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Help with parking area

tim1970
Explorer
Explorer
I am looking at having a parking spot built for my (soon to be new) 5th wheel. I want something that will last, but do I really need a 40 X 8 concrete pad built? Could I go with just a pad under where my 4 tires will rest and then put 4 small concrete blocks under where the stabilizers will be, and then fill in with gravel everywwhere else below the camper? Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Tim
2017 Jayco 29.5 BHDS
25 REPLIES 25

spoon059
Explorer II
Explorer II
There isn't really any need for all that concrete underneath the camper. That's just if you want it to look pretty, and if you think concrete looks pretty.

I made 2 concrete pads about 24" wide, about 5 feet long. The pads are level so that my trailer sits level in storage. Everything else has landscape fabric and gravel laid down. Couple hundred bucks and a weekend of my own labor... perfect.
2015 Ram CTD
2015 Jayco 29QBS

Halmfamily
Explorer
Explorer
tegu69 wrote:
I was thinking that $250 was way more than I paid, but then I realized that was almost 25 years ago.


Just purchased 75 tons of gravel to redo our road and driveways and paid $1200. The price has come down since I laid the RV pad.
2008 GMC Sierra 3500 SLT DRW D/A 4x4 (Big All)
2006 Ford F350 PSD SRW King Ranch 4x4 (Henry) (Sold)
B&W Companion, 90 Aux Fuel Tank, Scan Gauge II, Curt f/m hitch, Swagman XC
2015 Forest River Sierra 360 PDEK
DW Diane, DS Michael, FB Draco and Sabian

Tin_Pusher
Explorer II
Explorer II
OP, depending on where you live, zoning may dictate. Where I live, parking must be on an "all weather surface", gravel is not considered as such.

Why I have a $3000 concrete pad 🙂
Tin Pusher's Guide To Successful RV'ing: "Don't get mad, don't get in a hurry"

2002 1500HD
2002 Wilderness 265H
1997 Seadoo GTI
1952 Wife;)

Biaggio
Explorer
Explorer
Home Depot has 4" concrete solid blocks. Set them 2" in the ground and drive the wheels on them. One day I might go for a concrete pad. Holds my 10,000 Winnebago ERA just fine.

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Gravel/Crushed rock is actually a good surface, drains well, easily maintained, supports an RV very well.. Now if you want to provide a "Patio area" wood deck or concrete is best there.

But I went with Crushed rock.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

tegu69
Explorer
Explorer
I was thinking that $250 was way more than I paid, but then I realized that was almost 25 years ago.

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
We park our TT on 4~6" of compacted gravel. I hate it. Constant weeds and even moles coming up in it.
Some day I'll cement it over.

Halmfamily
Explorer
Explorer
We park our 14600lb fifth wheel on a 4" gravel pad. Leveled the site, layed the gravel and compacted with our dually. 5 years and still solid. Total cost $250 for gravel.
2008 GMC Sierra 3500 SLT DRW D/A 4x4 (Big All)
2006 Ford F350 PSD SRW King Ranch 4x4 (Henry) (Sold)
B&W Companion, 90 Aux Fuel Tank, Scan Gauge II, Curt f/m hitch, Swagman XC
2015 Forest River Sierra 360 PDEK
DW Diane, DS Michael, FB Draco and Sabian

tegu69
Explorer
Explorer
I dug out two "strips" and framed out of 2x4's so that the concrete would be even with the surrounding ground. The strips that I made were about 18" wide and about 4-5 feet longer than the wheelbase of the fw. My original fw was 23' I think, but also worked on my 31'. If yours is 40', I would think you would have to make the strips deeper. I also bought square stepping stones that are about 12" square (you would have to figure out the width to fill in the area between strips). As for the landing gear, make squares a little larger than you think would be necessary, in case you don't back up perfectly. I rented a mixer and bought the extra strength concrete, added the steel and wasn't hard at all (that was a long time ago though).

DrewE
Explorer II
Explorer II
Why not just gravel all around, properly compacted? Many campsites (and roads) are gravel, and they work just fine, even with much more traffic than you'll see.

I park my class C on plain old dirt next to my garage. (Technically the low side is on ramps on the dirt so as to make it approximately level.) This started out as somewhat scraggly lawn, but the grass underneath the RV doesn't get much light and isn't really thriving. So far, this has not been a problematic approach in the least; it helps that the area is appropriately graded and doesn't tend to get soft or muddy.

rk911
Explorer
Explorer
sure you could. me, I'd do it right and construct a proper covered pad with an electrical post. and if zoning permitted I'd have a water and sewer connection.
Rich
Ham Radio, Sport Pilot, Retired 9-1-1 Call Center Administrator
_________________________________
2016 Itasca Suncruiser 38Q
'46 Willys CJ2A
'23 Jeep Wrangler JL
'10 Jeep Liberty KK

& MaggieThe Wonder Beagle