10 DIY RV Deck Ideas: Plans For Building a Deck Off a Camper
Who says you can have a travel trailer like a home? There are ways to improve your stationary travel trailer so that you can feel more like it is a home and not a trailer. Building a deck or two is just one option to create a nice homey feel to your seasonal home away from home.
There are many plans you can use to build a nice simple deck next to your travel trailer. The simplest one is to get some pier blocks and some 2 by 4s and build a little raised platform under the door. You can make this simple design any size you want.
To learn more about RV deck ideas and what you can do to spruce up your little area, just continue to read our article. It explores this issue so you have enough ideas to choose from. Building a deck is a lot better than always placing your things on the cold hard ground.
DIY RV Deck Ideas
Building a Deck Off a Camper
This is not a bad idea as a good deck gives you a little bit more living space. The first step in this project is to decide on the size and design of the deck. There is an untold number of plans you can use, including creating your own that will make your deck unique.
The next step is deciding on the materials you want to use. The easiest decks to build are wood ones but there are different sizes of lumber to choose between. Plus, you need to decide if you want a railing or not.
The third step is to check the level of the ground you have to work with. You can use uneven ground and all you have to do is lengthen any post supports to keep the deck level all the time.
It is possible to build your deck yourself but getting help is the smart thing to do.
How Much Does It Cost To Build An RV Deck?
The total cost of your deck is influenced by 2 main factors- its size and the materials you are going to use. The purpose of the deck will influence both of those factors. A basic 10 by 10-foot treated pine wood deck can run you about $1000 to $2500 approx.
If you want a more permanent structure, you can go with hardwood and make the deck look very exotic. But that design will run you up to $6000 for the same sized deck. There are ways to cut those costs.
Instead of using pine you can use plywood and save a little or you can gather up some good pallets and use them for free. But the quality of the deck would suffer from those options. Once you decide on the size and the materials, you can then figure out what our specific costs will be. Your region of the country will influence prices somewhat as well.
How Do I Build a Deck For My RV?
This is not a very difficult question to answer. It is best that you have some carpentry skills and that you know how to measure accurately. The first step will be to prepare the area for the deck.
The biggest hassle you will have is the single door on your trailer. You need to make sure that people are not going in and out while you are working. Have a rule that they are either in or out until you say they can move about more freely.
After you have your design and decide on the materials you want to use, you need to go buy the supplies. Don’t forget to count as you will need deck blocks, wood, screws or nails, and glue. Once you have counted the number of those items you need to add in 10 to 15%.
That is your just-in-case figure as you never know what will happen during construction. It is always best to have extra than not enough of any one item. When all the materials are on site, you follow your plan and start building.
Finding DIY RV Deck Plans
This is also not a difficult task as there is a myriad of do-it-yourself books for building decks. You can go to your local bookstore and pick up a few of them or make a trip to your local library. The latter institution should have quite a few on hand.
Or you can talk to deck builders and see what plans they have available for sale. They may have interesting designs that would suit your trailer and your living style. In addition, you can always search the internet.
There are more plans on that outlet than probably anywhere else. You can make your search in the comfort of your home and take your time.
How Do You Build a Portable Deck?
It is the word portable that may throw everyone but essentially, a portable deck is one that is not permanently attached to the ground or your travel trailer. Portable usually means you can take it with you. In this case, the word refers to having the deck easily detach when you want to use the trailer for a few short weeks at another location.
When you take on this project, everything is about the same as building a permanent deck except you are leaving out those materials that will make the deck permanent. You will need your design, decide on building materials and make sure the area is ready for the deck.
The cheapest way to build a portable deck would be to get some pallets, lay them down on the ground, and then cover those pallets with 3/4 inch plywood (no less than 1/2 inch will do here).
Nail or screw the plywood into the pallets and you are done. It is not a great deck but since you spent so little money, you can always get rid of it when you move.
How To Build a Porch On a Camper
In this project, you will need to decide if you want the porch to be permanent or portable. Either way is okay as you never know when you will want to travel a bit with your trailer. The portable is probably the best design to use.
There is no real difference between the two porches except you can always move the portable option out of your way when you need to. Construction for a porch is the same as any other deck except that porches are generally smaller than decks.
You will always want to keep the wood elevated off the ground so that moisture does not rot them out faster. Pick your design, then your materials, and make sure you have enough space around your trailer door to build the porch.
Construction techniques are all the same no matter what kind of porch or deck you are building. Keep in mind that end grains do not hold so it is always a good idea to have carpenter’s glue on hand to help secure the studs, etc.
Seasonal Campsite Deck Ideas
One idea that will make a great portable deck or porch is to use a trailer frame. You can leave the wheels on if you want to, just block them so that they cannot move until you move the blocks out of the way. Or take the wheels off and put pier blocks underneath for stability.
The frame gives you a strong foundation as well as your design. While decking is basically the same for this option, you can do other little changes that make your deck look different. One person built his deck, then placed a tent on one section.
Another owner used gravel underneath his deck and surrounding area to make the landscaping look prettier. Another person used gravel and 2 by 2 tiles to provide a nice deck for their trailer.
Or you can put a railing and a fence on your deck if you want. That gives you a little space between you and any visitor that may come by. Or you can try using normal household bricks to beautify your area and give you more living space.
You can go cheap and use a simple oriental rug and add a canopy if the weather is not that great. Finally, you can go elaborate, build an enclosed deck to keep the bugs away, and then add a raised section around the back of your trailer.
RV Covered Deck Plans
A covered deck is not going to be portable and it will take a lot of construction knowledge and skill to erect the perfect deck for your living situation. The amount of skill and knowledge you will need will depend on how elaborate you want to get with the design.
We have seen double-decker-covered decks that go above the trailer, two roof covers, one for the deck and one for the trailer and we have seen simple roofs that cover the deck only.
Or if you do not want to spend the time, you can build your deck and use a canopy, tarp, or some other covering that does not involve wood. A good internet search will provide more than enough websites with plans ready to go.
RV Deck On Wheels
This is where you get an old trailer frame that is still usable and not rusted out. The flexibility of this option is that you can find a trailer frame in the dimensions you want for your deck, within reason of course.
Once you get the trailer frame, you can use wood for the flooring and then weld a railing and fence into place. These are not very popular but they can be done. It may take a little more work than a wood deck but they are nice since you can create different designs with the metal.
Or, to save you one work, you can always leave the toys off the toy hauler and use that area for your deck.
RV Deck With Ramp
Ramps are better than steps in some situations. They are not hard to put in place as long as you have the space to add the ramp. You are free to design the ramp in almost any shape you need from circular to straight.
The key is to make sure it is wide enough to handle all the items and people using the ramp. Also, you do not need to build a ramp. There are products called roll a ramp that provides pre-built ramps of different lengths and designs that you can attach to your RV or trailer.
The designs include a two-part ramp where one part starts on the ground and stops at a metal porch and then the second part goes from the porch to your RV or trailer. You can also attach them to your deck if you want to save energy.
RV Decks And Stairs
Stairs are not easy to build because they take specific and precise measurements to get them just right. The number of stairs you will need will depend on how high your deck is going to go.
Some decks only need one or two stairs, which makes this task simple to do while others need more than 4 which will complicate construction a little bit.
Some Final Words
Building a deck next to your trailer is one way to increase your living space. Plus, it gives you a nice outside spot to sit back and relax after a great day. You can use metal if you want to build your deck but the most popular option is wood.
Wood is easier to work with and looks superior to any metal deck you can build. Just make sure to buy more supplies than you need, just in case.
