Building a Car Port

[MossRoad]

One thing to think about in the future. Someday you may want to enclose it. If it is only 20' deep, a full sized pick-up will just barely fit in it with the door closed.

That's an excellent point! My '93 Suburban squeezes into my 20' deep garage and I have maybe 3" at the front bumper and the trailer hitch ball is at the door.

 

[Trails End]

...and if I went three feet further than that I could add a third bay for my tractor...

If you're seriously considering adding a third bay for a tractor, check your height requirements. With the ROPs up, my
tractor height is close to 96" and just clears my carport that I built.

 

[jlgurr]

If you're seriously considering adding a third bay for a tractor, check your height requirements. With the ROPs up, my tractor height is close to 96" and just clears my carport that I built.

I have vacation tomorrow and will line all three vehicles up where they would be then take some final sizing measurements. Got my bonus today and it's ready for the lumberyard.

Sent from my iPhone 2.0 using TractorByNet

 

[jlgurr]

Waiting for something outside your control is usually the most aggravating part of a project. Still waiting for a utility marking company to come out and mark underground power and telephone lines. Just my luck I'd hit one if they weren't marked beforehand. They keep asking for more time and I'm about ready to say no the next time they ask for an extension.

We opted to go 24' wide, provided we don't have a post over a utility line, after setting the two vehicles side by side. If our posts are layed out over a line then we will need to make some length/width adjustments again, which is why I have not ordered the trusses yet.

 

[jlgurr]

Finally had the area utilities marked and laid out the post holes. Started digging them Saturday but it was too cold and windy to finish them. Will try to get them finished tonight so the inspector can visit Wednesday. Trusses on order with a four week delivery but that gives me time to get the lower end of the framing completed while waiting.

Anyone have suggestions on how best to put a 16' six by six post in a 12" hole three feet deep? Seems highly unlikely that I can safely and simply set one end at the hole and lift the other end until it falls in. There must be some interesting tricks out there that folks have used which would be cheaper than renting a crane.

Thank you

 

[roadhunter]

I recommend rock, not dirt. Post lasts a lot longer because it stays dry. Also, you don't need concrete at all because the rock doesn't frost heave like soil.

I've heard people say to use rock because it helps keep it dry but in reality it seem like a place for water to collect. That's why people use gravel around french drains to collect water from surrounding soil. But in this case there is no place to drain.

 

[B7510HSD]

Finally had the area utilities marked and laid out the post holes. Started digging them Saturday but it was too cold and windy to finish them. Will try to get them finished tonight so the inspector can visit Wednesday. Trusses on order with a four week delivery but that gives me time to get the lower end of the framing completed while waiting.

Anyone have suggestions on how best to put a 16' six by six post in a 12" hole three feet deep? Seems highly unlikely that I can safely and simply set one end at the hole and lift the other end until it falls in. There must be some interesting tricks out there that folks have used which would be cheaper than renting a crane.

Thank you

View attachment 464323

Well I put up my last tower with my tractor and bucket put a piece of carpet on the bucket and laid the tower on top of it and strapped it loosley around the bucket and drove foreward until it was standing up maybe you could do this and have someone guide it in the hole while you drive??

 

[bcp]

Drop a four foot 2x4, 1x6 etc. into the hole for the bottom of the pole to slide down, so it doesn't scrape a huge pile of dirt from the side into the hole bottom.

Get several friends to lift the end and walk it in.

Bruce

 

[EddieWalker]

Drop a four foot 2x4, 1x6 etc. into the hole for the bottom of the pole to slide down, so it doesn't scrape a huge pile of dirt from the side into the hole bottom.

Get several friends to lift the end and walk it in.

Bruce

That's pretty clever using a board to protect the far side of the hole. I'll have to try that!!!

I dig out the side under the post a little to create a ramp, and then if I'm strong enough, walk them in. The last two 16 footers I did by myself where a little wet and pretty much maxed my strength out. When I did the 20 footers for my zip line, dug out the edge of the hole so the end of the post slid into it a bit, then got behind it with my loader bucket and lifted them while moving forward slowly. That worked pretty good.

I also agree with not putting rock in the hole. That just creates a place for more water to enter the hole, and take longer to drain through the undisturbed soil. Either pack the hole tight with the dirt that came out of there and build up a mound for water to drain away, or use concrete and create a mound. Every post I ever replaced or saw that was rotted out was right at the surface where water collected next to the post. If you can get water to drain away from it, and stay away, the post will last forever. With a covered building, this is easier since the post shouldn't get any water on it anyway.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I put them in by hand and walk them up. The board is a good idea.