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Looking to protect your RV from the elements? (+ Keep it looking good)
Or maybe you just want to keep it looking shiny and new?
Whether it’s one or both you’re interested in, if you’re looking into ceramic protective coatings for your RV, you’ve come to the right place.
But before you pay for a ceramic coating of any kind, there are some very important things you should know.
Don’t buy any ceramic coating– especially not from a dealer– before reading this article.
Later, we’ll talk about a few of our recommendations for the best RV protective coating.
So, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about protecting your RV with a ceramic coating.
Is Ceramic Coating Worth It On an RV?
Ceramic coating is a liquid spray made using a combination of chemicals that applies a protective layer to guard the surface of the RV from the sun’s UV rays and provide an enhanced shine and new appearance.
It also protects your paint job from dirt, bird droppings, and other related substances (in other words full body paint protection).
Ceramic coatings can be worth it just for the enhanced shine, which can really keep your RV looking like new.
Plus, you can get them for a few dollars online or at your local store and apply them yourself without any technical knowledge.
With that said, the claim about protecting your vehicle from UV rays is more questionable.
Technically, ceramic coating does create a protective barrier so that UV rays can’t oxidate, which may protect against sun-based paint damage long-term.
However, there is no solid evidence of ceramic coating’s ability to fully protect against the effects of the sun on your RV’s exterior. So take that part with a grain of salt.
Still, the enhanced shine is nice and the potential protection– given it’s inexpensive and easy to apply– are strong reasons to consider using a ceramic protective coating on your RV.
Why You Should NOT Pay for Ceramic Coating at a Dealer (What Is an RV Ceramic Coating Worth?)
A quick warning: when purchasing a new RV, some dealers will offer an additional add-on service for a professional ceramic coating application or other protective similar coating.
We’ve seen prices of anywhere from $700 – $1,300 for what they sell to the consumer as a “high-grade protective coating”.
Don’t be fooled. In almost every case, this is a $20-30 bottle of ceramic coating from Amazon that you could both buy and apply yourself within a matter of minutes.
Warranties will sometimes come with these add-ons, supposedly designed to protect you from damages connected to the coating not working properly. But they’re often designed to allow the dealer to charge for what is actually very little actual warranty protection.
And the most important thing to remember: if dealers offer this, they’re packaging it together with the entire loan. That means you’re not only paying an outrageous amount for a service that shouldn’t cost more than $50-100 on the high-end (exclusively the cost of labor), you’re also paying interest on that amount.
So, in reality, it will cost you far more than the initial add-on price tag and the quality of the coating isn’t (likely) any better. It’s a lose-lose proposition all-around.
For that reason, do yourself a favor. Hop on Amazon to buy your own bottle and take a few minutes to apply it yourself. Professional application isn’t necessary, you can easily do it yourself!
What Is the Best Protective Coating for an RV?
Now, let’s talk about some of the best ceramic coatings on the market.
The most often mentioned is probably Griot’s 3-in-1 spray, a ceramic coating brand trusted by many RV owners:
Griot’s is competitive in terms of pricing and frequently cited by RVers to work as intended:
- Goes on easy
- Long-lasting protection (lasts about a year, but you can apply more frequently if you want to be safe)
- Applies a nice glossy shine to your RV
- And protects against UV rays and dirt build-up
You can get Griot’s on Amazon or straight from Griot’s own website:
Another brand often mentioned in the RV community is Gyeon’s ceramic spray, which is said to be super easy to apply:
Lastly, make sure to grab or pick up a clean microfiber towel as you’ll need it to apply the coating to your RV.
Is Scotch Guard a Good Alternative for Your RV?
3M’s Scotch Guard was a stain-resistant spray used for quite a few years, typically recommended by RV dealers as a way to make additional profit (similar to other protective coatings).
However, Scotch Guard’s ingredients included highly harmful chemicals including PFAs, also referred to as “forever chemicals”, which are linked to several types of cancer.
For that reason, Scotch Guard was discontinued after public pressure built over the use of these harmful chemicals and is now no longer in circulation.
However, that doesn’t mean that similar sprays aren’t still available for commercial use. Make sure to verify before using any type of protective spray whether it has harmful chemicals that could hurt your loved ones.
How Long Does Ceramic Coating Last?
Typically, a protective ceramic coating lasts a long time, about a year or two depending on use and the level of sun exposure.
If you’re unsure, for best results reapply annually (ideally just before or after Summer) and you should be good to go.
Be Smart About How You Protect Your RV (Do It Yourself!)
Giving your RV a little extra protection by way of a ceramic coating is a good idea, but don’t let anyone convince you to pay for it.
Instead, spend a few dollars on Amazon or your local store and put the ceramic coating on yourself.
All it takes is a few minutes to read the instructions on the bottle and apply it to your RV– quick, easy, and inexpensive.
Plus, if you keep the bottle on you, you can regularly reapply it (annually is usually fine) to keep your RV protected year-round without it costing you anything.
Learn more about how to protect your RV long-term with our guides:
- Top 4 Best TPMS for RVing: 2024 Guide
- How Often Should You Seal Your RV Roof? + How to Seal It (RV Roof Coating and More) (Great for learning how to protect your RV from water damage)
- RV EMS vs Surge Protector: Which Is Best for Surge Protection?
- 3 Best Sway Control Hitches for Travel Trailers
This post may contain affiliate links. Check out our disclosure for more information.