RV Shade Structure

[EGAZ]

1" EMT is not thick enough. Go thicker and you are on to a good plan (ala black rock hardware type of shade).

Here is a picture of my "double" with my van underneath. It's 8 feet tall. They do a very neat thing and drill holes in the legs and then weld set bolts so that the legs slip over rebar and tighten. Less rebar to trip on, but my friend has made a similar structure using "feet" for the poles and then pounds rebar into the "feet." I also use ratchet straps on the corners, because, condition alpha.

A flat roof must be extremely tight, and it will not shed rain. Even a slightly peaked roof would allow the rain to run off. I am okay with a flat top roof, I just know the water must be pushed off if I am ever on playa during a downpour.

I plan to build the same type of covering for my 'patio'. It will be a flat, 10'x20', basically taking the place of my awning. I was planning on using 1" EMT. Then I read danibel's post saying they are not strong enough. Is this true? Luckily I have not bought the fittings yet.

Should I use ball bungees for some give in the wind or rope and suck it down tight? There seems to be a Chevy/Ford 'discussion' on this.

As far as covering the trailer. I hopefully will be able to park pointing as close to north as possible. So I have shade on the patio side in the PM. Then use breathable sun shade material for the 'hot', west side similar to, but better than this MH.

sideshade.JPG

I wasn't planning on covering the entire trailer as it is just me and I not sure In can assemble/disassemble by myself even in calm winds. But the roof & walls are insulated better than most 'store bought' rigs and the a/c can hold inside temps of 78'F w/100+'f ambient on the sand in Glamis with no shading at all.

mobilemancave600x800.jpg

I built out the inside like a ToyHauler. Shower, potty, sink, stove, tunes in & out, but no TV. I 'unplug' from media and interenet when I camp. I barely check my phone.

Pic of me at Dumont dunes for fun. we rebuild ATC70s. Everyone who rides them can't stop grinning.

dumont1-6x8.jpg

[EGAZ]

So what is the consensus? I have searched the forum; [1" EMT vs 1-3/8" cyclone fence rail] but find nothing. Nothing on Google w/ePlaya filter either.

Flat shade cover, 10' x 20' x 8' or 9' tall (need to measure how tall the trailer is). Haven't decided if it will be one piece cloth or two 10x10 sections. Either way there will be a cross pipe in the middle. Ratchet straps/Lag bolts to anchor.

Will 1" EMT suffice or go to 1-3/8" Chain link fence rail?

[Jackass]

You should be fine with regular 1". I go 8.5' tall with 3/4" EMT, 14'x26', flat top with vinyl covering and shade cloth on 68' of the 80' perimeter. It's been burning every year since 2010 and hasn't failed yet...

[trilobyte]

I'm giving this a nudge over to Building Camps & Villages, since that's a better fit for discussion about building a shade structure. Even though they do help keep things cool, they're generally thought more of as camp infrastructure.

Make sure you've got it staked down and are using guy lines, and you should be fine with 1" EMT conduit.

[EGAZ]

Thanks, Chain link fence rail is definitely stronger, but it is heavy.... Thus my question.