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RV Carport And Garage – Options, Customizations, And Costs

This post was updated on March 27th, 2024

Summertime is here and people are hitting the road. RV owners across the country are packing up and heading out on their next adventure.

But what do you do with your RV when you return home from your trip?

Leave it in the driveway, away in off-site storage, or park it in the backyard? Your motorhome, travel trailer or camper may be better protected and stored in other ways.

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Many RV owners looking to protect their prized investment are turning to RV carports – structures made of wood, aluminum or steel that can be installed on your property to keep your RV covered and protected from the sun, rain, snow, debris and other destructive elements.

What Are The Benefits of An RV Carport?

An RV carport can bring you many more benefits than the traditional canvas RV cover, and can be a much cheaper long-term option than renting covered storage space at a nearby facility.

In addition to more solid protection from sun, wind and rain damage, an RV carport can provide shelter for other vehicles, lawn care items and various equipment.

They’re multi-functional and can be customized to fit any set of needs. For example when you stick a picnic table underneath an RV carport instead of your RV, you end up with a very nice makeshift pavilion for outdoor gatherings.

Some other considerations you may think about when designing your RV carport include:

  • Flooring – concrete slab, asphalt or gravel
  • Are you designing it to match your house or other buildings on the property?
  • Do you want enclosed sides? If so, what kind of siding do you want to use? Prefabricated paneling or traditional stud walls?
  • Do you want to install electric lighting?
  • Are you interested in having garage or exterior entry doors?

Let’s take a look at the different RV carport types.

RV Carport and Garage Types

Three are three main types of RV carport available on the market. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Wood

Frank Lehmann
Frank Lehmann

Wood carports are generally a cheaper option if you buy the wood and choose to construct it on your own – manufacturers can also help construct and install wooded RV carport, but doing so makes them a bit pricier than other material options.

They look great, and can give you that classic barn look and feel. However, over time the cost of a wooden structure can add up. Fluctuations in weather conditions – temperature and humidity – will cause wood to deteriorate and require constant maintenance.

You’ll need to paint or varnish the structure regularly in order to protect it.

Customizing an RV Carport

When designing your wood carport, there are some questions that you should take into consideration. First and foremost, what size do you want? This will depend on the number of vehicles you’re looking to cover, and their size. The link above provides instructions for building an RV carport, however, many people are happy with options around 10-feet in height.

Cost

The cost of your custom carport will ultimately depend on the number of options you throw on it, and of course on the size of the structure.

If you choose to use a manufacturer, a basic single-vehicle wood carport can start at about $5,900. While this does include delivery and installation, it won’t have many custom features.

As you add more features the price will scale accordingly. If you choose to source the materials and build it yourself then it can be had for a fraction of this cost.

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1 thought on “RV Carport And Garage – Options, Customizations, And Costs”

  1. i have a 5th wheel Rv that measures 8ft wide but opens up to 14 ft wide , and is 38ft long from end to end , and is 12 1/2 ft hi and I am looking for a metal carport to cover it

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