backyard storage: Building or RV Port

[Plasma800]

I moved out to a couple of acres. I love having my airstream on property and out of storage, but now it presents a problem....

I HATE leaving it out in the open.

So I could build a metal building, but they aren't cheap... or I could install an RV port, but then there's exposure.

Concrete pad? Gravel?

What do you do for your backyard storage??

[Mrjkq]

Unfortunately I don't have the availability to store onsite, but if I did it would be either the metal bldg with hook ups, overhead doors front & back for pull through convience & big windows on both sides for light so when family visits & doors are open they won't feel like they are in a warehouse. Second choice would be an attached carport with hookups.

[CRH]

I would build a post/steel pole barn style building with a concrete floor.

[PKI]

Generally, I wish a lot.

Maybe, build a gravel pad. Use it as the AS parking for now and configure it to be the drive for the concrete floored garage you will build later when you can afford it.

Might consider using the house/garage as a wind break.

If you have a hill on the property and it's not too rocky, you might be able to cut in a bunker that could be configured like a walk out basement. You might even be able to build a guest house on top later. That is, if you weren't always traveling in the AS.

Oh, and that gravel drive, might be a good pad to loan out to some poor lost AS traveler too. The country life is good. Lots of options.

Congrats on the new place. Pat

[nrgtrakr]

We like concrete pad with full hook ups, a car port topper and storage shed.

[Jim & Susan]

There are a couple of really good threads on this topic here......someplace. Let me see if i can find them.......back in a few.......

Jim

[Jim & Susan]

Here's one: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f415...ads-98377.html

Not the one I was thinking of, but a few ideas.

[Plasma800]

local building guys quoted my 25k for a 18 x 35 insulated space with a lean to (for the bass boat), a single 14x12 door, a single ped. door and 2 windows.... and I'm thinking..... 25k??!!! ugh

and I'm sure the price is worth it, but after the cost of moving, plus I dunked all of the cash from the sale of our old house into the mortgage of this new one, plus bought a new truck in mostly cash... it's like... i feel tapped for a second..

[sgschwend]

Keep em dry with an outside cover.

Using a pole building is good for snow country, but as a backup guest quarters is not to good to have folks inside a building. The outside carport type cover still provides some natural light and views, easier to have black water hook-ups.

[mandolindave]

If you used 4 by 4 posts, you could close it in later, if it suited your life style.

In Texas you might want the south wall closed in

No walls might make a nice BBQ/picnic area,

[CRH]

I would use 6 x 6 posts for a structure that size.

[Jim & Susan]

Here's the sub-forum I was thinking of: Winterizing, Storage, Carports & Covers - Airstream Forums

Lot's o'good ideas in there.

Jim

[remphoto]

Originally Posted by Plasma800

local building guys quoted my 25k for a 18 x 35 insulated space with a lean to (for the bass boat), a single 14x12 door, a single ped. door and 2 windows.... and I'm thinking..... 25k??!!! ugh

and I'm sure the price is worth it, but after the cost of moving, plus I dunked all of the cash from the sale of our old house into the mortgage of this new one, plus bought a new truck in mostly cash... it's like... i feel tapped for a second..

You could probably cost-jutify that expense if you are paying a couple grand a year for rental storage like some of us. I wish we could do a pole building at our house but the HOA would frown on that. We have considered buying a cheap building lot or a couple acres in the country to erect a building.

[Drewsome]

I have the exact same issue with my AI, my former coach I had a nice cover and although was not a fan of leaving it out, it fared really well for 4 winter seasons.
Now, with my AI, I am not wanting to cover it or leave it out in the rain or baking in the sun when not in use, so I began a search both locally and on the web for solutions I could do myself. I like post and beam structures as they are easy to construct and you can make whatever size you need.. After comparing local material costs (I am in SW Washington) to this site's building packages, it is nearly a wash with the online site having a bit more choices in colors and frame materials used.
So, if you have the skill set and want to save money, I say build your own!..
If not, then i believe that Absolute can coordinate with local installers which most likely will still be less than a local builder starting from scratch..

[silverslppr]

We use an Elephant Structures carport, open all the way around. You can customize it with sides and overhead doors if you so choose, we left it open because it is sitting between two garages. During the winter I just tarp front and back. (Chicago does have it's fun winters) With a 30 amp box coming off one of the garages it's a winter hideaway!

[JaynEss]

We have less than 3k in this.

[kdickinson]

I store mine within view of my house. For now it sits on leveled gravel. Longer term I plan to build a barn and have a space that has an entry and an exit door allowing me to pull in and then pull out instead of trying to back into a narrow door area. When I build the barn it will be a heated space and will have a cement foundation with a sewer dump, city water, and 30 amp service. I also plan to have the ability to put scaffolding up so I can get over the top of it. I hope to build this next year when it warms up in the spring.

[ghamr]

Anyone using a modified shipping 'container'. We see them all over and can be had on line for <$2K...no need for a pad either!

[KJRitchie]

Originally Posted by JaynEss

We have less than 3k in this.

Could you attach fabric sides to such a structure to prevent hail from coming in sideways? Lots of car dealers are putting up fabric topped covers now in the hail states.

Kelvin

[Hittenstiehl]

Looked at both Absolute and Elephant, nice products from both. Hope something like that is in our future.