Community Forums

Ed & Diane · 03-29-2009, 09:54 PM

We are in the process of designing an RV garage structure for a large lot. We want an upscale look, metal buildings not allowed by CCRs. The neighborhood varies between ranch and mountain lodge, and we are near a high end golf resort, mostly mountain style second homes.

Our needs include a 20' x 50' RV space. Large double garage, 30' x 30', a shop 20' x 30' including staircase to upper level. Add a 650 sf apartment over the shop. All under one roof. Garage doors, 14' x 14', 2- 10' x 12' and a 7' x 8' into the shop.

Any design thoughts? What other great ideas should be included and considered? Or mistakes made. Anyone with an RV /house structure looking close to this?

Thanks Ed

dirko · 03-30-2009, 01:27 PM

Hi Ho: Sounds like an ambitious project. Heating, coolinig, lighting, water and sewer are all things that make this kind of project really useful. If you already have a dump station somewhere else, then that doesn't apply. It is handy to have the heat so that each section can have a different temperature.

Plan for plenty of electrical power, especially for the shop. I like a 220 V, 50 amp outlet for a welder and also have four other 220-volt circuits in the shop at 20 or 30 amps. This sounds like a lot, but if you do woodwork, then the table saw, jointer, dust collector and other stuff often needs 220 volts. A 100 amp service for the shop is not unreasonable.

I like dual 8-ft HO light fixtures because they put out a lot of light and don't care what the temperature is. They do hum some, so that is the tradeoff.

Since you want an apartment this is really like another house. If there is not a house there, think about the style of house that would be built some day and try to follow that same style in the out building.

Have fun, Dirk

Chezhead · 03-30-2009, 02:51 PM

Install dual hookups so that regardless of which way you put the RV in the garage, the hookups are easily accessible.

j griff · 03-30-2009, 03:54 PM

Wow – that is indeed quite a project. If the doors are all on the same side it turns out to be a 50 x 50 ft building (20’x50’ + 2 ea 12’ and one 7’ = 51’) or is my reasoning bad ??
I presume a cement floor? What I miss about the barn I built is a trench so that I could access the chassis without having to crawl, roll, etc. Of course the trench would need drainage capability. My floor is rock because a concrete floor would have added so much to the annual property tax bill that I settled for less.
I agree with Dirk on plumbing, heating and electrical thoughts.

TXiceman · 03-30-2009, 05:37 PM

Let me know your address and we'll be sure to stop and camp at your place...if you are not home, just leave the keys with your neighbor.

Ken

Wingnut57 · 03-31-2009, 09:30 AM

Look at these a lot of styles to choose from: http://www.unclehowardsrvbuildings.com/

porscheracer · 04-01-2009, 05:38 PM

Metal buildings not allowed, or just no exposed metal?? Applying siding is not that expensive.

I designed and had built our RV garage. It has a 16x50 MH bay with 50A electric, water, and sewer / dump. It also has a large work bay and 2 car bays plus an office and full bath. Additionally it has about 1000 sq/ft of upstairs storage.