How to install RV Skirting

Tools required:

A tape measure, a sharp pair of scissors and a marking pencil. If you are using the screw-in style of studs you will need a power drill and if you are using the 3M “peel and stick” adhesive studs you will need isopropyl alcohol to pre-clean the surface you are adhering to.

Determining what kit size you require:

  To determine the size of EZ Snap RV Skirting kit you will need, first measure the perimeter of the area to be skirted in. Remember to include any slides you are planning on skirting in as well. Once you have these measurements, add them together to see which kit size will work for you. We recommend that you include an additional 2’ to 5’ for overlap where the skirting will meet or as little as 12” overlap if you are using our special RV Skirting panel joining Velcro.
  You will also need to determine the height of the skirting material that will work best for your RV.  To do this, measure to the highest point you will be skirting up to. This may be above your wheel wells or more commonly, it will be to the bottom of the slides. Remember that you will also need at least 6” of material extra that will fold under at ground level.
  Each skirting kit comes with a predetermined amount of fasteners. We recommend that you install fasteners approximately every 10”. You may choose to order additional fasteners if you want to place them closer together or if your project is more complicated, with multiple slides or objects to work around.

How to install RV Skirting:

1. Once your kit arrives, mark the locations of where you plan to mount your fasteners. Mark just above the area you are planning to mount the studs. Place a fastener at every point that the fabric will start and stop around objects, as well as approx. 10” intervals in between these points.

2. Now it is time to install the studs. If you are installing using the self-tapping screw stud style fasteners, there is no surface prep required and they can be simply screwed into the RV. Be careful not to over tighten the screw and a small dab of silicone helps to seal off the drill hole.
  When installing using the EZ Snap adhesive studs, the surface must be cleaned in the area that the adhesive stud will be mounted. The best cleaner to use is isopropyl alcohol on a rag or cloth. This will help remove any oxidization or contaminates.

3. Once you have cleaned the area where you plan to place the adhesive stud, simply peel off the liner on the back of the stud. This exposes the 3M V.H.B. adhesive. V.H.B. stands for “Very High Bond” and this specialized adhesive has extremely good holding power in all weather conditions.  Take care not to touch the adhesive once the liner is removed as this can contaminate the adhesive surface.

4.  Press the adhesive studs into place in the areas you have cleaned.  Repeat this as you move around the RV. Press and hold the adhesive studs in place with firm pressure for a few seconds. Ideally temperatures should be at least +15c/ 60F when you are installing. It is also recommended to let the adhesive studs set for a minimum of 1 hour before you start to install the skirting material. This ensures a good bond that will withstand the extremes of a -40 Canadian winter to +110 Arizona summer.

5. Next, snap on the EZ Snap pins onto the studs you installed on your RV. Push the pin onto the stud, until it snaps on. Repeat this as you move around the RV.

6.  Then roll out the RV skirting material along one side of the RV. Allow an extra few feet so that it can be wrapped around the front of the RV. You may choose to install your skirting as one continual piece or you may find it easier to work with a number of smaller lengths. Remember if you are using a number of smaller sections, you will need to account for the extra fabric required for the additional overlaps. Joining these smaller panels together is where our panel joining Velcro makes the project so much easier to do. This specialized Velcro is designed to stick to the skirting if you want to further seal these panels together. If you need to cut the fabric down to make a smaller section, it is best to use a framing square and a straight edge to draw a line. This line can then be used as a cutting guide. A sharp pair of scissors works best. Ideally they should be sharp enough so that you can just push them to cut. This tends to produce the straightest looking cut.

7. Once you have your section of skirting cut to length you can begin to position it in place. This step, as with all the steps, is quicker and easier if you have an assistant to help you.  Lift the fabric into position so that it is at the same height as the highest fasteners. 

8.  With the fabric positioned in place, begin fastening it by puncturing the EZ Snap pins through the fabric. Using two hands, push the fabric down on the pin until it pops through. Important: Push straight down on the pin or you may break the pin. Move from pin to pin as you continue to puncture the pins through the fabric. It is important to ensure that you push the pin all the way through the fabric so that the fabric comes in contact with the base of the pin.

9. Once the skirting has been positioned on the pins, you can then use your straight edge to draw in cut lines in areas that will be cut away and removed. You should be approximately ½” to ¾”of space between the edge of the fabric and the pin. Cut along the line you have drawn, to remove the excess fabric. The EZ Snap RV Skirting is a non-fray fabric and does not require hemming or binding of the cut edge. Continue this procedure as you work your way around the RV.

10.  Once the fabric has been completely placed over all the pins you can then start locking the fabric to the pins by pushing on the EZ Snap caps. As mentioned before, it is important that the fabric be pushed onto the pin all the way down to the base of the pin. That way the caps are able to properly lock into the teeth on the pin.
As you fit your skirting to your RV make sure that maintain the proper clearances from any heat exhausts or venting. Do not cover over these areas under any circumstances.

Installing a Fifth Wheel Front Enclosure Kit:

1.  If you are skirting in a fifth wheel RV, a nice addition is to add a fifth wheel hitch enclosure skirting. These skirting kits utilize extra tall skirting fabric and are great for adding extra storage and insulating value to your skirting project. The procedure for this area is much the same as the lower side skirting. You install your choice of studs, then the EZ Snap pins.

2. Once the pins are in place you can then begin attaching your enclosure skirting. As mentioned before, this is made easier with the help of an assistant.

3.  Next lock the skirting material onto the pins by installing the EZ Snap caps. We recommend the EZ Snap pipe clamp system to finish off the base of your fifth wheel enclosure or add our EZ Snap instant zippers for an easy way to access under your 5th Wheel front enclosure.

Using the EZ Snap pipe clamps to finish your RV Skirting project:

   Although there are a variety of techniques to finish the bottom of your skirting, you may want to consider using the EZ Snap pipe clamp system. This system utilizes common plastic pipe & couplings to form a frame around the base of the RV skirting. This frame is locked onto the skirting with the optional EZ Snap pipe clamps. The pipe frame makes an easy way to hold the skirting in place and also keep the skirting in line around corners and slides. The RV skirting is wrapped around the pipe, hiding the pipe from view behind the skirting. Once you have the skirting in the desired position, lock it in place on the pipe using the EZ Snap pipe clamps. Pipe clamps should be placed every 2 to 4 feet around the perimeter. Ideally the skirting should just lightly touch the ground. This will give you a good seal around the bottom of your skirting. Skirting can further held in place by adding cement blocks in the corners behind the skirting, as well as, down the sides. This helps further protect the skirting if you are in a high wind area.

  Use the EZ Snap removal tool if you ever want to remove your skirting for transport or to gain access behind it. Simply place the tool between the stud and the base of the EZ Snap pin. Pry them off of from the studs to unsnap the skirting.

__________________________________________________________

Adding EZ Snap Instant Zippers to your RV Skirting:

  The EZ Snap instant zippers are designed to `Peel and Stick` anywhere on your RV skirting. Whether it’s for extra storage or to access plumbing drains, these zippers are a great way to quickly create an inconspicuous access point anywhere in the skirting. They can be custom sized with a sharp pair of scissors.

1.  First pull the zipper into the open position. Then cut the zipper to the desired length. Make sure that the length you are keeping has the zipper pull on it.

2. Remove the release liner on the back of the zipper to expose the adhesive.

3. Position the zipper over the area you want to install it and press it into place. Ensure that you are placing the zipper on the backside of the skirting that faces under the RV, not the side that faces the outside.

4.  Apply the `Peel & Stick` adhesive zipper stop over the cut end of the zipper. This keeps the zipper pull from coming off the zipper.

5.  Now pull the zipper to the open position, exposing the RV Skirting material underneath it.

6. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut a straight line through the RV Skirting, in the area that the zipper opens. You now have a working zipper installed into your RV skirting