Protect
your investment from the elements.
After
months of eagerly crossing the days off your calendar, it’s
time to hit the road for a major getaway. You carefully load
your belongings in the RV, which has been waiting patiently.
Early en route, you discover that one of the windows leak. This
vehicle has been your escape from civilization for many years,
but over time, the sun has faded the paint and cracked the roof
vents.
Natural wear may be prevented by storing the rig in a shelter,
and doing so could result in financial gain. “In some
instances, people have units worth $300,000. They’re certainly
interested in looking after their investments because they may
decide to sell them,” explains Anita Jacques, president
of Give Me Shelter Ltd., in Uxbridge. “Using a shelter
reduces the unit’s maintenance in terms of replacing trim
parts, and means less money paid out for labour to wax and wash
the unit. It’ll ensure they get the most return.”
 Suitable
shelters for your mobile home are freestanding structures with
steel-bar frames blanketed in UV-resistant fabric. The units
are made in a variety of shapes and sizes that can accommodate
anything from small, pop-up travel trailers to 40-foot, Class
A motorhomes. Prices range from $500 to $600 for smaller shelters,
with larger units running from $4,000 to $6,000. (Manufacturers
claim that choosing between peak-top and dome-top styles will
affect aesthetics more than stability.)
Selecting the right shelter size for your RV is important, but
your primary concern should be choosing one that will stand
up to Canada’s harsh weather including blazing heat, hammering
downpours and entombing snowfalls. You might need something
a little more durable than duct-taped patio umbrellas concocted
by Red Green. “When setting up a shelter, never position
the sidewall to face west,” adds Bob Quaile, a partner
in Patio Concepts Inc. “That’s the direction where
the majority of your strong wind forces originate.”
Some units lack sufficient strength, rust proofing or fabric
longevity to offer topnotch protection. Steel bars can be galvanized
or powder-coated to prevent metal from rusting. If durability
is a concern, look for a roof with a truss connecting the horizontal
bars and providing reinforcement, especially if your vehicle
is stored in an area prone to heavy snowfall.
Choosing the type of fabric for your shelter should be done
with the same care as when you buy a winter coat to wear. A
coat must be thick enough and made from material that will keep
you warm, and if you’re a skier, having an outer garment
made from waterproof fabric proves useful. The thickness of
shelter fabrics also varies, some lasting longer than others.
Most quality RV shelters use a UV-treated, polyethylene tarp.
Some material has a carbon layer that sits between two layers
of polyethylene – something you may want to have in your
tarp, since the carbon layer’s heat absorbing properties
can make the fabric last three times as long.
Generally, manufacturers buy rolls of material to create shelter
tarps. To make a structure large enough to fit a 40-foot RV,
several sections are connected. Just like that waterproof, winter
coat, the way a tarp is sealed where the fabric pieces meet
determines how well your rig is protected from moisture damage.
Seams can be sewn or welded. If you buy a tarp-sewn shelter,
keep in mind that the sewing thread is different material than
the fabric, so how it expands and contracts in extreme temperatures
will differ. Welded seams are much better because the pieces
are heat-sealed, making leaks less likely to occur.
The most common upgrade for a shelter is its door system. Sliding
doors are usually standard. They slide across a rail, wrap around
the side of the structure and hook at its side. Upgrades include
zipper and crank-up versions for some models.
(Page Top) |
