We park our 30' motor home on a gravel driveway at home. We are thinking about putting down pavers of some sort. My main concern is if the pavers are suitable for that much weight. GVWR is 18,000 and we do keep fuel and fresh water tanks full, and we keep it ready to go except for food. Any advice, suggestions, "gotcha's" to watch out for?

There are variations in quality, some pavers are cheap and easily crack. Get some rated for vehicle use, not just walkway cheap stuff from the home improvement store.Biggest is the underlying foundation plenty of gravel and rock dust well compacted is called for. The right preparation depends a lot on local soil conditions, I’d seek out some professionals and get quotes and recommendations on the job. Measure twice, cut once. You don’t want to do this job over.

IF.....you think you are likely to keep an RV for a fairly long time.....I think that pouring a reinforced concrete pad would be a much better option.

This website says that pavers can withstand 8,000 pounds per square inch before materal failure.https://www.installitdirect.com/learn/top-paver-misconceptions/This website says use 4 inch minimum thickness pavers for busses: https://www.belgardcommercial.com/resources/design_solutions/designing_the_pavement_system

We parked our fifth wheel and truck on our pavers, and although the pavers did not break, after a few years they did sink a bit under pressure.

Full thickness pavers in our area are IIRC, 2 3/8" thick, and are used for driveways as well as walkways. Beyond the thickness and quality of pavers, the most important factor is the substrate preparation. When contractors install them for vehicle traffic, if done correctly, they install a fairly thick layer of ABC (mix of dirt, sand and rocks that is used for base for roads), don't recall the thickness, maybe 8"? Not sure, I would suggest you research that). Next they pack the ABC with a vibrating packer and then a heavy roller machine, then they screed several inches of find sand on top, then lay the pavers. Next, spread fine sand or preferably silica sand on the pavers and broom in around so it fills in the designed narrow gaps between pavers to lock them in. Then they run the vibrating packer all over the pavers to settle the pavers and the sand between them. For walkways and patios only, some contractors put some ABC down first, then fine sand. But some just level the ground, then run the vibrator over it to pack it, then apply fine sand and screed it and lay pavers and don't bother with the ABC.I would be very careful with picking a contractor for this, since you plan to park a motor home on it.

Parking motor home on pavers | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Aug 31, 2019
You most certainly can do pavers and they will look great. Get a couple quotes and make sure they know you will have an RV on them.

Even if they come out of level after a few years you only need to remove the trouble areas and level them off again. Ask the installer about a warranty. or cost of rework.
RRTom
Explorer
Aug 31, 2019
Dick_B wrote:
An unnecessary expense I believe. Unless the current pad is unsightly I'd leave it as is. We recently had several tons of Grade 8 limestone delivered to spruce up our gravel `path' and it looks much better. I don't know where they go but the gravel seems to `sink' into the ground as has been mentioned for pavers.

We live in the city in a nice neighborhood. The pavers would look much better, but it would also solve another problem. We also park a car in the driveway and every time we back out gravel is carried out and deposited on the sidewalk. So we are trying to eliminate that problem. And it is time to redo the driveway, even if we stay with gravel. But most important of all, my wife wants pavers. ;)
Dick_B
Explorer
Aug 31, 2019
An unnecessary expense I believe. Unless the current pad is unsightly I'd leave it as is. We recently had several tons of Grade 8 limestone delivered to spruce up our gravel `path' and it looks much better. I don't know where they go but the gravel seems to `sink' into the ground as has been mentioned for pavers.
JRscooby
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
If you're already parking on gravel, pavers only offer an asthetic upgrade.
Use whatever pavers you like. The subgrade determines whether they'll crack or not.

Some places have rules for "dust free" environment. Putting pavers down might meet that requirement. I have seen cracked concrete driveways covered with sand and pavers. Improved the looks.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 31, 2019
If you're already parking on gravel, pavers only offer an asthetic upgrade.
Use whatever pavers you like. The subgrade determines whether they'll crack or not.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 31, 2019
azdryheat wrote:
This website says that pavers can withstand 8,000 pounds per square inch before materal failure.

https://www.installitdirect.com/learn/top-paver-misconceptions/

This website says use 4 inch minimum thickness pavers for busses:

https://www.belgardcommercial.com/resources/design_solutions/designing_the_pavement_system

4" thick pavers....lol.
JRscooby
Explorer II
Aug 31, 2019
A local company that makes pavers put them on the driveway to their material receiving area a few decades ago. My truck MT weighed right at 27,000. I would load 30 tons of sand or rock, and as I turned in off the highway I would lift one axle, and maneuver to the bin on 3 axles. The right sub-grade, pavers not a issue...
Cobra21
Explorer
Aug 31, 2019
Our freinds like their paver driveway. When he backs up, he knows exactly where to stop. He feels the dip for every tire, and the rig won't roll away.
JoeH
Explorer III
Aug 31, 2019
Our coach weighs 40,000 lbs and we park on our pavers with no issues. Been doing it for years.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Aug 30, 2019
Long term (weeks/months) storage on pavers are likely to cause them to subside/sink especially during rainy weather, even with the best of base preparation.

Parking on top of something like plywood that will distribute the load over a larger area works.