Forum Discussion

rvshrinker's avatar
rvshrinker
Explorer III
Apr 05, 2017

building trailer storage at home - guest room

I'm planning to buy a TT or smaller fifth wheel this spring and I own 2 acres.

I want to store the trailer at home but want to have built a carport for it, with an attached elevated covered deck with garden planters etc, along with permanent sewer, water, and electrical hookups, so the RV can be used for guests for up to 1 month at a time. We'd have strong wifi for them to use. (Our guests also have full access to our house, we just don't have an extra bedroom for them.) The carport also has to be long enough to hold my truck. We live in a relatively mild climate, and would get a 4 season trailer, so we don't want an enclosed garage. We also don't get much wind, most of our rain falls straight down, so we don't need side protection - only over the top.

Anyone have a set up like this? Have photos to share or a link to go to?

Sort of a combination of this:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/71072500350338898/

and this:

https://www.familyhandyman.com/decks/designs/how-to-build-the-deck-of-your-dreams/view-all

But overall, a little nicer looking.

thanks!
  • Bumpyroad wrote:
    Clay L wrote:
    You may live out in the country where it may not matter but many towns/counties have zoning regulations that won't allow what you want to do. Might be a good idea to check first - unless you already know the answer of course.


    yep, and any sewer hookup is a "clean out" not a RV dump. just use your words carefully when getting permits. it is NOT to live in.
    bumpy


    That is what we called it when we put in an RV site at an orchard we inherited back when we were full timing. Turned out that changes in the code since the system was put in many years ago actually required a clean out so we were golden. :)
  • Clay L wrote:
    You may live out in the country where it may not matter but many towns/counties have zoning regulations that won't allow what you want to do. Might be a good idea to check first - unless you already know the answer of course.


    yep, and any sewer hookup is a "clean out" not a RV dump. just use your words carefully when getting permits. it is NOT to live in.
    bumpy
  • we're allowed to live in the trailer for up to 60 days per year, which is enough. good point though.
  • You may live out in the country where it may not matter but many towns/counties have zoning regulations that won't allow what you want to do. Might be a good idea to check first - unless you already know the answer of course.
  • in google earth take a look at lake whitney estates, I considered buying there once.
    bumpy
  • Carolina Carports, bought mine from Alansfactoryoutlet.com. I bought a 31 foot long, 18 foot wide with 10 foot legs for $2400. The prices differ per region, depending upon environmental requirements. Mine required additional bracing due to snow load and hurricane tiedowns due to being in the hurricane belt. Great product, price included delivery and setup. All I had to do was have a foundation set up to their specs (included on the website) and electric within 100 feet.

    Great product, looks great, should last a LONG time (even longer if you put a concrete base, mine is on gravel and partially buried. Great value for the money. I estimated cost of building my own, it was more expensive... plus my time to build it, plus my inability to put "finishing touches", plus I would have to stand on the roof 14 feet off the ground and install shingles.

    They came in the morning, installed everything by 2pm and my camper was parked under it that evening. Its held up to high winds, 3 feet of snow, rain, sun, pine tree needles, etc. I'm VERY pleased with the outcome.
  • If you go on-line looking at aluminum carports, make sure you do it "Incognito".
    Otherwise you will get spammed like crazy (like I did).
    I would not give any company your email if you contact them via phone either. I had one of those company's track me across the country for years that kept calling me.
  • If you are going to do it, well ... do it up right! I'd never leave home if I had something like this: (Actually, I'd almost be willing to tear the house down and have this put up in its place and live in the TT full time!)

  • I saw a Facebook ad for do-it-yourself building kits from a company called VersaTube. There are probably other companies that offer similar products. If I was doing a project like yours I would investigate something like this:

    http://www.versatube.com