Parking Camper On New Driveway Question
Hi All, I just had an asphalt driveway poured at my house, its soft so Im waiting to drive on it for a week or so. I have parked my camper on the old driveway for 12 years on 3x8 blocks but the contra...
Forum Discussion
The key to a strong and level driveway (one that doesn't shift and allow ruts etc.) are your base thickness and compaction, the number and rating of your asphalt lifts, how long the asphalt has cured and the weight it will be supporting. These all vary based on where you live. For example, here in Canada, a minimum 12" thick compacted base is needed for a strong, level job.
Asphalt is laid down in layers or "lifts" to use industry terminology.
Several thinner lifts are better than one thick lift. And waiting up to one year between lifts is preferable (to allow for curing).
Yes, asphalt does cure over time ... about 1 year for a full cure cycle.
Roads are typically driven on immediately after resurfacing because 1) the public wouldn't tolerate waiting up to a year for the asphalt to cure and, 2) the mix is a "stronger" commercial mix i.e. the aggregate used is bigger/stronger (bigger stones, less fine materials like sand, and more/thicker lifts, better compaction with commercial rolling equipment etc).
With heavy equipment like our trucks and TC's, it is better to wait to drive on a freshly laid driveway and it is certainly better to spread out the weight of the contact patch if possible. 8" circles/ovals cut out of 3/4" plywood is sufficient for any 4 legged truck camper.
Finally, tire pressure does not equal contact patch pressure. i.e. do you think a stand alone tire filled to 80 psi is exerting the same force on your driveway as the same tire mounted to your 7,500 lbs truck? or ... are an empty pair of stilettos exerting the same pressure on the floor as a 100 lb. woman wearing those same stiletto shoes?
Asphalt is laid down in layers or "lifts" to use industry terminology.
Several thinner lifts are better than one thick lift. And waiting up to one year between lifts is preferable (to allow for curing).
Yes, asphalt does cure over time ... about 1 year for a full cure cycle.
Roads are typically driven on immediately after resurfacing because 1) the public wouldn't tolerate waiting up to a year for the asphalt to cure and, 2) the mix is a "stronger" commercial mix i.e. the aggregate used is bigger/stronger (bigger stones, less fine materials like sand, and more/thicker lifts, better compaction with commercial rolling equipment etc).
With heavy equipment like our trucks and TC's, it is better to wait to drive on a freshly laid driveway and it is certainly better to spread out the weight of the contact patch if possible. 8" circles/ovals cut out of 3/4" plywood is sufficient for any 4 legged truck camper.
Finally, tire pressure does not equal contact patch pressure. i.e. do you think a stand alone tire filled to 80 psi is exerting the same force on your driveway as the same tire mounted to your 7,500 lbs truck? or ... are an empty pair of stilettos exerting the same pressure on the floor as a 100 lb. woman wearing those same stiletto shoes?
