There are a lot of good reasons to cover your RV. It could be your goal is to protect the paint from sun damage or prevent leaks during winter. Or maybe your neighborhood forbids street parking for RVs. It could be your purpose is to prevent break-ins and theft. Regardless, it may be time to build your own RV cover.
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This quick guide will introduce you to some of your options for RV garages, explain why a metal garage is suitable for motorhomes, and go over recommended RV garage dimensions. We will also talk about pricing and the basic process for RV garage ordering and construction. Let’s get started.
Types of RV Carports
There are a few different types of structures you can use for an RV garage:
- A detached carport. This is a fully enclosed building, usually with a simple gabled roof. It is a standalone structure.
- An attached shelter. If you do not want a standalone garage, you can build an enclosed garage as an attachment to another building (i.e. your house). This may help you cut costs, and avoid going outside if you do not want to.
- A Quonset hut cover. This type of garage uses the arced structure of a Quonset hut to enclose your RV.
- An RV carport. A carport is a structure that is generally open on the front and back. The sides may sometimes be open as well, but there is a roof to provide some basic shelter for your RV.
The type of RV garage you need depends on what you are trying to achieve. An RV carport, for example, may save you money since you would require less material for construction. But it will not provide you with security if you want to keep your RV safe from intruders.
Benefits of a Metal RV Carport
Why should you go with metal for your RV garage?
- Sturdy. An RV shelter made of steel will weather the elements admirably, providing maximum protection for your RV and anything else within.
- Fireproof and pest-proof. Metal does not combust like wood in a fire, providing an additional measure of safety for your RV. While a metal structure may not prevent pests from getting in, at least rodents and termites are not likely to do structural damage to it as they could a wood garage.
- Cost-effective. By ordering a prefab metal building kit, you can keep costs to a minimum to build your RV carport.
- Easy to build. Many metal building kits are easy to construct even with limited tools, personnel and experience (particularly Quonset huts).
- Low-maintenance. Once your metal RV shelter is constructed, it should require little in the way of long-term maintenance.
Common RV Carport Dimensions
How tall does an RV carport need to be? What is an ideal class A RV cover size? What about class B or C?
To answer that and other questions, here are typical measurements for different types of RVs:
- Class A motorhome: 10 feet high, 33 feet long.
- Class C motorhome: 10 feet high, 28 feet long.
- Class B motorhome (campervan): 8 feet high, 16-21 feet long.
Keep in mind these are averages. About 12 feet of clearance height is recommended for a class B motorhome. About 14 feet of clearance height is recommended for a class A or class C motorhome.
Because RVs in each class can vary in their dimensions, it is essential to check your vehicle’s dimensions before construction! That way you can build an appropriately-sized RV garage.
How Much Does it Cost to Build an Carport?
RV buildings usually start out at around $4,500 at the lower end. If you require a longer RV garage, it could cost you more than $12,000.
Keep in mind there will be additional costs for delivery, windows and doors, the foundation, the labor, and any additional features you wish to install.
The style of building you choose will impact costs too. There is a difference in the pricing between a Quonset hut and a rigid frame structure, for example, or between a fully enclosed garage and a carport for RV’s.
How to Build Your Own RV Carport For Less
If you want to build an RV shelter, start by checking the zoning requirements and obtaining the permits for your location. Then, figure out what size structure you need and what type of RV garage you want.
You can then proceed with putting in the foundation. Around this time, you can order a prefabricated RV garage kit to be delivered to your location. If you are looking for more design of your RV garage space, check out these custom plans.
When it arrives, you can either build the RV carport yourself or contract out the work. You may be surprised by just how easy it is to construct the garage on your own, even if you do not have an extensive background in construction. Once the building is erected, it is then just a matter of putting in windows and doors and taking any other steps you desire for finishing the structure.
Where can you order a quality metal RV garage kit? We can help you get quotes from licensed pro’s in your state.