Concrete driveway thickness??

[supercub]

I would like to park my motor home on a driveway that I believe is about 3 inches thick of concrete. I have a diesel pusher that weighs about 29,000. The greatest single tire bearing weight is 5500 lbs. Obviously I don't want to cause any damage in the way of cracks or other damage. To be on the safe side I think it would be best to keep my jacks up too. What do you think, would it be safe?

[sailor_lou]

My RV garage floor was compacted and then a wire mesh was installed followed by 6" of 4000 psi mix with fiber. Contraction joints were formed into the concrete when it was still wet to control the cracking. With that said, I agree with the others to park on it and use wood to spread the load under the tires and jacks. Repair/replace only if necessary. Good luck.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

[ppine]

glad to hear from concrete contractors. Thanks for the update.
So how thick does he need for a MH?

[dodge_guy]

I belive my driveway that was poured 3 years ago is 4-5" thick and reinforced with wire mesh. The contractor that did it is a village resident that's been in buisness for 40 years with none of pathetic residents complaining of his work. My MH is only 19k lbs total distributed by the 4 (6) wheels. No issues with cracking. I would put hesitate to put another 10k in the same spot. Anything bigger wouldn't fit and I wouldn't be worrying about cracking.

[free_radical]

You could should get proper info on slab thickness and proper reinforcement
from any concrete mix suplier or construction company specializing in such work

[tropical36]

valhalla360 wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

All I've seen, have cracked wherever it felt like it, despite having form/saw joints.

Often that means if they sawed the joint, they waited too long. Just the expansion/contraction from day to night can crack a slab.

Forming the joint is OK for DIY work but hard to get consistent depth with wet concrete wanting to reform into a single piece.

Spacing for joints, depends on thickness and reinforcement...a thin non-reinforced slab will require a lot of joints. It will also be more critical that you have the base well compacted.

I get what you're saying and must admit, I'm pretty much of an amateur, for pouring concrete. Then again, I've seen the same from would be professionals

[valhalla360]

tropical36 wrote:

All I've seen, have cracked wherever it felt like it, despite having form/saw joints.

Often that means if they sawed the joint, they waited too long. Just the expansion/contraction from day to night can crack a slab.

Forming the joint is OK for DIY work but hard to get consistent depth with wet concrete wanting to reform into a single piece.

Spacing for joints, depends on thickness and reinforcement...a thin non-reinforced slab will require a lot of joints. It will also be more critical that you have the base well compacted.

[wa8yxm]

ppine wrote:
Concrete highways are normally 4 inches thick to stand up to truck traffic. Call some contractors and ask them. You might be right on the margin of safety.

I have seen 8-12 inches thick.
But in this country they don't make 'em thick enough (usually)

[JRscooby]

Bruce Brown wrote:
Add me to the list;

Concrete highways are 12" thick. A 4" highway wouldn't last 24 hours with any real traffic. Heck the 12" ones don't last around here. I'm not a fan a the thump, thump, thumping concrete highways for our part of the country. In the south, sure. In the freeze/thaw areas, not a good idea IMO.

In years past I have made fair paydays hauling the slabs when the state decides to cut out 1 bump to put in 2.

[tropical36]

valhalla360 wrote:

ppine wrote:
Concrete highways are normally 4 inches thick to stand up to truck traffic. Call some contractors and ask them. You might be right on the margin of safety.

I'm in the industry and the thinnest concrete I've ever seen used on a highway is 7 inches. 8 to 12 inches is more common.

For a driveway with a big MH, I would go with 6 inch....it is critical that the base below is compacted well.

Concrete cracks...you can either form/saw joints that look nice or they will form for you and they will be ugly.

All I've seen, have cracked wherever it felt like it, despite having form/saw joints.

[valhalla360]

The compression strength won't have a lot of impact. The stress cracks form due to tension not compression and concrete is lousy in tension. Thickness and a good compacted base is where it's at.

[joelc]

My pad for my 5er is 6" thick and is reinvorced by fiberglass. There are also different classes of concrete. Mine is rated for 4000 lbs per square inch. (56 x 20)

Forgot to add there is a good base of crushed stone as a base.

[Bruce_Brown]

Add me to the list;

Concrete highways are 12" thick. A 4" highway wouldn't last 24 hours with any real traffic. Heck the 12" ones don't last around here. I'm not a fan a the thump, thump, thumping concrete highways for our part of the country. In the south, sure. In the freeze/thaw areas, not a good idea IMO.

When we built our garage we went with 6" thick, 4000# mix with 1/2" rebar on 12" squares topped with mesh holding the in-floor heating tubes. When it had cured we then did relief cuts so there is no span greater than 16' without a cut.

We live in a heavy freeze/thaw area, the garage was built in 2001. The floor looks as good today as the day we poured it.

With that said, I wouldn't expect good things to happen parking a DP on a 3" slab, but maybe.

[valhalla360]

ppine wrote:
Concrete highways are normally 4 inches thick to stand up to truck traffic. Call some contractors and ask them. You might be right on the margin of safety.

I'm in the industry and the thinnest concrete I've ever seen used on a highway is 7 inches. 8 to 12 inches is more common.

For a driveway with a big MH, I would go with 6 inch....it is critical that the base below is compacted well.

Concrete cracks...you can either form/saw joints that look nice or they will form for you and they will be ugly.

[JRscooby]

ppine wrote:
Concrete highways are normally 4 inches thick to stand up to truck traffic. Call some contractors and ask them. You might be right on the margin of safety.

I don't know about where you are, or where OP is, but around here highway will be a foot or better.

I agree with the idea of use what you got until it fails. At fail, decide if going to keep MH and house for a long time. Broken concrete, unless pieces are shifting can safely be parked on for a long time. Ready to sell, replace with 4 inches..

[Lwiddis]

X2, rgat.