Concrete pad and hook ups

Depending on where folks live, it seems like a lot of housing developments get built on clay or expansive soil. I like to go heavy on the reinforcement solely to prevent cracking, cracking that would occur regardless of the weight load. I went with a fibermesh mix and some rebar. I think the wire mats are a waste of money.

Bumpyroad wrote:

tad94564 wrote:

Almost Correct. No vehicles allowed. TC only.

The TC has no oil or gas to leak.. except of course if you have a generator on board, but who is going to tell the city that?

no off street parking? no on street parking? everything with wheels has to be in a garage or carport? I thought my HOA sucked.
bumpy

Yeah, I've lived in places with ordinances like that. On street parking is strictly regulated, off street must be on an "all-weather surface" only. Then the ordinance defines all-weather surface as concrete or asphalt only. No gravel, and definitely not grass or dirt. Of course there's other requirements like where it can be, how big, how close to the property lines, etc.

:):)

Reality Check wrote:
Please note, I don't give advice on mammograms, diesel additives, or conductive properties of a wireless bra.

Now, what was the OP's question?

Heck, I didn't even know they made wireless bras! Are we talking WIFI enabled...or just no underwire??? :?

Oh...I think they want to make a landing pad for the camper...

I know nothing about concrete... When we bought our camper...we also had a badly deteriorating asphalt driveway. We had a concrete contractor rip up our old driveway...and install a new one with an extension that goes behind the house for the RV. I asked about 6" and high PSI concrete. He told me that it wasn't necessary. The idea he had...which I agreed with, was...to reinforce the edge along a couple of key areas..where due to the winding nature of the driveway it would be likely to ride the edge occasionally or make small off road excursions. He deepened the edge along a 25 ft section and dropped rebar in there...otherwise it was tamped...little chairs holding up wire mesh...and 4" concrete.

The scope of this pour was way beyond my abilities.

Bottom line...ask the pros in your area.

tad94564 wrote:

Almost Correct. No vehicles allowed. TC only.

The TC has no oil or gas to leak.. except of course if you have a generator on board, but who is going to tell the city that?

no off street parking? no on street parking? everything with wheels has to be in a garage or carport? I thought my HOA sucked.
bumpy

What ever size you make it you should honestly consider making it 6" thick with a 4 to 6" base of CSTC (crushed surface top coarse) a mix of crushed rock with sand and bit smaller than 5/8" mix...binds to hard surface when rolled and then use steel mesh...if you ever think you may put up a canopy or pole building I would do a thickened edge of at least a foot deep and 16 " in...a good contarctor will know about that and can advise you...it is not a trick to sell you more...it is pre planning. Also run any conduit you may want under the slab for wire/ water...don't skimp...one last thing have them score it so it will crack along the scores...especially in a climate that has hot and cold situations...don't forget a slope for drainage...I suggest a very light brushed surface rather than polished or smooth. (Retired public works-building and construction official suggestions) GOOD LUCK!!

Just skimmed over the responses... but keep your money in your pocket. Reference the concrete only, let's put this in perspective.

Campers are not heavy (ok, compared to a bicycle, it's heavy). Worse case scenario is 1500#s per jack. Big friggen deal. Your typical loading dock parking area is only 6" thick. A nominal 4" slab is totally adequate. Rebar is a complete waste unless your primary reinforcement is garbage (i.e. substrate). There's a reason there is rebar in bridges and not in concrete roads.

Don't get me going; I spend an inordinate amount of time on this subject. There's a rule for forums that doesn't get followed much; conversation is good, speaking as an authority outside of your expertise is annoying. Please note, I don't give advice on mammograms, diesel additives, or conductive properties of a wireless bra.

Now, what was the OP's question?

If you can conveniently run water just put in a frost free hydrant. It drains when you shut it off so nothing above the ground to freeze. I have had one for years by my barn and it gets a lot colder in NY than TN. Enough colder that we have been thinking of moving to TN. :-)

Butch50 wrote:

If I had thought I would have had them put in one of these for water. We get cold here in AR also but with this being 2' below ground level I don't think you would ever have to worry about freezing up in TN as the frost level I doubt ever gets that low.

We use those here in Michigan - except they're longer, to put the lines below the 4' frost level.

One other option for parking: crushed asphalt (literally, ground-up road). We had that put in the back parking lot at work, and once compacted, it's almost like regular asphalt again. The snowplowing in the winter removes very little of it; yet it's porous enough to offer good drainage.

Bumpyroad wrote:

tad94564 wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
Concrete pads have been discussed on this Forum previously. I like our gravel pad and it's far cheaper than concrete. No cracks, stains, settling, etc. and if you want to make it bigger no problem.

As much as I love my gravel pad that I store my camper on, I cannot however, in any shape or form, park or store any vehicle with wheels on it. The camper itself, it's totally legal (no wheels, no problem.. It's cargo, not an RV in the city's eyes)

Why?

It's against the freaking code around here, and could/will get you a letter from the city to move it, or risk a fine and/or impounding of the vehicle. This has got to do with water quality (too many oil/gas spills) and tracking of mud/sediment onto the paved streets.

Welcome to California, and no, I am not moving at this time.

so you can park your truck there, set your TC there, but if your TC is on the truck it is a no no?
bumpy

Almost Correct. No vehicles allowed. TC only.

The TC has no oil or gas to leak.. except of course if you have a generator on board, but who is going to tell the city that?

Bumpyroad wrote:
no prob. so what size wire is rated for 80 amps?
bumpy

I used #4 wire for the conductors and #8 ground...I also ran a ground wire to a buried grounding rod next to the pedestal to prevent lightning strike from going back to the house...

Online wire size calculator

The insulation on my wire is rated for 90 degrees C...the Over current device terminals are rated for 75 degrees C. I had less than 50 ft wire run.

Raceway fill calculator