I currently park my TT on a narrow side of my house. I have been debating extending my driveway along the opposite side of the house (quite expensive) to park the TT on when not in use, but now I am thinking of putting a pad of some sort in the back corner of my yard with enough room to open the slide and extend the awning. I would like to put a picnic table out there and a small fire pit. I only plan on being in my current home for about 3-4 more years, so I don't think I want to install a concrete pad. I am looking for some cost effective alternatives. I was thinking about laying artificial turf in the corner, and park the camper, table and fire pit on top of that. This way I won't have to mow around and under the items. Thoughts?

Smooth stone compacted with something to keep it from coming out. Then park the trailer on that. Very cheap!

Check with your city - ours requires a hard surface for what they deem "additional vehicle parking". So everyone has to have concrete or blacktop for their boat (or RV) parking alongside their house! But then again, having one is a huge plus for the resale value of the house, here in the land of 10,000 lakes!

Ours sets on a pad made up of Grade 8 Limestone which is also used for driveways. Do NOT use those pretty round marble-like rocks that look nice but the RV tires sink into them and it's very difficult to pull the RV out of them; and into them. The rocks must `lock' together.

When we lived in town, I wanted to add additional parking for the camper, same as you, but beside the house (back then, the camper had no slides). I checked with the city and they said concrete or asphalt required all kinds of permits and inspections, but gravel could be put down anywhere without any kind of permits, as long as the gravel did not spill over onto the neighbors property.I put a lot of gravel down, and was able to create a really nice pad for the camper. Then almost 10 years later (same house), I received a notice on my door from the zoning board I was in violation, could not park the camper there.... (yea, after 10 years of parking one there on that gravel and 6 years parking on the grass!). Long story short ... we moved.

Without knowing available gravel and the specific names used in your area, I would call a certified gravel pit operation and ask them what type of rock is used directly under AC paving. That is the material that I would put down. With the right amount of moisture, a 6-inch lift can be wheel-rolled to a nice smooth and compacted finish.

Pad in your yard | Good Sam Community

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jul 22, 2016
Smooth stone compacted with something to keep it from coming out. Then park the trailer on that. Very cheap!
Flapper
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
Check with your city - ours requires a hard surface for what they deem "additional vehicle parking". So everyone has to have concrete or blacktop for their boat (or RV) parking alongside their house! But then again, having one is a huge plus for the resale value of the house, here in the land of 10,000 lakes!
Dick_B
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
Ours sets on a pad made up of Grade 8 Limestone which is also used for driveways. Do NOT use those pretty round marble-like rocks that look nice but the RV tires sink into them and it's very difficult to pull the RV out of them; and into them. The rocks must `lock' together.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
When we lived in town, I wanted to add additional parking for the camper, same as you, but beside the house (back then, the camper had no slides). I checked with the city and they said concrete or asphalt required all kinds of permits and inspections, but gravel could be put down anywhere without any kind of permits, as long as the gravel did not spill over onto the neighbors property.

I put a lot of gravel down, and was able to create a really nice pad for the camper. Then almost 10 years later (same house), I received a notice on my door from the zoning board I was in violation, could not park the camper there.... (yea, after 10 years of parking one there on that gravel and 6 years parking on the grass!). Long story short ... we moved.
korbe
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
Without knowing available gravel and the specific names used in your area, I would call a certified gravel pit operation and ask them what type of rock is used directly under AC paving. That is the material that I would put down. With the right amount of moisture, a 6-inch lift can be wheel-rolled to a nice smooth and compacted finish.
IdaD
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
Gravel is probably the best economical choice. Our driveway switches from concrete to asphalt where it comes around and behind the house on one side and runs back down to the shop at the back of the property before it widens out to surround the shop with parking on each side. It's an awesome feature to be able to pull around the house and park the trailer back by the shop out of sight but also have the option to pull it up closer to the house to get it ready to camp or when we have guests staying in it. But if you're only going to be in the house 3-4 years I'm not sure you'd recoup the expense.
sac89
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
No comments on just slapping down a strip of artificial turf on top of the existing grass...Ok, maybe not the best of ideas... Thanks for the quick responses, please keep them coming.
skiles
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
I second checking your local codes. We were getting ready to have some crushed stone put down for the TT. Found out we weren't allowed to where we wanted it because of zoning ordinances. Your situation sounds different but I would still check.
Walaby
Explorer II
Jul 22, 2016
sac89 wrote:
No comments on just slapping down a strip of artificial turf on top of the existing grass...Ok, maybe not the best of ideas... Thanks for the quick responses, please keep them coming.

I don't think slapping down a strip of artificial turf on existing grass will give you enough foundation to sustain the weight. You'll probably sink when it rains, and leave ruts in your yard.

Mike
gbopp
Explorer
Jul 22, 2016
I don't think the artificial turf on top of the grass is a good idea.
Mold, things living under it, etc..

I removed a portion of the grass in my yard and use it to park the Southwind and cars.

I'm surprised that municipalities require a 'hard' surface. Most places limit the area you can cover with concrete, asphalt and structures.

They want the rain water to soak into the ground. Gravel makes sense.
But, we're talking about government so, we can't use the words common sense.

If you can install a gravel pad, that's way to go. It's quick, cheap and can be easily removed.

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