Camper cover building construction thread

[ebinmaine 80,992]

2 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Force field

 

 

 

If ONLY that was an option.  

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Consider bifolds (or even accordian) to keep as much weight as possible directly supported vertically by the hinge/pivot and not trying to deform the frame when the door is open?

 

The folding doors are the most likely direction I was headed.  

 

Opening is 14 ish feet wide so I figure to make a pair of 4 footers against the outside and 3 footers for the middle.  

 

They'll be quite tall. Somewhat gangly. But usable. 

 

[ebinmaine 80,992]

Here's the beginnings of the PT base.  

 

 

 

 

 

[grinchsr 675]

Now you have to fill it that’s the fun part 

[ebinmaine 80,992]

1 minute ago, grinchsr said:

Now you have to fill it that’s the fun part 

 

Plenty of machines here to live in there with the camper.  

 

 

[ebinmaine 80,992]

PT base is done. 

We took measurements front middle and rear yesterday afternoon at the top of the legs. 

Front was 14' 2". Rear 14' 1".

I decided to make the whole frame 14' 1" for consistency. The PT base is cut to 14' 5" across by 20' and 1/2".

The extra width gives the metal a centered set on the 5 1/2" wide PT boards. 

 

 

 

I measured the PT base for square. 

Metal frame attached to the PT base. 

These are 5/16" x 2 1/2" grade 5 lag bolts we had in stock. I broke the last one so I'll drill the metal base and add another bolt later. 

The frame is flush to the front of the base and nearly centered on the back. I did that because nearly the whole front will be big doors.  

 

 

 

 

Started a few anchors in but discovered my medium strength 1/2" impact wrench isn't strong enough. 

It has a spec of 400 ft lbs maximum driving force. 

I've ordered the heavy duty version which is over twice that strength at 900 ft lbs!

 

Soooooo upset I hadda order more tools. 

 

 

I also ordered some cargo straps which will be fastened from the lower anchors to a point on the metal frame.  

10 anchors. 10 straps. 

[Handy Don 17,581]

18 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

medium strength 1/2" impact ... isn't strong enough

Not wanting to be a wet blanket and seem like I’m discouraging tool acquisitions, but sometimes a rental tool makes sense when there is low likelihood of future use. 

[ebinmaine 80,992]

20 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Not wanting to be a wet blanket and seem like I’m discouraging tool acquisitions, but sometimes a rental tool makes sense when there is low likelihood of future use. 

 

 

Absolutely agreed and I thought through this one. 

With the increasing forays into heavier machine repair (like my truck or the backhoe or splitter) and the occasional need I've already had in the past for a stronger impact tool, this makes sense for us at this point in time.  

 

 

[953 nut 69,858]

On 10/31/2026 at 1:34 PM, ebinmaine said:

The front wall will basically be a whole door as noted in a post above. 

Most likely a light duty wood frame with sheets of very thin Advantech. 

I'm definitely open to other ideas and suggestions there.  

Have you considered fiberglass? When I worked as a farm manager at a hydroponic greenhouse we built doors and sheds with a clear fiberglass sheeting exterior. 

https://www.gothicarchgreenhouses.com/fiberglass-rolls

   Rolls are 4' wide and 50' long

[ebinmaine 80,992]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

considered fiberglass

 

I have. Definitely a possibility.  

I really like the light weight.  ...

The issue there is puncture resistance.  

[953 nut 69,858]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

The issue there is puncture resistance.

All of the motorized ridge vents on our greenhouses were hinged with the opening facing west. When tropical storms or hurricanes were coming from the East (which most did) we would open them about a quarter of the way to equalize air pressures inside and out. Never had to replace any of the fiberglass in the seven + years I worked there.

The Florida sun was much harder on coverings than yours in Maine will be.

[ebinmaine 80,992]

6 hours ago, 953 nut said:

clear fiberglass sheeting exterior. 

 

They sure do want all the moolahs for that. 

😬

[Handy Don 17,581]

30 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

They sure do want all the moolahs for that. 

😬

Yikes. Around $4 per square foot!

[ebinmaine 80,992]

10 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Yikes. Around $4 per square foot!

And a minimum order of two rolls at 456 per roll Plus freight plus tax

[davem1111 2,413]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

And a minimum order of two rolls at 456 per roll Plus freight plus tax

 

Yikes! That doesn't make much sense, unless you're building a greenhouse. I must have missed it - what are you covering the main part of the building with?

 

That reminded me of when, 2 years ago, I replaced 2 translucent corrugated roof panels that are a sort of skylight in our front porch - I think it cost me almost $300 for 2 panels like 3' x 12'.  Had to bite a bullet on that one. (Oh, and the black silicone coating I used on the main steel roof was over $400 per 5 gallon bucket.  )

[ebinmaine 80,992]

51 minutes ago, davem1111 said:

what are you covering the main part of the building with?

 

I 'splained it here: