bf_house

Bigfoot House

	Ok, it's really not a modification to the trailer, just for it. This is one of those transient RV/boat/car shelters that appear in Costco and other outlets every year. It's nominal dimensions are 12' wide, 20' long, and 8' high. Since that's a bit too short in height, I've extended the legs by 4 feet. It so happens that the roof tubing is exactly 1 - 7/8” inside diameter. This is a tight fit for some types of pipe. A better choice, and cheaper, too, is the tubing used as the top rail of chain link fences. Avoid the thicker walled and more expensive post tubing, as you don't need it. Top rail tubing comes in 24 foot lengths but the folks who install fences will typically cut it to length for you. These eight 5' long pieces shown cost a bit under $60. I probably wouldn't do this in an exposed windy area but my location is fairly well sheltered. I put the cross ropes on each end, anyway. It seems to add significant lateral stability to the whole thing.
	For security against wind trying to lift your "house" off the ground, each base needs to be anchored. These are secured using two 24” pieces of 3/8” rebar, heated and bent over on one end, then driven into the ground through the anchoring holes. Later note: A lid over your trailer is a good idea from the standpoint of sun protection. At least at our location, iIt doesn't keep things any cleaner. I do believe it's better than a tarp, though, because it permits free air circulation and drying.

Ok, it's really not a modification to the trailer, just for it. This is one of those transient RV/boat/car shelters that appear in Costco and other outlets every year. It's nominal dimensions are 12' wide, 20' long, and 8' high. Since that's a bit too short in height, I've extended the legs by 4 feet. It so happens that the roof tubing is exactly 1 - 7/8” inside diameter. This is a tight fit for some types of pipe. A better choice, and cheaper, too, is the tubing used as the top rail of chain link fences. Avoid the thicker walled and more expensive post tubing, as you don't need it. Top rail tubing comes in 24 foot lengths but the folks who install fences will typically cut it to length for you. These eight 5' long pieces shown cost a bit under $60.

I probably wouldn't do this in an exposed windy area but my location is fairly well sheltered. I put the cross ropes on each end, anyway. It seems to add significant lateral stability to the whole thing.

For security against wind trying to lift your "house" off the ground, each base needs to be anchored. These are secured using two 24” pieces of 3/8” rebar, heated and bent over on one end, then driven into the ground through the anchoring holes.

Later note:

A lid over your trailer is a good idea from the standpoint of sun protection. At least at our location, iIt doesn't keep things any cleaner. I do believe it's better than a tarp, though, because it permits free air circulation and drying.