waterproofing rear barn doors

[digitek718]

Hey so its been a while since ive posted...i was the guy who got a brand new haulmark 6x12 that was rusted out..all went well and they built and delivered me a brand new trailer and took the rusty one away..this one was built way better with no rust..anyway i have been very busy working two jobs all year long which is why it took me so long to start on the trailer..ive been steadily working the past couple months and the trailer is 90% done...i will start a build thread soon with plenty of pics...anyway one thing that has me a little perplexed..i built a false wall in the rear behind my barn doors and use it to slide an air conditioner in and out..works great but not sure what to do if its raining...the barn door is open while using the ac leaving the inside wood of the door as well as the false wall exposed to the elements....do i rig some kind of tarp over the rear? Do i waterproof the false wall and the inside of the barn door? What can i waterproof it with? Im sure some of you have had the same issue..would love to hear how u solved it

[pmowers]

Digitek, I have the same question. I am planning on putting a pull-out galley, which could be locked in place and use one of the doors as the back and support.

I have been toying with a piece of 1 1/2 inch pvc with slits on the end to go over the corner of the door trim, and adding an awning rail across the back of the trailer, running the awning out over the top of the doors. In the medical company I was in, we used to have M-577 armored personnel carriers which had an awning that would go over the back, covering the ramp. I am thinking something similar, just not so freaking heavy to handle. Maybe you can get the idea from this picture.


Pat

[Robin Bobula]

Here's how we did it fairly cheaply:

We put a closet rod holder on the inner top of each door, close to the outer edge of the door. We used a length of PVC pipe cut to about the width of the trailer, and put the ends in the closet rod holders. For counter tension to hold the rod in place and the doors from blowing open, we put a C clamp over the top edge of each door, and hooked bungee cord from one clamp to the other.



We threw a tarp over the top and secured it with ropes (quick solution for our first trip), but plan to put an awning rail over the back doors for an easier and more secure awning. The tarp and PVC/bungee system held up well through a couple storms and kept our back fabric/screen window dry. You can let the tarp hang down as much or as little as you want. The rain water did accumulate in the tarp, but we got under and lifted up the tarp to push it off. I think the awning rail would hold it more tautly and prevent that.



For some reason, I can't get the pics to show on the preview, and need to go to bed now. They are on page 2 of my album, and I can try again in the a.m.

Hope this helps,
Robin

[Hiflyer]

links to images:

gallery/image_page.php?album_id=1007&image_id=95864

We threw a tarp over the top and secured it with ropes (quick solution for our first trip), but plan to put an awning rail over the back doors for an easier and more secure awning. The tarp and PVC/bungee system held up well through a couple storms and kept our back fabric/screen window dry. You can let the tarp hang down as much or as little as you want. The rain water did accumulate in the tarp, but we got under and lifted up the tarp to push it off. I think the awning rail would hold it more tautly and prevent that.

gallery/image_page.php?album_id=1007&image_id=95862

[Robin Bobula]

Thanks, Hiflyer!