how to make air gap between shade cloth and RV?

[RC_MSP]

I plan to buy a large piece of shade cloth to cover the south side and roof of my RV. I understand an air gap between the cloth and the RV is needed. Does anyone have any tips or ideas for creating the gap?
How big does the gap need to be? If the gap doesn't need to be very big, maybe plastic swim noodles laid across the roof and the air conditioner might be sufficient?
Thanks for sharing your insights. I'm a BM virgin so I haven't seen examples of how people shade their RVs.

[Wigwam]

I've seen people put beach balls on the roof, but they need to be secured. That or simply put up a structure over the RV.

[Popeye]

Last time this was asked someone suggested those large plastic salad bowls. That gives you 6+ inches which is pretty close to what is needed. Beach balls would work too.

[RC_MSP]

Thank you Popeye and Wigwam. I also read a suggestion to use cardboard boxes on the roof. I'll need to check out the roof of the RV and see if there is anything up there where I can fasten zip ties to secure something to roof.
Maybe I can find some cheap plastic bins and somehow secure them to the roof.

[Token]

Why in the world would you shade an RV?

It is insulted, you know that right?

Just black out the windows and you’re done.

Is this a rental where you don’t want to run the AC?

[Elorrum]

I saw sawhorses on top of a school bus one year. Holding up a huge tarp. A lengthy and dangerous high ladder project to get it tied tightly and not be a big flapping hazard, and the guy spent a lot of time on it. It was something to watch in the neighborhood. Salute to trial and error diy. Good engineering isn’t everything.

[RC_MSP]

Why in the world would you shade an RV?

Thanks Token, I've never been to BM so I don't know if it's standard practice to shade an RV or if most people do not shade their RV. I've read other posts where people said they tried not shading the RV and then shading it and they said shading the RV made a big difference and helped to keep the RV cooler so they could run the AC less. I don't know whether to shade or not but I need to figure it out fast before I spend several hundred dollars on shading material.

[Wigwam]

Half the fun is trying things out, failing upward.

Good luck!

[Token]

Why in the world would you shade an RV?

Thanks Token, I've never been to BM so I don't know if it's standard practice to shade an RV or if most people do not shade their RV. I've read other posts where people said they tried not shading the RV and then shading it and they said shading the RV made a big difference and helped to keep the RV cooler so they could run the AC less. I don't know whether to shade or not but I need to figure it out fast before I spend several hundred dollars on shading material.

Yeah, people do silly impractical things out there cuz they can and for some it’s actually fun to tinker, engineer and invent.

Your first time … don’t bother. You won’t be at your camp that much, I guarantee it.

Just make sure you do have enough spare fuel to run the generator and AC.

Instead of shading the whole thing, just do the windows. You can do something as simple as aluminum foil on the inside taped with 12-day masking tape - cheap and easy, or use Reflectix (Google it - aluminized bubble wrap).

Go and enjoy BM your first year. See how it is and then decide if you want/need to tinker.

With an RV you already have more than you need out there.

Don’t crap in the RV - use the JOTS.

[HarryN]

RVs are insulated, but not even close to a typical home.

It makes perfect sense to shade it if possible.

People that live in RVs do it all of the time in hot climates.

[Token]

RVs are insulated, but not even close to a typical home.

It makes perfect sense to shade it if possible.

People that live in RVs do it all of the time in hot climates.

They most certainly do, but when they hook that bad boy up and go for a 10-day vacation somewhere, they sure as hell don’t disassemble the carport and take it with them.

Love your enthusiasm, but let’s please be practical here. It’s a camping trip in the desert for 10 days.

That is exactly why the RV has both a generator and AC unit. So it can be used with minimal hassle.

Cost - Effort - Benefit analysis and all that silly stuff, right Ace?

[HarryN]

Hopefully burning man is not their only camping experience throughout the year. That would be unfortunate, self limiting and kind of wasteful.

I have first hand experience with hardware not working in difficult weather - so price is really secondary compared for me even though I am most definitely not wealthy.

[Savannah]

I don't think I've ever seen a shaded RV, but I suppose someone, somewhere, is doing it.

(RVs are already plush; I have napped once or twice in my friends' RVs . . . .the idea of shading one seems a little wild.)

[RC_MSP]

I don't think I've ever seen a shaded RV, but I suppose someone, somewhere, is doing it.

Savannah, I've never been to BM and you have so I really appreciate your observations. After reading your comment, I searched for pictures of RVs at BM and well, I see a lot of RVs without any shading. I suppose there are some RVs in the pictures that I can't see because they are hidden under shading material. I know that it would make a difference to shade the RV. I'm certain it would make the RV cooler, but, after lots of consideration, I have decided not to shade the RV. My main concern is damaging the RV paint. I'm not renting from a big RV rental company, I'm renting from a young woman and put her life savings into buying this RV. The RV is brand new and I need to return it to her in pristine condition. I'm going to concentrate my efforts on keeping as much dust as possible out of the RV. Thanks

[HarryN]

I don't think I've ever seen a shaded RV, but I suppose someone, somewhere, is doing it.

Savannah, I've never been to BM and you have so I really appreciate your observations. After reading your comment, I searched for pictures of RVs at BM and well, I see a lot of RVs without any shading. I suppose there are some RVs in the pictures that I can't see because they are hidden under shading material. I know that it would make a difference to shade the RV. I'm certain it would make the RV cooler, but, after lots of consideration, I have decided not to shade the RV. My main concern is damaging the RV paint. I'm not renting from a big RV rental company, I'm renting from a young woman and put her life savings into buying this RV. The RV is brand new and I need to return it to her in pristine condition. I'm going to concentrate my efforts on keeping as much dust as possible out of the RV. Thanks

A brand new RV will be ruined at BM from the dust.

It will take heroic efforts and planning to keep the dust out, including something resembling a shower before going into the RV.

That is why many firms will not rent vehicles for use at BM.

I am building up and renting out a solar / power system to a camp and I fully expect it to come back "somewhat damaged" by the dust. The only reason that I am doing it is to look at how it fails to keep the dust out and work on improvements.

[RC_MSP]

A brand new RV will be ruined at BM from the dust. It will take heroic efforts and planning to keep the dust out, including something resembling a shower before going into the RV.

Harry, I appreciate your concern. I'm going to read your comment as: " A brand new RV will be ruined at BM from the dust --UNLESS-- heroic efforts and planning are taken to keep the dust out, including something resembling a shower before going into the RV"
I'm doing lots of research and planning and I will definitely take heroic efforts to keep the dust out including a type of shower before going into the RV. I know a local burner who takes her RV to BM and her RC is so clean you could never tell that it's been to BM. I'll update this post when I return with how things turned out, what worked and if anything didn't work out.