Enclosing outdoor space under front of fifth wheel

[newtondak]

My husband has found that the space under the front of the fifth wheel makes for a nice spot to sit and smoke during rainy or windy weather (since he's not allowed to smoke inside). Has anyone ever found a way to enclose this area either with some kind of screen or canvas material? I've seen the heavier and more expensive enclosures sold to use the area as storage space but not quite what we have in mind.

[laknox]

newtondak wrote:
Thanks for the thoughts. A good deal of the time it is REALLY windy in ND and sometimes that is the only outdoor space where you can sit and not get completely blown away.

Personally, I might look at some netting to go on the outside, then some roll-up curtains for the inside. Get the best of both worlds, then.

Lyle

[newtondak]

Thanks for the thoughts. A good deal of the time it is REALLY windy in ND and sometimes that is the only outdoor space where you can sit and not get completely blown away.

[CabinetmakerII]

My wife and I are full timers. We have purchased a vinyl enclosure and utilize it when we set up for extended periods. We winter in Yuma, AZ, and summer in Cascade, ID. The storage space provided by the enclosure is very valuable and worth the investment.

[WackAway]

Here's a nice one I was thinking about. It's nice to keep some stuff out of site which helps to keep it from walking off. Out of site, out of mind of sticky fingers.

Adco Cover

[RAS43]

These style enclosures are available commercially as pointed out by cpaulsen. My enclosure came with my 5th wheel when purchased used. The previous owner had a complete system for enclosing the trailer. I only use the overhang portion which really comes in handy for storing items out the weather and out of site.

[cpaulsen]

I put the vinyl 5th wheel shirting on the last 5ver I had. Think I bought it CW. Used the the little swivel attachments to hold it on. It worked very well to store all of my extra stuff under the front overhang.

[old_guy]

a friend of mine was in the upholstery business and made many enclosures for 5th wheels. he would use nice white material and put swivel snaps on the lip of the 5th wheel and then when installing the material you just place the swivel into the hole and turn. stayed in place in high winds. people would use the tarp he made for storage under the 5th wheel

[Lwiddis]

Build a little fire and it’s a sweat lodge!

[agesilaus]

Quick, dirty and cheap: put velcro strips under the overhang. Make curtains, maybe with the bottom weighted, with the matching velcro at top.

If your hubby is handy, I'd mount some aluminum 'U' channel around the bottom of the overhang. You may need to do three straight runs, one at each side and one at the front. Fabricate some sliders (or you may find some unistrut sliders the right size) to be curtain hangers. Leave the ends of the channel open some you can put the curtains up when you want and take them down likewise.

Frankly this would seem to be rather on the claustrophobic side to me.