Trailer skirts??

[Fred762]

Looking for an easy to use "trailer skirt" to use in cold weather to help keep the Casita underbelly warm and the plumbing functional, while camping in cold weather. Any thoughts?

[alan H]

Try using bales of hay

[steve dunham]

Bales of hay or straw banked up with snow
Both make excellent insulators

[thrifty bill]

Search youtube for Keep your daydream winter camping.

They do a nice recap of skirting and other issues for winter camping.

[Jon in AZ]

I agree straw is best, but it hardly qualifies as “easy to use.” It would take a couple of pick-up loads. Best for a semi-permanent set-up.

Fred, how do you plan to use this? What kind of cold weather camping are you planning?

[Jim Bennett]

A lot will depend on the temperatures you are in. If you are in temperatures where it rarely warms above freezing during the day, there will be no easy to use solution unless you had a method of pumping heat underneath too. Anything with good insulating value, like the straw mentioned above, is not that easy to use, but fine for a permanent setup. Even with good insulation a bit of heat is needed to keep things from freezing underneath. You might get enough transferring through the floor, but that is not enough in real cold weather.

[Fred762]

Naah, we're looking for something to take on and off while camping, moving the TT, etc. straw wd not wrk

[Donna D.]

I have a friend that's full-timing in her trailer in Canada. Land of cold and snow. She's not in an all-molded-towable though. She IS a traveler, but will be staying in one place for at least a month. She bought and installed RV skirting from this company. She says they have stellar customer service and they give free estimates:
Trailer Skirting for Your RV by Kimbers Creations

[David B.]

I wonder if several of the light weight swimming pool air mattresses, wedged upon their sides would be a possibility, (you would want a small aircompressor though).
Dave & Paula

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by David B.

I wonder if several of the light weight swimming pool air mattresses, wedged upon their sides would be a possibility, (you would want a small aircompressor though).
Dave & Paula

Good thinking outside the box.

There is a problem with your suggestion. The tubes of air are too big to provide any insulation. Good insulation is generally comprised of very small areas of air containment. This prevents eddy currents with transfers heat between each side of the air mattress so that both sides are equally cold.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

There is a problem with your suggestion. The tubes of air are too big to provide any insulation. Good insulation is generally comprised of very small areas of air containment. This prevents eddy currents with transfers heat between each side of the air mattress so that both sides are equally cold.

Might not be much for insulation but would make a contained area on the underside keeping the wind from blowing through. Add a drop light and that may be all that it takes to keep the temp up enough for what the OP is looking for. Sure would be cheap to try out....and roll up small for storage .

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Borrego Dave

Might not be much for insulation but would make a contained area on the underside keeping the wind from blowing through. Add a drop light and that may be all that it takes to keep the temp up enough for what the OP is looking for. Sure would be cheap to try out....and roll up small for storage .

Keeping the wind out might help. However you can accomplish that with a small roll of 4mil plastic.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Keeping the wind out might help. However you can accomplish that with a small roll of 4mil plastic.

Any stopping air flow is even more important than insulating, because if the heat easily escapes, the effectiveness of the insulation does not really matter.

[Fred762]

Good ideas..the 4 mil plastic sounds good..not take up too much space either..Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Byron Kinnaman

Keeping the wind out might help. However you can accomplish that with a small roll of 4mil plastic.

Yes, but attaching and supporting it is the problem.

[Lil M.]

How about some foam board insulation...something like this 1"x2'x8'. https://www.lowes.com/pd/R-Tech-Comm...lation/3014678
Can be cut with a knife.

[Glenn Baglo]

I'd put it in a heated garage, myself.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I have a friend that's full-timing in her trailer in Canada. Land of cold and snow. She's not in an all-molded-towable though. She IS a traveler, but will be staying in one place for at least a month. She bought and installed RV skirting from this company. She says they have stellar customer service and they give free estimates:
Trailer Skirting for Your RV by Kimbers Creations

Looks to be a well made product. Watching the video and noting the claim for "exclusive R17" insulation I heard the very distinctive sound of Reflectix when she was installing one of the panels. The double bubble Reflectix claims the upper end of insulation value as being exactly R17. Of course they are also claiming that it reduces the heat in the summer. So yep, must be Reflectix in that sandwich of materials.

I do think it is a very tidy looking product that is easy to remove and put back on and it will certainly block the wind and have longevity of service.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Yes, but attaching and supporting it is the problem.

It could be supported with a frame of pvc pipe. The pipe does not have to be glued together. Slip joints so that it can be disassembled and stored. Stitch rod pockets into tarp fabric rather than using clear plastic. Leaving a flap at the base of the fabric pieces to pile snow or dirt onto it or alternately putting grommets into the flap so that it can be secured down with tent stakes. While it won't be air tight it will block the majority of the wind. To add additional ability to hold it in place you would add more grommets around the top to tie it to the bumpers and axle.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by k corbin

It could be supported with a frame of pvc pipe. The pipe does not have to be glued together. Slip joints so that it can be disassembled and stored. Stitch rod pockets into tarp fabric rather than using clear plastic. Leaving a flap at the base of the fabric pieces to pile snow or dirt onto it or alternately putting grommets into the flap so that it can be secured down with tent stakes. While it won't be air tight it will block the majority of the wind. To add additional ability to hold it in place you would add more grommets around the top to tie it to the bumpers and axle.

How do you drive tent stakes into or shovel frozen ground /earth ?
When we camp in the winter we use a dome tent .