Forum Discussion

PWRmx24's avatar
PWRmx24
Explorer
Nov 08, 2020

Carport or individual covers for slidouts?

First time 5th wheel owner will be full time for a couple years in one location. I'm considering putting up a metal "car port" over the trailer to protect against rain, snow, sun UV. I've also seen some folks put up a roof over each slide somehow......not just the awning covers....but it looked like a mini roof...made of translucent plastic or fiberglas...not sure. I'm in central VA so any recommendations on a company to put up a metal cover? Anyone have any experience putting up the mini roof over each slide option? How do they even attach to the trailer? Thanks in advance.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Nov 08, 2020
    People do all kinds of silly things, putting a partial roof over a slide seems useless. If you have the option, build a garage style carport and make it completely protect all sides from the weather. Just building a roof that isn't much larger than the RV is almost useless since the sun and weather streams in from all sides.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Nov 08, 2020
    I would go with the full metal carport. It will protect the entire RV and roof from all the weather, including the hot Sun.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Nov 08, 2020
    I've seen people build a roof over just the slides...usually it's a half A** solution after they have a failure.

    A full RV/Car Port is quite viable. Make sure it's high enough that when you run the air/con there is enough air flow to carry the heat away.

    PS: Make sure of the zoning laws if you plan to live in an RV without moving around.
  • Allworth's avatar
    Allworth
    Explorer II
    Nov 08, 2020
    I have worked on writing a new set of zoning regulations for a major urban county.

    Frequently they include (as recommended by the National Association of Counties) serious limits on secondary buildings (not primary residences).

    Height limitations.

    Distance from property lines.

    Total square feet allowed.

    etc.

    And, as Valhalla said, living full time in an RV on residential property.

    Be careful!
  • bukhrn's avatar
    bukhrn
    Explorer III
    Nov 08, 2020
    Never heard of putting a roof over each slide, where is the 5er going to be for "a couple years" at your place or somewhere else?
    If somewhere else, what are you going to do with the carport/ cover when you're ready to move on?
    If at your place, try these folks, tis is who i used.

    https://www.carolinacarportsinc.com/
  • spoon059's avatar
    spoon059
    Explorer II
    Nov 08, 2020
    https://www.alansfactoryoutlet.com/

    This is where I got my carport 6 years ago. Very happy with it. I got a 31' long, 18' wide, 10' leg carport and its big enough to store my camper underneath with the slide out. If you are planning to fulltime your camper under it, you might want to get it wider, so you have a place to sit under cover outside. The carport will make your awning inoperable.

    I paid $2400 for mine and got the boxed eaves rather than the traditional roof style.
  • JAC1982's avatar
    JAC1982
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2020
    Our last rig had damage from the sun from being parked outside... on the side of the camper, not the top. Do the full carport, and if you can, at least have some kind of sun protection (walls, UV screens etc) on the sides that face south and west.
  • PWRmx24's avatar
    PWRmx24
    Explorer
    Nov 18, 2020
    Thanks very much for the feedback. I will check the zoning and if allowed get an estimate for DIY and installed carport. I'll see after that about a DIY roof over the slides. My main concern is rain coming in the 3 slides.
  • Edd505's avatar
    Edd505
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2020
    Build big enough, they got bigger and bigger, now I need to add a few feet.

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