For the most part, there aren’t many ways to personalize an RV. Yes, you can add personal touches through how you decorate the inside but not much otherwise. One way people add a personal statement is by what they carry with them and set up outside their RV once they are parked. It was something I noticed early and, in fact, my very first photo essay was on outside RV décor. But there is another way RVs make an RV their own. By the spare tire covers they choose.
I pay attention and have enjoyed many. It never occurred to me until now as I write this that I should have been taking photos of all of them in my travels. But, alas, I only photographed the ones I particularly liked.
Aside from the ones below, I’d say other popular tire covers include some version of the America flag. But I don’t have any photos of those.
Directional Tire Covers
Many tire covers, signs and RVers logos incorporate some version of a compass. It makes sense.

Camping and RV Life
There are lots of ways loving camping and RV life are expressed.
The other one I’ve seen, and there are lots of RV signs people put outside their rig with the same sentiment, says, “Home Is Where You Park It.” Not sure how I didn’t end up with a photo of ones of those but I didn’t.
Most Popular of the Spare Tire Covers
There is nothing scientific about this but of all the spare tire covers I’ve seen on the road, the most popular one seems to be the well-known quote that says, “Not all who wander are lost.” I’ve seen lots of versions with various graphics and included three in this post. Something about it so perfectly captures the heart of the RVer.
Where Does It Come From?
If you have ever wondered about that famous quote, I did a little digging. Now, you might already know this. I’ll admit, I did not because I haven’t read the book. “Not all those who wander are lost” is a quote from the first stanza of a poem in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of The Lord of the Rings.
All that is gold does not glitter,
J.R.R. Tolkien
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
Just for Fun
Okay, this may be more about the RVers hobby than RVing. I read this as a drinking tire cover. You know, It’s 5:00 somewhere. But as I was uploading the image, I realized that the car is a dune buggy with a surfboard and what it actually says is that it is five foot o’clock somewhere, which may be a reference to surfing five foot waves. So the question is: typo or surfing tire cover?
Either way, it is a fun one.
To Dream
This one was on the RV parked in front of mine at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in 2019. It has nothing to do with traveling or RVing and yet, it has turned out to be one of my favorites. Such a positive lovely message. What is the saying? If you can dream it, you can be it? I think that is the message here. So, we are limited only by what we can imagine. It is, indeed, true.

Not Exactly One of the Spare Tire Covers
But even so, I’m including it here. It was put on the back side of an RV and I loved it.
Did you personalize your RV with a chosen spare tire cover? If so, share what yours says or, if not, what kind of cover would you get if you were in the market for one?
Links to Other Photo Essays:
- Fun and Funny Signs: Photo Essay
- Photo Essay: Water Towers
- Outside RV Décor: Photo Essay
- Route 66 Inspired RV Park
- Oregon’s Heceta Head Lighthouse: A Pictorial
- Portland, A Pictorial Preview
- Driving the ALCAN: A Photo a Day
- Soderberg Bunkhouse and HistoriCorps Volunteering
- Balloons at the 2019 Balloon Fiesta
- Sumpter Oregon and Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge: Photo Essay
To see products recently purchased by readers by clicking on links below or to browse and shop at Amazon, follow any link on the website. Huge thanks for your support.
- Prest-O-Fit 3-Pack Ruggids RV Step Rug Black Granite
- Universal Socket Tool, Super Grip Socket Set Fits Standard 1/4”-3/4”
- Soak S07-6Y Soak Wash Rinse, 12-Ounce, Yuzu
- Self-Stick Bar Furniture Sliders for Carpeted Surfaces
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Good luck with hosting transition. I switched to Hostgator, but lost some of my photos in older posts. I should have hired tech support, rather than DIY.
I’m replying to this about a month later and we are still working through a few things (mostly security issues) but the process has been pretty good. Yeah, I just don’t have the skills or knowledge base to feel confident to do it myself. Definitely worth the couple hours worth of paying for someone else’s time.
I love the tire covers with a kaleidoscope or stained glass type design.
Hi Laura. I’m not sure I have seen any like that. Or at least not in a way they registered. But now that you mentioned them, I’ll keep an eye out. Thanks for sharing.