How to Shade My Trailer

[Huck]

I'm wondering if hanging shade cloth over the trailer would significantly lower the temperature inside the trailer in the summer. A 10-20 degree difference would make a huge difference.

If you think it would help, then the next question is how to do it. I'm thinking something shaped like the top of a Conestoga wagon would be good because it would provide room to open the vent and use the fan without trapping the air against the roof. I'd really like to be able to put it on when I get to campground and leave it on until I'm ready to leave, so it would need to stand up to high winds. Shade cloth is pretty cheap, so having it rip off is not a disaster unless it causes damage.

I guess there are 2 basic options: (3 would be both)

• Connected to trailer
• Not connected to trailer

I already have an awning attached on door side, so that might be a help or a hindrance. This isn't my greenhouse, but I do have a similar one and it made it through a recent wind storm with no damage. I'm thinking there might be a clue here.

[Bob Miller]

Are you looking for something to use at home, or to take on the road with you. If the latter, how long can you allow to do set-up and how long do you stay in one place?


We bought three 10'x20' Shelter Logic Canopies several years ago for less than $100 each and used them for shade over several 13' FGRV's as well as for carports.


The ones we had were metal tubing frames holding up a fabric roof. here's a link:
ShelterLogic - Portable Garages - Fabric Shelters and Structures

[mary and bob]

Before we resolved the window leakage problem with our Uhaul camper we put it under a 10 X 10 peaked roof shelter logic canopy. Worked good, plus provided shade. With the Parkliner you would need the 10 X 20. Like Bob Miller says, how long you are in one place would determine if the setup time is worth it.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Are you looking for something to use at home, or to take on the road with you. If the latter, how long can you allow doe set-up and how long do you stay in one place?

This is for when I stay at campgrounds near the beach. Usually about 2 weeks. No shade, but lots of wind.

[Donna D.]

Good luck with any shelter (or awning) and wind. I live where the wind blow continually from November to March (Wind Farms!). If it's not nailed down, it will end up in the neighbors yard or maybe the next county.

Fortunately, and usually WIND means cooler weather (unless you're dealing with the Santa Annas).

My 18'x25' carport is anchored with earth anchors (3' down into the ground) because of wind. When I camp and wind is expected, EVERYTHING is put away and I certainly don't deploy the expensive awning on my trailer.

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Huck

This is for when I stay at campgrounds near the beach. Usually about 2 weeks. No shade, but lots of wind.

Ouch.... I'm with Donna, Wind is your enemy with these things. Given the right conditions, they can be like a giant sail. We had a wind storm come up and lifted one of ours, with weights on each of 4 corners, knocking the weights off and sending the entire thing over the roof, damaging the roof tiles, but not the trailer it was covering.

I'd be very apprehensive about using one in those conditions unless you hade a permanent anchoring method or a lot of weights to tie to.

[Glenn Baglo]

You could try a garage.
But, see this first.
You have to click on "next" to get to the video.
Strong winds blow Norwegian garage away - 9news.com.au

[ShirleyA]

I have a large rectangle of "Aluminette" which you can find at a greenhouse supply. I have not used it with the Casita yet, but have used it several times to drape over my vehicle at dog trials. It is an aluminized (reflective) cloth that is mesh so the wind blows through. I don't know that you will get a 20 degree temp differential, but I have measured at least 10. My cloth is large enough to drape over the top of my little 13 footer. It has a nice canvas binding on the edges with grommets.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by ShirleyA

I have a large rectangle of "Aluminette" which you can find at a greenhouse supply. I have not used it with the Casita yet, but have used it several times to drape over my vehicle at dog trials. It is an aluminized (reflective) cloth that is mesh so the wind blows through. I don't know that you will get a 20 degree temp differential, but I have measured at least 10. My cloth is large enough to drape over the top of my little 13 footer. It has a nice canvas binding on the edges with grommets.

Thanks for idea. I also found some other cloth/tarp that has about 50 grommets for tying it down.

The one thing I hadn't thought about is it will cover my solar panel. I also have a portable one, so I think I'd be OK if I covered one.

[Steve Outlaw]

Originally Posted by Huck

I'm wondering if hanging shade cloth over the trailer would significantly lower the temperature inside the trailer in the summer. A 10-20 degree difference would make a huge difference.

I don't think there is any kind of shelter you could possibly put over a trailer in full sun (short of an air-conditioned building) that would lower the inside temperature of your trailer more than a degree or two. And, as others have stated, just keeping a shelter in one place and all still in one piece during any kind of wind poses its own set of problems.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Steve Outlaw

I don't think there is anything you could possibly put over a trailer in full sun (short of an air-conditioned building) that would lower the inside temperature of your trailer more than a degree or two. And, as others have stated, just keeping a shelter in one place and all still in one piece during any kind of wind poses its own set of problems.

It's cooler under a tree, so why wouldn't it be cooler under shade cloth?

[Darral T.]

I've used "covers" designed for campers and found this is the ONLY way to go. I'm not worried about winds up to 50mph. Anything over that's more than likely coming from a tornado and the carport/Scamp will be my least worry!

Never thought about it until I got it, but it's also WONDERFUL for being able to go out and work on the Scamp, wash it or what ever whether it's raining or just out of the sun.

[carleene]

Someone mentioned using a Coleman Event Shade to shade their trailer, even included a picture of it under one (can't find it now), but it was a 15' x 15' and I believe they said can only get 14' x 14' now. Here's a link to a 14' 14' x 14' Coleman Event 14 Shelter Tent Canopy - HutShop.com

I decided if I ever get a little fiberglass trailer, I will shade it this way if there are no trees available.
If a storm blows in, it looks pretty easy to take down quickly.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Huck

It's cooler under a tree, so why wouldn't it be cooler under shade cloth?

The tree doesn't block breezes.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

The tree doesn't block breezes.

Neither does shade cloth if you only cover the top of the trailer. I'm thinking about 8-12" of air space between the top of the trailer and the covering.

[Huck]

I found this, which is close to what I had pictured as a solution.



It is a bit pricey, but they listed some interesting stats:

It was noted that from 7:00pm in the evening until 12:00 midnight that the air conditioner ran for a total of two hours without any shade during the day but ran for only 20 minutes when the RV was installed with the Rooftop Shade System.

Two infrared images were taken. One image focused the cross-hair scope at a point outside of the shaded area and identified the surface temperature as 123 degrees F. Another image focused the cross-hair scope at a point under the shaded area and identified the surface temperature as 92.7 degrees F.

shaderv

[wessonjoe]

-
seems like if the military and nomads can use tents to keep livestock and humvvee's cooler and such, that a gentle folk like us can use them for shade too.

can we get a big sand-camoflage tent?


.

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[Paul O.]

Might as well bring this here from another thread:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tml#post441483
I built the "Scamport" myself (my labor rate is low working for myself), the sticks and nails and metal roof all together cost about $1100.

By the way, the snow cover is about the same this winter. It's been white since Thanksgiving and more cold is on the way.