prefab metal rv covers

B~C

New member
we're going to be packing up and moving next summer. Untill we move in I'll be fixing on the place. One of my projects is to install some kind of cover for the boat and rv. Does anybody have any does and don'ts and tips regarding prefab metal rv covers. What brands are recommended or avoided?
thanks,
ken
 
I can't add much to your knowledge base, but I did build a "boat house" out of a prefab kit. Not as easy as it sounds but it does work pretty well. The one "tip" I'd give you is that in many (all?) of these kits the molded "ribs" run horizontally (for good fabrication reasons) when ideally these moldings would run vertically....especially on the roof. The horizontal molding traps water and becomes a breeding ground for mold and moss.

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I had one years ago for an RV. We had a 25 ft RV and got a 40 ft long "carport" for it, and we generally liked the extra space. You can also make one side of the carport extend closer to the ground than the other side, which we did since that side faced West, and that would heat up the RV much more. Overall, it was a great investment. Make sure it is level before you start building. The floor can be concrete, caliche, or even dirt (like we had). I was very pleased. It proved to be a relatively inexpensive way to protect investments
 
Oh, one other thing I learned the hard way......

Bolt the frame in the kit together using dimensions NOT by attempting to make everything level or perpendicular with a level and square. The completed frame structure can be all catawumpus if you maintain the proper distances between the uprights top and bottom. Then once the frame is finished, you can use ropes, or come along, or whatever to pull it into square. Once squared up, you add the siding and roof panels which stiffens the structure and permanently locks in the level and squared building.
 
thanks for the input. I could see where vertical ribs on the roof would be the way to go as we'll be moving to snow country
 
B~C":2kptvfua said:
thanks for the input. I could see where vertical ribs on the roof would be the way to go as we'll be moving to snow country

Ken, I know you young squirts like to go snow (stuffing - ski, shoe, camp etc), but when My Dad moved out West from North Dakota, he said his favorite thing about the winters hers was that when it snowed, most of the time that stuff on the roof, just ran down the gutters, and he didn't have to get his snow shovel all cold and wet.

My tip.:wink: Buy a good snow blower :shock:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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the nice thing about our next house is there are no sidewalks that requires shoveling. I think I will need to get a roof rake to get the snow off the roof, don't know if I can get up there with a snow blower :) Maybe I can coerce the kid into any required snow removal.
I do look forward to two winter things, getting back into cross country skiing and going to AZ when I tire of XC skiing. I would have liked to move to Squim and avoid winter but we need to be close to the kid so it's off to Bend and many smaller bodies of water to explore
 
Nice thing about Bend -- in an hour or two you can be almost anywhere. And if you go a little east you get a little less white stuff.

Best to you,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Another thing about Bend is there are a lot of rodeos around there. You know, if you want to get back into that.
 
I don't see that happen Mike. The closest I'll ever come to rodeo anymore is the boat ramp during splash & giggle boat season
 
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