RV BM 2013 Setup Feedback Needed

[rodneyjc]

Hello all,

I'm planning on the following setup for a 10' wide shade over my RV. Trying to use the height and weight of the RV to provide a base for some day shade as I do not wish to be dealing with a stand-alone pop-up shade structure that could become a kite.

The plan is to make a PVC conduit frame that's placed on top of partially inflated fitness balls (I happen to have a few lying around that I wish to use). Then using paracord or something similar, tie a heavy duty tarp to the PVC frame (Tarp Top Section) and then to the playa on both sides of the RV. There will be 3 lines to hold the structure down, one at each end and one inthe middle. I'll then semi-attach some shade cloth to the sides to provide shade and limit wind lift.

I understand there may be some air expansion in the balls during the day and so will add heavy springs to the rebar stakes to take some of the slack. That is the idea anyway.

I suppose there will be many suggestions, so please fire away. Sturdieness? Lunacy to try something like this? RV roof damage?

Please be kind with your words

RV-BM-2013-Setup.jpg

[JayBobBoy]

Hi Rodney,

I'm planning on constructing a very similar setup over my travel trailer. The only difference in my plan is that I'm going to use 2" x 8' tree stake poles to hold up one edge of the tarp to create more usable shade space where the doors of my trailer open. I screwed heavy duty eye bolts in the top of the poles to allow for easy hook up to tie downs.

I like your use of the exercise balls. My biggest struggle is to come up with something cheap to to use on top of the trailer to hold the tarp over it. It has to be soft so as not to puncture the tarp, strong enough to hold the wind load, securable to the roof so it wont move around, and porous enough to allow the wind to flow through.

It's still a work in progress but the cheapest alternative I've come up with so far is cardboard boxes and gaffers tape. The boxes will also be placed over the vents on the roof to help with dust control. I considered the whole pvc frame thing but it just got too expensive.

From past experience, my best advice will be to take your time and set up your shade when the conditions are right. Don't try to do it in the wind! And spend the $$$ to get heavy duty stakes or the rebar stakes. Build it right so you can relax when you're across town and the wind starts blowing!

Your plan sounds like a good one to me. Good luck!

[EspressoDude]

nothing will stay tight. the shadecloth and ropes WILL STRETCH. The balls will roll and grind playa dust into the roof fabric which is probably the most expensive part of a rental rv.

[GreyCoyote]

One of our guys had an interesting hack to keep tarps from rubbing on the roof of his SUV. He washed the vehicle, waxed it with a silicone-based wax very carefully, and then sprayed a layer of NAPA undercoating on the top. The undercoating stuck well enough to last for the trip up to BRC and all of the week. It took the abrasion of the tarp, protected the paint, and at the end of the burn he just peeled it off in sheets and took it home for disposal. Not moopy either.

I dont know if this will work for you, but it worked flawlessly for him. Took about 6 cans and an afternoon to get it done right.

If you go this route, test it on a small area first. The RV people will not be amused if you take your rig back with an ugly black top.

[Weebdog]

Last year I used some black shade cloth to shade my 29 foot trailer. I used some "stand offs" made of masonite cut and assembled to form an "H" to hold the shade off the roof. They did not work very well because the wind caught the "stand offs" and blew them to one side. The shade was secured by paracord and rebared to the ground. The front was attached to an EMT frame and guy roped to rebar stakes. I got about a 10 foot shade off the front of the trailer also which shaded the windows on that side. There was enough wind and trailer roof structures to keep the shade off the roof so it still worked pretty well. This year I am going to make a PVC frame for the roof. The bottom will have "swim noodles" to protect the roof. The frame should not catch the wind and move. You can make the frame as high as you want for an air space between the shade and the roof. It should be easy to assemble and transport also. Rodneyjc - PM me and I will send you some pics.

[dragonpilot]

Just build a monkey hut for shade...save yourself a ton of trouble...Geez, the amount of fabric to cover an RV...why bother? I've taken an RV to the playa for 8 years...they do just fine unshaded...turn on the AC during the hot part of the day...but it's nice to have a shady place outside for socializing.

Whatever.

[Savannah]

Just build a monkey hut for shade...save yourself a ton of trouble...Geez, the amount of fabric to cover an RV...why bother? I've taken an RV to the playa for 8 years...they do just fine unshaded...turn on the AC during the hot part of the day...but it's nice to have a shady place outside for socializing.

Whatever.

This is what almost everyone I know actually does . . .

If shading one's RV makes a person happy, they should do it, but . . . everyone I know just uses a little AC after noon, or sits in the shadow of it, or a separate shade or a tarp lean-to off one side. If you shade the whole thing and have no separate shade, how does a person people-watch?

[Gonzo Frothwood]

woops double posted.

[Gonzo Frothwood]

Suggest using "candy cane" rebar at an angle so that cables are at least 45 degrees from angle of cable. this shifts stress over a larger area and keeps the rebar from working way out. You can run cable through length of PVC I use 3/4 in, cut it in sections you can take out.. I measure the length between where it is fastened on top and how far you want shade to go and cut two equal lengths. Get a union of same size. Thread cable cable through on lenth, then union, then other length. Leave plenty of extra cable. Now you can fold 2 lengths up for transport. If you do both sides repeat as necessary. Duct tape both sides of union so you can disassemble to take home. Department of Over Engineering. Good luck!

[Elliot]

Shade with air gap works very well over a vehicle. No A/C and no significant heat in my bus. Don't know about fastening it to a regular RV, though.