6 Best AC Covers for Fifth Wheel AC That Nomads Swear By

You’ve just parked your fifth wheel for the season, nestled under a beautiful, shady pine tree. That shade is a blessing in the summer, but a curse in the off-season as sap, needles, and bird droppings turn your expensive rooftop AC unit into a sticky mess. A quality AC cover is one of the cheapest, smartest pieces of insurance you can buy for your rig.

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Protecting Your AC: Why a Cover is Essential

That big plastic box on your roof seems tough, but it’s surprisingly vulnerable. The plastic shroud is constantly baked by UV rays, which makes it brittle over time. A low-hanging branch or a hailstorm that a new shroud would shrug off can easily crack an old, sun-damaged one.

A cover is your first line of defense against physical debris. It’s not just about leaves; it’s about the pine needles that work their way into every crevice and the twigs that can jam fan blades. More importantly, it signals to birds and rodents that this is not a good place to build a nest, preventing a nasty surprise when you fire up the AC next spring.

Finally, think about water and ice. Rainwater can pool in the nooks of your AC unit, and when it freezes, the expanding ice puts stress on seams and plastic components. A good cover sheds that water, keeping the unit dry and preventing the slow, insidious damage caused by the freeze-thaw cycle.

ADCO Air Conditioner Cover: All-Weather Defense

ADCO is a name you see everywhere in the RV world, and for good reason. They’ve been making protective covers for decades, and their AC covers reflect that experience. They typically use a multi-layer polypropylene fabric that’s designed for long-term outdoor exposure.

The key feature here is breathability. While the cover is highly water-resistant, it allows trapped moisture to evaporate out. This is critical for preventing mold and mildew from growing on your AC unit, especially if you store your rig in a humid climate. You get the protection from rain without creating a swampy micro-environment underneath.

ADCO covers secure with a parachute-style drawstring that you pull to cinch the hem tight around the base of the unit. This provides a snug, reliable fit that holds up well against wind. For a solid, all-around performer that balances protection and breathability, ADCO is a benchmark.

Camco Vinyl AC Cover: A Durable, Budget Option

If you’re looking for straightforward, no-frills protection that just works, Camco is your answer. Their vinyl AC covers are the workhorses of the RV world. They are tough, affordable, and do an excellent job of keeping water and debris out.

The heavy-duty vinyl material is 100% waterproof. Nothing is getting through it. This makes it a fantastic choice for areas with heavy rain or snow, as it completely seals off the unit from the elements. The vinyl is also resistant to tears and punctures, so it can handle the occasional scrape from a tree branch.

The main tradeoff with vinyl is its lack of breathability. Because it’s a solid barrier, it can trap moisture underneath. This isn’t a problem if you put the cover on a completely dry unit in a dry climate, but for long-term storage in damp conditions, you’ll want to be cautious. It’s a simple, effective, and budget-friendly solution that many nomads rely on.

Classic Accessories OverDrive Deluxe AC Cover

Classic Accessories brings a level of design and material quality that often feels a step above basic RV gear. Their OverDrive Deluxe covers are a great example, blending durability with thoughtful features. They often use weather-resistant fabrics that provide a great middle ground between pure vinyl and lighter polypropylene.

These covers are water-repellent, not fully waterproof like heavy vinyl, but they are highly breathable. This design philosophy prioritizes preventing moisture buildup over creating an impenetrable seal. For many climates, this is the superior approach for long-term component health.

Where Classic Accessories often shines is in the fit and finish. Instead of just a simple drawstring, you’ll often find an elasticized hem for a snug initial fit, combined with adjustable buckle straps. This dual system makes it incredibly easy to get a tight, secure fit that won’t flap or billow in the wind, which is a real plus when you’re wrestling with it on a ladder.

Explore Land RV Air Conditioner Cover: Heavy-Duty

When your rig faces serious weather, you need a serious cover. Explore Land specializes in heavy-duty options designed for the harshest conditions. If you store your fifth wheel where heavy snow, high winds, and freezing rain are the norm, this is the category to look at.

These covers are typically made from thick, durable polyester fabric, often 600D, with a waterproof backing and a water-repellent coating. They feature reinforced seams and are built to withstand a significant snow load without tearing. They are less about simple storage and more about active, aggressive protection.

This level of protection comes with a couple of considerations. A heavy-duty cover is, well, heavier and bulkier. It will take up more space in your storage bay and can be a bit more cumbersome to install. But if your alternative is a cracked shroud from a heavy ice storm, the tradeoff is well worth it.

Leader Accessories AC Cover: Snug Fit & Secure

The biggest frustration with any cover—for a grill, a boat, or an RV AC—is having it blow off in the first major windstorm. Leader Accessories tackles this problem head-on, with a design that prioritizes a secure, non-slip fit above all else.

Their secret is usually a two-part system. First, a heavy-duty elastic cord sewn into the hem pulls the cover tight around the bottom edge of the AC unit. Second, they include multiple adjustable straps with quick-release buckles that you can run underneath the unit, cinching it down so it physically cannot lift off.

This secure fit does more than just keep the cover on. A loose, flapping cover can act like sandpaper, slowly abrading the plastic shroud of your AC unit over a long winter. By keeping the cover locked down tight, you prevent both wind loss and friction damage.

Pro-Tec Covers for Dometic & Coleman Units

For those who want a perfect, glove-like fit, a generic cover might not cut it. Pro-Tec often makes covers designed for specific AC models from major brands like Dometic and Coleman. This means you aren’t buying a "large" cover; you’re buying a cover for a Dometic Brisk II 15k, and it will fit exactly as it should.

What really sets Pro-Tec apart is the material. They use a heavy-duty, commercial-grade vinyl on the outside for total waterproofing. But the inside is lined with a soft, non-abrasive fleece backing. This inner layer protects your AC shroud from scuffs and scratches during installation and removal, and it prevents the vinyl from chafing the plastic during windy conditions.

The downside is cost and convenience. These are premium covers with a higher price tag, and you have to know your exact AC model to order the right one. But for nomads who see their rig as a long-term investment, the perfect fit and superior protection of a model-specific cover is a compelling choice.

Choosing Your Cover: Sizing and Material Guide

Before you click "buy," grab a tape measure. Do not guess your AC size. Get on the roof and measure the length, width, and height of the shroud. Write it down. Cover manufacturers provide dimensions, and a cover that’s too small is useless, while one that’s too big will flap in the wind and fail.

Next, choose your material based on your climate and storage plans. It’s a simple decision matrix:

• Vinyl: Maximum waterproofing. Best for heavy rain/snow and shorter-term storage. Ensure the unit is dry before covering to avoid trapping moisture.
• Breathable Fabric (Polypropylene/Polyester): The all-around best choice for most people. Protects from UV and debris while allowing moisture to escape, preventing mold. Ideal for long-term storage, especially in humid areas.
• Heavy-Duty Coated Polyester: For extreme weather. If you expect heavy snow load or high winds, this is your best bet for durability.

Finally, consider the securing mechanism. A simple drawstring works, but an elastic hem combined with buckle straps provides a much more secure, fire-and-forget fit. If you’re in a windy area, prioritize a cover with straps. Your future self, warm inside during a winter storm, will thank you.

In the end, the best AC cover isn’t the most expensive one; it’s the one that fits your unit, matches your climate, and stays put. This small, inexpensive piece of gear protects a vital and costly component of your fifth wheel. It’s a simple task that pays dividends in peace of mind and prevents a costly repair down the road.