RV carport kits and DIY builds
A kit removes the installation labour from the invoice. It does not remove the site work, the permit, or the consequences of getting the dimensions wrong — and at RV scale the assembly is not a one-person weekend.
Kits are genuinely attractive for the right buyer. They are also routinely underestimated, because the thing being sold is the structure, while the work that determines whether the project succeeds mostly happens before the kit arrives.
Kit, scratch build, or installed
"DIY RV carport", "homemade RV carport" and "build your own" cover two different routes, and the distinction matters. You can buy a pre-engineered kit and erect it yourself, or you can fabricate a structure from raw steel or timber and your own plans. At RV scale the second is rarely the bargain it looks like.
| Route | What you save | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Professionally installed | Your time and the risk of erecting heavy steel at height. | The installation labour line, and less flexibility on timing. |
| Kit, self-assembled | The installation labour, on a pre-cut, pre-engineered structure. | The site work, foundation, and permit are still yours, and RV-scale assembly is a multi-person job. |
| Built from scratch / from plans | In theory, the manufacturer’s margin on the structure. | You are sourcing steel, engineering the frame, and owning every load and code question — for a full-size span, this rarely beats a kit on cost or on certainty. |
For a small camper-van cover on level ground, a scratch build from good plans can make sense. For a structure that has to span an RV and survive real wind and snow, a kit is usually both cheaper than sourcing the steel yourself and far easier to get engineered drawings for when a permit needs them. The rest of this guide assumes the kit route, which is where most RV owners land.
What is usually in the box, and what never is
| Item | Usually included | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frame members | Yes | Pre-cut and usually pre-punched to length. |
| Roof panels and trim | Yes | Panel count assumes the ordered configuration exactly. |
| Fasteners and brackets | Yes | Check the count on delivery, not on assembly day. |
| Anchors | Sometimes | Anchor type depends on your surface and is often specified separately. |
| Assembly instructions | Yes | Quality varies enormously between manufacturers. |
| Site levelling | No | Yours. A structure erected on an unlevel base will never be right. |
| Foundation or slab | No | Separate trade, separate cost, often the largest excluded item. |
| Permit | No | Yours to research and obtain where required. |
| Engineered drawings | Sometimes | Frequently an extra, and frequently what a permit application needs. |
| Lifting equipment | No | RV-height frames are heavy and awkward at exactly the wrong moment. |
What DIY actually saves
It saves the installation labour line. That is a real saving and can be substantial on a large structure. What it does not save is site preparation, foundation work, permit fees, engineered drawings if required, tool or equipment hire, and your own time — which on a structure this size is measured in days rather than hours.
Where DIY makes the most sense
Smaller structures, camper-van scale rather than Class A scale, on level ground with existing concrete, in jurisdictions with straightforward requirements, for someone who has built things before and has help available. The further your situation is from that description, the weaker the case.
Foundations and anchoring
What you anchor into is determined by what is already there. Existing concrete is the simplest case and uses concrete anchors. Asphalt uses longer anchors designed for it. Bare ground uses driven anchors whose suitability depends entirely on soil conditions.
Anchoring is not the place to improvise. It is what keeps the structure attached to the ground in wind, and the anchor specification is frequently tied to the structure's certification. Follow the manufacturer's specification for your surface rather than substituting what is available at the hardware store.
Gravel is a common mistake
Gravel is a reasonable surface to park an RV on but a poor thing to anchor a large structure to directly — see foundations and anchoring for the full treatment, and confirm the requirement with your supplier before assuming the surface you have is acceptable.
Before you order a kit
- 01Confirm the clear opening dimensions, not the nominal ones.
- 02Confirm whether engineered drawings are included or extra.
- 03Confirm the anchor specification for your actual surface.
- 04Confirm whether self-installation affects warranty or certification.
- 05Confirm delivery method — kerbside delivery of heavy steel needs planning.
- 06Establish your permit position before the steel arrives, not after.