the other hand, if you do protect your camper with a quality cover not only will you be avoiding all these problems, you'll be keeping it in optimal shape, so you won't have to spend valuable time cleaning off tree sap and bird poop, both of which are only unsightly, but eat away at the camper's finish unless you remove them immediately

What to Look For in A Quality Camper Cover

The important thing to do is to find a cover that fits your camper as perfectly as possible. If you can get one designed to fit your specific make and model that’s fine and good, but if you don't go this route (pardon the pun), you can research quality camper covers until you find one that fits the bill. The important thing is that you select a camper cover that :

Fits snugly and has reinforced covers that will not fray or tear.
Is made of a breathable material that doesn't let moisture collect underneath it. Using a cover that doesn't breathe is like putting down the welcome mat for mold and mildew.
Has vent flaps that reduce billowing, reducing the risk of it flying off should a mighty gust blow.

And while you're checking off cover qualifications, you might want to take a look at this checklist of to-dos to be done before you hit the road. And one more thing. Don't forget to relax and enjoy the ride