RV garage

[handirifle]

We recently bought a 2015 5th wheel, and overall length is 35ft, and width, when opened is nearly 16ft. It has two living room slideouts and is pretty darn wide when opened. So, I already have a 18x18ft carport that houses various implements, and am considering using it for the RV. The problem, is the vertical walls on it are only 7ft with about 10ft or so at center ridge.

I might add, that I would need one at least 16'ft wide, because of the angle I have to back the 5th wheel into to park it.

What I am wondering, is can I raise this carport? I am thinking of getting pipe large enough to slip the vertical posts into, and using them for the added height. I could get those long enough to sink about 24" into concrete and raise it high enough to clear the 13' of the 5th wheel. I am thinking I would need to add about 7ft of vertical to it.

I can get used pipe locally, not sure of cost at this point, but am thinking 10 of these, plus the concrete, etc, HAS to be considerably cheaper than a $3,000-4,000 carport. Once anchored in concrete those posts would be very solid as well. I could use the existing base the vertical legs already have, as a cross bracing for support.

Is this a dumb idea?

 

[ksluy]

I sell carports, I think your plan will work fine. There is some extra length on the legs for leveling adjustment. The bottom bar that runs the full length has the extra pipe you could just order new ones with extra length to get your 12ft sides. Make sure you have the extra braces on each leg for the extra wind load you will have.

 

[handirifle]

Is there a source of info for this bracing, to look at? The last thing I would want is to have a big gust tear it down. Seems like the taller units have a cross brace near the ridge, like a truss. is that where you mean? Mine does not have that currently.

 

[EddieWalker]

There is a huge difference in stability when you go form 8 ft to 12 feet. You want to go to 13 feet. If it was me, and this is the only place I had to pout the RV, then I would remove everything there already and start all over again. I cant even count how many times I've had people call me to fix a problem that was caused by modifying a building to do what it was never planned on doing. Going taller adds a HUGE amount of movement to the structure. It is going to move on you, and the movement is going to lead to failure. Probably not catastrophic failure where the building collapses, but definitely where things come apart and water gets in where it's not supposed to.

Eddie

 

[handirifle]

EW
I get what you're saying and that was my concern. Just to be sure we are on the same page, this isn't really a building, per se, but a steel carport with no sides, roof only. The posts on it now are 3x3" steel, and I would probable be going with 4 or 5" steel pipes in the ground, with the existing steel posts set into them.

If I do things like this I tend to overbuild, out of fears like you described, rather than under build. Thus the pipes would be set 24" in concrete (probably 12" dia) and I would add braces to the whole structure that are not there now. However, all of this depends on costs. If it isn't at least half or less the cost of a new one, I won't do it. Not worth it.

It might all be a moot point, cause I'd still have to figure out how I was gonna get it all up there. I have seriously thought of just replacing the existing posts with the taller pipes and bracing them. Probably be a lot stronger that way.

As for location, it sort of is the only place. We built our house in 2009-2010, and lived in our old 5th wheel while doing it. I had a "Y" put into our main line to our septic tank, and I ran electrical and water to this location. The water and electric would be easy to relocate, but not sure about the sewer, and that has come in very handy since then. In addition, the above mentioned carport currently sits on the south side of the new 5th wheel, thus blocking most of the sun from that direction, thus keeping it looking good longer. It's close to the house so it makes it convenient to access for stocking or repairing it.

I already have the carport and was hoping to be able to save a little this way.

 

[EddieWalker]

Just building a roof without walls isn't as strong as a building with walls. The walls stop the racking, or movement of the posts. Diagonal bracing will help, but the higher you go, the more movement you will have with the roof. If you have a lot of wind, then you really need to take into consideration how it will affect your roof sitting up there on your posts.

2 feet in the ground isn't very deep. I go three feet for most posts, and try to get to four feet when I'm building a structure or anything taller then 8 feet. On the horse barn that I'm building right now, I used 16 foot long 6x6's four feet in the ground for my corners on the end of the building that has an 11 foot wall. In my opinion, overkill is cheap compared to how long it lasts.

Eddie

 

[Xfaxman]

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What I am wondering, is can I raise this carport? I am thinking of getting pipe large enough to slip the vertical posts into, and using them for the added height. I could get those long enough to sink about 24" into concrete and raise it high enough to clear the 13' of the 5th wheel. I am thinking I would need to add about 7ft of vertical to it.

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Is this a dumb idea?

You might want to go a little higher for future trailers. My buddy added an air conditioner for the bedroom and his trailer measures 13' 5" hooked to the truck.

 

[MacLawn]

Old Eddie knows his buildings. He's coming to my place to put up my pole barn... Ain't ye Eddie??

 

[ksluy]

If you go with 12ft sides it will be tall enough for any camper. The side walls are 12ft so your center will be just short of 15ft. I have a Voltage 42ft Toy Hauler with dual A.C. Units and at it's highest point its only 13.5ft
Your building has the same frame construction at 8ft as a 12ft. Like I said in my post earlier I would make sure you have the 3ft braces per leg for wind load. Other than that you will be fine. If you have a 16ft wide carport now it should have a small 2ft center brace already.

 

[handirifle]

It's actually 18 x 18 and I don't think there are any center braces. I will look again though. Funny thing, I was looking today and it dawned on me, the carport is 18ft deep and my 5th wheel is 35ft long. Hmmmmm something doesn't add up here. I would have to add a second one in front of it to fully cover. Duh, brain fart moment.