Community Forums

Robontheroad · 06-08-2018, 07:57 AM

We are contemplating building an RV port home. Need some advice from experienced folks. Is our 43 foot RV more maneuverable pulling in forward or backing in? Is their a desired orientation for the driver and passenger side? What is a good dimension for the port? We are thinking 48-50 feet so it will accommodate a 45 foot unit.

cataska · 06-08-2018, 08:26 AM

Make sure the door is wide enough 12' is to small for comfort

Crasher · 06-08-2018, 10:47 AM

I made ours 14x14x45. If I were to do it again, it would be 16-18' wide, 14' tall and 50' long. You are asking about an RV "Port", so am assuming no doors. If you mean an RV garage, then it would need to be 15-16' tall for door clearance. I just drive straight in and back straight out. My 50 amp power is then next to the power cord of the coach. The extra width would be for opening up all the slides for company to use as their private quarters.

CountryB · 06-08-2018, 04:45 PM

[QUOTE=Robontheroad;4230618 Is our 43 foot RV more maneuverable pulling in forward or backing in? .[/QUOTE]

It's always easier (and safer) to pull in and back out.

JMonroe · 06-08-2018, 04:48 PM

If you want to be able to open all slides when under the port, keep that in mind when determining specs.

Also keep in mind, our community lost 7 ports in hurricane Irma, all were free standing (not attached to a building), none were covered by insurance.

vwd · 06-08-2018, 04:57 PM

If it will be attached to your house, you will want to either pull in or back in so that your RV door is adjacent to your house. Otherwise you have to have to walk around the RV to get to the door to load and unload. After you build it, put a line on the floor to line up the tires so you can safely open the slides. It will probably be off center a little.

Crasher · 06-08-2018, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMonroe

If you want to be able to open all slides when under the port, keep that in mind when determining specs.

Also keep in mind, our community lost 7 ports in hurricane Irma, all were free standing (not attached to a building), none were covered by insurance.

I built my with 6x6 treated posts sunk 4' into the ground. Not sure it could withstand a hurricane, but it would take a lot to move it.

powerboatr · 06-08-2018, 05:45 PM

hmm
ours now covered and enclosed is 44 deep by 26 wide and clear space of 14' on the girder once inside, but ceiling is at 17 feet

big door is 12 wide and 13 tall
12 wide is easy, the car door is 7 tall by 8 wide, should have went with 9 wide for easier entrance

i back the bus in, and have plenty of room to open all slides, did before we closed it in as well.

Finance · 06-08-2018, 06:31 PM

You can have them built to any wind speed rating you want. Most areas will have a minimum spec depending on where you are on the hurricane wind map. Upgrades are not very costly.

NCC-1701A · 06-08-2018, 07:23 PM

I echo the suggestion to be sure it's plenty wide. When I built mine units pretty much only had 1 slide-out...many had none. My port is wide enough to put a slide out on 1 side. Well, I now have slides on both sides, so cannot fully open up the unit in the port. Mine is currently 42' long for a 39 1/2' unit. It's OK, but I wish I had built it longer too. I have 30 AMP power out there...it's good enough, but if I do an upgrade I'll push that up to 50 amp. Sewer isn't an option for me, but if I was somewhere that I could have a sewer connection in the port, I'd do it.

sdennislee · 06-08-2018, 11:25 PM

I built mine to allow all slides out, 50 amp service with water and sewer hook ups. 14' wide x 16' high door, the RV bay is 18' x 52', climate controlled.

Based on the safety principal of "First Move Forward" I back in.

See post 699 in this thread http://www.irv2.com/forums/f84/pictu...105447-50.html

vsheetz · 06-08-2018, 11:37 PM

50'x20' so as to be able to easily walk around with slide-outs and cargo doors open. Drive in forwards, out backwards.

Ivylog · 06-09-2018, 07:16 AM

I designed our home around storing our DP inside and close to the kitchen. It helped that the lot has a pretty good slope to it as I did not want the MH bay to overpower the house...so common to what you see in Fla.

I agree that driving in is easier and it put the MH door next to the kitchen but because of the steps into the house...MH bay is 4’ lower than house floor, I cannot open the passenger LR slide very much. Our NEW ride just barely fits and unlike our previous 42’ I cannot walk around either end so I would recommend 50’ long. By using a swinging door you save 2’ of height which would have pushed the rest of the house 2’ higher. Fortunately I wanted high ceilings so the 12’ walls were a plus.

With barn doors on the new MH 20’ wide would be better than the 16’ I have...making it hard to get to things in the basement. RVs have a way of growing.

Will post pictures when on a computer but you can see it here: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f84/pictu...105447-57.html

sbleiweiss · 06-09-2018, 08:43 AM

I am surprised that most are saying it is easier and safer to drive in and back out. I do it the opposite even though I could do it either way. Why do you all say it is easier or safer to pull in and back out? I would think especially backing out would be scary.