Looking to protect your RV or travel trailer, keep it looking pretty when you pull into your next music festival or just feel sharp while driving down the open road – and create some effective shade on your campsite? A tarp may be your answer.
For some, roof protection doubles as festival shade and load protection. When doing double duty for protection, shade, and cover for travel, tarps are critical. Just make sure you’re scouting the right product. And some just want shade with no protection at all…
At HydraBarrier, P.E. tarps, often known as poly tarps, are among the largest in the market and are ideal for boat and motorhome use, ranging from 12’x24′, to 12’x40′, 18’x24′, 20’x30′, 20’x40′. and 24’x36′. They offer brass grommets spaced every 18 inches. The products are 100% waterproof and non-breathable and range from 12 mil to 16 mil thickness, compared to 6 mil for typical 6 mil tarps.
Canvas tarps are another option. They’re water resistant, not waterproof, breathable and made of a soft, foldable fabric material. They’re also most expensive than most options. “Many people prefer canvas tarps due to the feel and utility of the material,” says Thomas Cook, product manager with Watershed Innovations.
Tarps can be used for sun shading and load covering for transport. PE tarps are non-breathable by design; canvas tarps are breathable, allowing air to pass directly through the material.
Shade- and shelter-only solutions include such products as shade-sails, like the Kelty product line. When at the Wanee Festival a few years ago, and the Lockn’ Fest last year, a Kelty provided shade across the campsite for our crew. These are not designed for covering vehicles or loads or use as ground cover. But they’re an exceptional source of cooling shade during the hot summer music festival or camping season.
For some, thick and durable tarps are the answer for all protection, load covering, and shade. When hung as an extension from the RV’s or travel trailer’s existing awning, much of the campsite can enjoy protection from sun and rain alike.
“Many of our customer do just that, cover the RV or trailer when not in use and then use for shade or ground cover while camping,” he says. “People that have been into camping for a while know the deal. Convenience is nice if you are not the planning type. If you are the type that doesn’t mind doing a little upfront planning, these tarps will provide many years of multi use service with superior protection to any comparably price purpose built cover.”
Bottom line, traditional covers are better than nothing, custom fit and easy to use. Plan on replacing every them every year or two years, he says. Using a tarp for the same application takes a little more planning, including the purchase of bungee cords or other tie downs.
Regardless the solution, covers significantly reduce premature aging of the RV and helps maintain resale value.