RV Home

[ctpres]

Behind in posting projects. Had travel trailer and built simple sunscreen cover for it at one side of house. House sits of raised pad so I just built cover on same pad. Trailer wasn't that heavy so I just towed it over yard.
Traded trailer in for motor home which is MUCH heavier and taller. Wouldn't fit under it and left ruts in yard. Solution - new 300 foot crushed concrete drive and removed dirt under cover till new toy would fit. Got carried away with trying to make drive look nice with curves. Last curve was to close to cover and not enough room to get it in/out without a lot of manuvering. So now modifying retaining wall for more entry room. Retaining wall is just landscape timbers pinned together with 3/8 inch rebar instead of long nails and tied to each post with 1/2 threaded rod. Structure you see is as built for trailer, once entry/exit problems resolved I will extend cover by about fifteen feet and put on new top (beams laying across wall are the new posts.) Trailer simply had sun screen on top but I might get fancier with real roof. Think if I had a do-over on this one I would tear down old and build new instead of being so cheep and trying to use old.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Motorhome, driveway and carport all look great!! :thumbsup::thumbsup: Beautiful property too!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

We are in the travel trailer mode but would love to be in the motorhome mode - maybe someday.

Regarding the driveway - Do you mind telling me who you used for the crush concrete and the approximate price - instant message if not comfortable blasting it on the internet. We used Sprint over at 36/Koeblen Road off 59 for our select fill. We weren't sure who to use for our driveway material? Did you put anything beneath the stone? Does it rut up when you drive on it?

 

[ctpres]

Motorhome, driveway and carport all look great!! :thumbsup::thumbsup: Beautiful property too!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

We are in the travel trailer mode but would love to be in the motorhome mode - maybe someday.

Regarding the driveway - Do you mind telling me who you used for the crush concrete and the approximate price - instant message if not comfortable blasting it on the internet. We used Sprint over at 36/Koeblen Road off 59 for our select fill. We weren't sure who to use for our driveway material? Did you put anything beneath the stone? Does it rut up when you drive on it?

Travel trailers are a lot cheeper all the way around-stay there until you are POSITIVE that camping fits your family. But once you you do go to motorhome you will love the difference.
I used Terra TX GS ground stabilization geotextile at $411.35 for 432'x12.5 If you don't need a lot I may have 100/200 or so feet left. Call Todd at Hanes Geo Components in Houston @ 713-957-0200.
I actually used washout concrete and it was $1,250 for five (big truck don't remember yards capacity) loads. Delivered by Mr Wilson cell 281- 831-5122. Have known him for years. He helped me with our original driveway almost ten years ago and NO rutting. Once I saw how easy it was I did this one by myself.

 

[ctpres]

Three days work and things not moving real fast. To continue with original building plans I had to disassemble a lot of the original sturcture. One mistake on original build was to use carriage bolts. Ever removed 8 inch carriage bolt from 7 inches of wood? Side rails are 2x4 inside and 2x6 outside with staggered joints. Cross beams are 2x6 sitting on the 2x4 and notched at 2x6. Adding about 7 feet to each end, finished size about 35 feet long. Original cover was just flat solar screen. This time I might go with silver tarp top. As usual with this kind of project - money counts and labor dosen't. Big difference this time is COST of RV under cover.

 

[EddieWalker]

Interesting. I've seen metal covers for RV's, but can't think of one done like yours before. Is a silver tarp just what it sounds like? I'm curious how you will keep a tarp tight over your lumber so it sheds water and doesn't form a buch of mini swimming pools?

The background of your place looks really nice. Love the rye grass and open views that you have between the trees.

Eddie

 

[ctpres]

Is a silver tarp just what it sounds like? I'm curious how you will keep a tarp tight over your lumber so it sheds water and doesn't form a buch of mini swimming pools?

The background of your place looks really nice. Love the rye grass and open views that you have between the trees.

Eddie

Going to waterproof anything will require a raised ridge down the center. Pretty sure these tall 4x4 posts won't support a metal roof in heavy winds so without major changes tarp is only answer I can think of. Plan is for three 12x20 or so tarps with each 12 foot end rolled around 2x2 and 2x2 secured to 2x4 running lenght of structue on each side. Keeping it tight will probably be done with some kind of vertically adjustable ridge. I usually solve these kind of problems as I go. Using three tarps keeps cost down and will provide flaps for wind pressure to escape (I think)
Thanks for the kind words Eddie>

 

[ctpres]

It fits! Went from 21 foot to 36 foot structure. Some braceing to add and need time to think about roof. Leaning to silver colored tarp on PVC hoop roof. For now I am leaving excess on poles for possible end cap framing.

 

[RoMad]

One thing you may want to consider is coming down the side far enough to keep the sun off of the motorhome. I have had a few travel trailers and motorhomes and the sun is very hard on the fiberglass sides.

 

[gwjd]

what about using springs on one side to hold tight? just an eye hook to the post and your tarp holding lumber i would but on the down wind side so it does not allow the tarp to fly up to much

just thought bungy cords are cheaper than springs

 

[ctpres]

One thing you may want to consider is coming down the side far enough to keep the sun off of the motorhome. I have had a few travel trailers and motorhomes and the sun is very hard on the fiberglass sides.

Have been thinking about that. During this remodel I have been concerned about wind, not so much daily but during storms. I could enclose completly but I don't think those tall 4x4's will withstand much stress. If something bad happens to structure with RV under it - monetary damage would be far greater than weather or sun. Do I worry/think to much? Maybe a row of treated wood lattice panels around the the top?

 

[ctpres]

what about using springs on one side to hold tight? just an eye hook to the post and your tarp holding lumber i would but on the down wind side so it does not allow the tarp to fly up to much

just thought bungy cords are cheaper than springs

Securing the tarp is one of my biggest unsolved problems. Seems to be two ways, fixed mount and spring loaded. Spring/bunge would be easy and make replacement a snap. Maybe one of the TBN U. Professors will chime in.

 

[ctpres]

Moving right along. Found 18'x36' silver tarp which should be just about the right size, coupled with 9 inch bungee balls to attach around the edges. I drilled 1 3/8 inch holes thru the ends for a 1 inch pvc rail (with 3/4' emt inside for strength.) Reamed one inch tees so they would slide along the side rail. Built ridge pole using 4 way 1 inch cross spaced to match tees located on the side rail and glued ten foot 1 inch pipes at each cross. Next step is to measure width of tarp, add a couple inches for bungees on each side and cut ten footers to size. Raise center to achieve desired bow and glue bowed ridge poles into the slip tees. Should have it pretty much done this week. Cost of this roofing project, just under $200. Will post pics of hoop roof before tarp goes on.

 

[ctpres]

One step closer, actually starting to look like a roof. Now all I have to do is wait for a low/no wind day. Only problem so far is tarp 2 foot shorter than advertised and I was expecting less than a foot.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm sure glad you posted this picture with the PVC pipe forming the arch to your roof. I was trying to figure out what you were doing with the pipe and how it would work. Now it all makes sense!!!!!!!!

Eddie

 

[beeforty]

I came across this on another forum: http://www.billboardtarps.com/:) They sell used billboard tarps that are thicker than regular with closed sleeves on the edge. Just have to put with an advertisement on the inside.

 

[srs]

ctpres, looks very nice. But with some of the winds we have I don't think it would last very long. Is wind an issue in your area? Nice job though.

 

[ctpres]

Billboard tarp? Great idea, will check it out for the replacement if this project works/lasts.
Winds? Yup still engineering for that. Planning to wire cross brace two end sections much like fence line and gate posts, will post pic when that is done. Already have doubled the number of grommets And will probably box in the ends to reduce air flow thru tunnel. If this dosn't work (50/50 chance) i plan to use all that PVC for water line to pond and then do a more typical tin roof. At my age I am not expecting to still have RV in 3 to 5 more years so I need to at least try cheap first. Also, after RV life the plan for structure is to turn it into a 36 x 15 foot greenhouse. Easy to do if tarp system works.

 

[ctpres]

Got one end enclosed and braced. Decided against wire cross brace and went with heavier wood brace. Figured twisting wire hard to get right without damage to PVC. Still waiting for that windless day to install tarp.

 

[hobie]

Sure would like to have that in my yard! Be a nice place to keep my boat. Thanks for sharing the project! Brian

 

[ctpres]

I think I'll call this Texas size RV guest house project DONE. Tarp top was a real challenge. Today was supposed to be low wind, but by the time I got started up to 10/15 mph. A few more braces, upgrade power from 30 to 50 amp just for guests with bigger rigs and some day add a sewer line connection. If there are no questions-this is a closed project