How to Build a Covered Deck for a Travel Trailer

A covered deck or canopy is one of the most valuable additions to a travel trailer. It allows the owner to provide shade and rain protection while still allowing outdoor lounging or eating. Premium trailers often come with retractable, some, even powered, covers that provide these functions as part of an integral option to the trailer.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-inch PVC pipe
  • Tape measure
  • Reciprocating saw
  • Straightedge
  • Marker
  • Power drill
  • Steel punch
  • 3/8-inch by 1-inch machine screws
  • Vinyl awning material
  • Heavy shears
  • 1 1/2-inch aluminum pipe
  • 1/4-inch by 1-inch machine screws
  • Four 90-degree 1 1/2-inch aluminum slip elbows
  • 3/8-inch by 3-inch machine bolts
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a 2-inch piece of PVC pipe the length of the trailer's roof, less 6 inches. Use a straightedge and marker to mark two vertical lines along the length of the pipe and 1 inch apart. Use a reciprocating saw to cut out the 1-inch section of pipe, leaving it as a PVC channel.

    • 2

      Drill 1/4-inch holes in the base of the remaining PVC channel at 12-inch intervals. Lay the pipe on the top of the trailer and hold it in place while tracing the drill holes on the top of the trailer. Use a steel punch to pound 1-inch holes in the roof of the trailer. Drive 3/8-inch by 1-inch machine screws through rubber washers, through the holes in the PVC pipe-channel and into the roof of the trailer.

    • 3

      Stretch a piece of heavy, marine-grade vinyl awning material on the ground and cut it with heavy shears to match the length of the cut PVC pipe and 10 feet wide.

    • 4

      Measure and cut two pieces of 1 1/2-inch aluminum pipe as long as the cut PVC pipe. Use a reciprocating saw to make the cuts. Measure and mark connection points on both of these long pipes, one at both ends of the pipes -- 2 inches in from the end of the pipe -- and others at 12-inch spacing down the pipes. Use one pipe as the jig for marking the other. Drill 1/4-inch holes through both pipes at the marked spots.

    • 5

      Connect the fabric to the long pipes, driving 1/4-by-1-inch machine screws through rubber washers and into the pipe. This is the roll-up covering for the deck.

    • 6

      Hold two pieces of 1 1/2-inch aluminum pipe in the air - one level with the roof of the trailer and the other extending down at and angle and touching the ground (typically the pipe will touch the ground under the trailer). Slide the horizontal pipe out until 10 feet are extended. Slide the angular pipe up until it reaches the extended end of the horizontal pipe. Mark a spot on the angular pipe where it touches the horizontal pipe at the 10-foot mark. Measure and cut two pieces of 1 1/2-inch aluminum pipe that are that length. Drill a 1/2-inch hole though one end of both pieces, 2 inches from the end of the pipe.

    • 7

      Cut two 10-foot pieces of 1 1/2-inch aluminum pipe. Drill a 1/2-inch hole through one end of both pipes 2 inches from the end of the pipe.

    • 8

      Twist one of the 90-degree aluminum pipe elbows onto the end of one of the long pipes. Twist the other end onto the drilled end of one of the 10-foot cut pipes. Repeat this connection on the other side of the frame build-up. These are not permanent connections. Connect the other long side of the framed covering to the other ends of the 10-foot pipes with two more 90-degree elbows. This completes the rectangular covering assembly.

    • 9

      Wiggle-fit the long pipe that does not have the 10-foot drilled-end pipe connected to it into the cut PVC channel. Lift the other side of the covering assembly and bolt the long pipe to both angular pipes. Slide 3/8-inch by 3-inch machine bolts loosely through the 1/2-inch holes in the outbound end of each 10-foot stringer pipe and through the drilled holes in the long pipe.