I know I have seen this mod on here before, but I cannot locate the thread.I'm looking to purchase a ground mat or rug, for under the awning, by our trailer. I have seen where people mount a 6 or 8 inch PVC tube under the trailer, generally in front or behind the wheels, and use it as a storage tube for such bulky items. I know I have seen some that were very nicly done, using unistrut and pipe hangers to hold the tube.If anyone has done this, can I ask, what type pipe hangers did you use, and where did you purchase them? Is an 8 inch tube needed for this type of storage, or will most mats fit in a 6 inch tube (There is a pretty big price difference in the two)?Thank you,

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harmanrk wrote:I know I have seen this mod on here before, but I cannot locate the thread.I'm looking to purchase a ground mat or rug, for under the awning, by our trailer. I have seen where people mount a 6 or 8 inch PVC tube under the trailer, generally in front or behind the wheels, and use it as a storage tube for such bulky items. I know I have seen some that were very nicly done, using unistrut and pipe hangers to hold the tube.If anyone has done this, can I ask, what type pipe hangers did you use, and where did you purchase them? Is an 8 inch tube needed for this type of storage, or will most mats fit in a 6 inch tube (There is a pretty big price difference in the two)?Thank you,I'll just add a tip about using a ground mat and trying to carry it in an RV. I find them to be a pain. If they get wet they weigh a ton. If you can not wash them off they smell from the ground and wet moldy grass. etc. Wash them off and it takes 10 hourse for it to drain and dry. Then you have to face putting that wet smelly and/or wet clean thing in your RV. Or in your case building something to carry it in. Not to mention they only last about a year if you are lucky.I threw my mat out after about a month of struggling with it RV'ing.Lowes - Sun shade material. Price about 80% less than those so called RV mats. Buy it by the length & color to match your RV. I bought 31 feet of it. Long enough to go the whole length of my RV.Hose it off, dries completely in 5 minutes, weighs maybe a pound.AND, Folds up to a 12 inch square for storage. Just saying! :C

Is this what your looking to do? The tube is held in saddles with 1/4" aircraft cable with turnbuckles. I/O carpet is 8'X 18'

Regular rugs and indoor/outdoor carpet are a joke and a PITA.Just get a Patio Mat from Walmart, less than $50 and will last for years. Wet, dry not much difference in weight, does not absorb water or mud, just sweep off and throw in the belly. I don't have to pull it out when we get home cause it won't mildew if not confined. I have 2 6X9's and one 6X12. Still have one of my original Patio Mats bought in 2003 but its about to give up due to sun exposure.

rockhillmanor wrote:harmanrk wrote:I know I have seen this mod on here before, but I cannot locate the thread.I'm looking to purchase a ground mat or rug, for under the awning, by our trailer. I have seen where people mount a 6 or 8 inch PVC tube under the trailer, generally in front or behind the wheels, and use it as a storage tube for such bulky items. I know I have seen some that were very nicly done, using unistrut and pipe hangers to hold the tube.If anyone has done this, can I ask, what type pipe hangers did you use, and where did you purchase them? Is an 8 inch tube needed for this type of storage, or will most mats fit in a 6 inch tube (There is a pretty big price difference in the two)?Thank you,I'll just add a tip about using a ground mat and trying to carry it in an RV. I find them to be a pain. If they get wet they weigh a ton. If you can not wash them off they smell from the ground and wet moldy grass. etc. Wash them off and it takes 10 hourse for it to drain and dry. Then you have to face putting that wet smelly and/or wet clean thing in your RV. Or in your case building something to carry it in. Not to mention they only last about a year if you are lucky.I threw my mat out after about a month of struggling with it RV'ing.Lowes - Sun shade material. Price about 80% less than those so called RV mats. Buy it by the length & color to match your RV. I bought 31 feet of it. Long enough to go the whole length of my RV.Hose it off, dries completely in 5 minutes, weighs maybe a pound.AND, Folds up to a 12 inch square for storage. Just saying! :CRockhill,The newer generation woven polyethylene mats don't have that problem. We carry two, a small and a large. The small one we got from WalMart and the large one off ebay. They're an open weave so dirt water, etc, just falls through. We hit 'em with the hose to clean up when we get home. They're basically woven plastic.

Adding storage tube under trailer, for ground mat

elkhornsun
Explorer
Sep 14, 2013
I bought large U-bolts from Grainger.com for the ABS pipe.
Lantley
Nomad
Sep 12, 2013
I have a 6" tube mounted underneath using 6" galvanized pipe bands/clamps. They make clamps specifically for PVC pipe in all sizes, there is no need to make something up.

I have my sewer hose in the 6" PVC tube, I agree with the other comments that the woven patio mats do not hold moisture. I keep my 9'x 18' mat in a breathable mesh bag in my basement.
nremtp143
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
harmanrk wrote:
nremtp143 wrote:
Mine are 6" tubes and I love this mod. I have seen a few 8" pipes and one 12" one just behind the front legs done as well.

Thats the one I was looking for.

Looks to be a few bolts through the frame to hold the unistrut in place. What holds the hangers in place, to prevent them from sliding fornt to back? Also, are the hangers something that can be found at Lowes, or Home Depot, or more of a special order item?

Thank you.

Sorry, been away for a couple of days. I found the struts on Ebay believe it or not. However most of your bigger plumbing/electrical supply houses will carry up around 6". Mine are 6" ones. None of the BIG bix stores will have anything over 4". As far as the tubes sliding, when you tighten the bolt at the bottom shown here:

The hangars tighten against the strut and around the pipe. There is no way it is going to move by itself unless you have the wrong sized hangars. The larger sized ones like 8" and 12" will have to be ordered I would guess.
Monty
gijoecam
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
For UniStrut and hangers, any plumbing or electrical supply house should be able to get them, as well as a plethora of online sources. We're fortunate to have a Unistrut distributor right here in Wayne, MI, that we can get it from directly.
98coachman
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
C.B. wrote:
98coachman wrote:
C.B. wrote:
Is this what your looking to do?
The tube is held in saddles with 1/4" aircraft cable with turnbuckles.

I/O carpet is 8'X 18'

Looks great!! Is that a 6 or8 inch tube?? Thanks, Bill

The tube is 12" ID sewer pipe.

Had to go to a sewer contractor to get that diameter. Lowes, Menards, Home Depot don't have it

C.B.
Man photos can be deceiving! Thanks so much C.B. :W
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Great thread!
Swmpbgy1
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Where do yall source the unistruts and hangars????

Swmp
C_B_
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
98coachman wrote:
C.B. wrote:
Is this what your looking to do?
The tube is held in saddles with 1/4" aircraft cable with turnbuckles.

I/O carpet is 8'X 18'

Looks great!! Is that a 6 or8 inch tube?? Thanks, Bill

The tube is 12" ID sewer pipe.

Had to go to a sewer contractor to get that diameter. Lowes, Menards, Home Depot don't have it

C.B.
Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
I painted my tube black so it does not stand out......
CaveRun
Explorer
Sep 11, 2013
Great idea guys!:)