Gravel

[RangeMaggotBob]

Is it okay to park my RV on gravel for the winter? Actually, it's inch and a quarter road base. It's also under the carport we had built. Thanks!

[asquared]

Both our current fiver and our previous tt sit on gravel year round, never had an issue.

[larryo]

Much better than grass!

[KQ2N]

I dug out an area 6 inches deep roughly the size of the motor home and filled it with what's termed "crusher run". It's used on driveways. It forms a good solid base and drains water away. If I didn't do it here, with the clay soil we have, as soon as it gets wet the motor home would sink out of sight let alone the water and dampness playing havoc on it.

[5picker]

Gravel is perfectly fine.

One could always purchase a couple of inexpensive patio or sidewalk blocks (Lowe's has 12" x 12" here for $3.99 each) and put at each wheel if you felt the need.

[Witch Doctor]

I have always heard that if you park your RV on gravel or dirt even grass for the winter to put it on wood. I have also heard that if you park on asphalt or concrete over the winter you should put a rubber mat under the tires. I park mine on asphalt and have never done that. By what members are saying, maybe it just an old wives tale. Like soooomany other things.

[AVid]

Gravel is perfect. It allows drainage to avoid the tires sitting in water.

John

[B and B]

I park mine at a storage facility with garvel. We have put together wood blinth to drive the wheels up on for this year. We pulled last March and the tire where frozen in gravel and ice.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by AVid

Gravel is perfect. It allows drainage to avoid the tires sitting in water.

John

This is true except when it freezes, it is also freezing the tire to it according to GoodYear atleast. I'm pretty sure that is were I read that. It's supposed to be bad for the rubber. I really don't know.... But we all know the CYA statements. If your on a level pad it can only drain down into the ground, The ground can only hold so much water without it sitting around the gravel, same as grass.

[trbomax]

Do you run your car or truck up on wood or plastic tarps when you park it? Its a rubber tired vehicle,not a space shuttle!

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by trbomax

Do you run your car or truck up on wood or plastic tarps when you park it? Its a rubber tired vehicle,not a space shuttle!

No I don't but my car and truck are driven each day not like sitting trailer for 3 or 4 mos depending were you live for the winter...

[B and B]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

No I don't but my car and truck are driven each day not like sitting trailer for 3 or 4 mos depending were you live for the winter...

X2

[trbomax]

Originally Posted by B and B

X2

OK,I will give you an example to ponder. I have a 2004 all aluminum,28' enclosed,insulatedand finished inside w/ dual voltage elec and a propane furnace.Basicly this is a 28' TT.It came with Carsile tires (4). For summer storage the first 4 years I layed down silver plastic tarps (we are all blow sand here) and (2) 8' treated 2 x 12 for the tires.I had white tire covers that I put on the side exposed to the sun.Going into the 2008 season the tires were so sidewall checked and tread cracked that I replaced them with exactly the same size and brand.For the summers of 2009 -2013 ,I just parked it on the sand next to my shop.I did not use it in 13-14 but in the summer o4 14 had to move it,all the tires were checked and cracked the same as 2008 plus 2 were completely flat due to rim leaks with the aluminum wheels.This summer I replaced all tires with marathons.My son has the trailer (in ohio) now to use for the grandkids snowcross race trailer.It will be on concrete some of the time and good ole' ohio clay the rest and I know he wont cover anything so we will see what happens next.My own oppinion is that atmospheric ozone and heat durring long periods of storage is what kills the tires,pluss the fact that they were carlsiles.

[Islander]

Originally Posted by tdst51

Is it okay to park my RV on gravel for the winter? Actually, it's inch and a quarter road base. It's also under the carport we had built. Thanks!

I have my 5th wheel on a crushed driveway chip parking lot out in the elements.
It is on a slope and the drainage is great!
No issues with freezing to the rocks that I have experienced.

In order to level it off I do place a short plank ramp under the front wheels then lift the jacks to level so I can put out the slides if I want.
The short ramps (close to level) help keep the articulating axels more level.

IMO the small crushed rock provides a good some what flat stable base as compared to a larger drain rock that could roll if on a slope.

Hope this helps

Islander

[Oaklevel]

I apparently do everything wrong but I have 5 trailers and two cars that sit all the time summer and winter on either gravel or grass they may sit 6 months or more at a time. One trailer is a 1980, & one car is a 1953. The trailer that is a 1980 just went last spring to Wilmington NC & back over 500 mile round trip but I guess I need to replace the tires since I bought them in 1992. it sits on grass. I do put the camper tires on 2x s when it is at home but it has been sitting on a gravel lot since mid July.

[RSchleder]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

I apparently do everything wrong but I have 5 trailers and two cars that sit all the time summer and winter on either gravel or grass they may sit 6 months or more at a time. One trailer is a 1980, & one car is a 1953. The trailer that is a 1980 just went last spring to Wilmington NC & back over 500 mile round trip but I guess I need to replace the tires since I bought them in 1992. it sits on grass. I do put the camper tires on 2x s when it is at home but it has been sitting on a gravel lot since mid July.

I second replacing your 20 year old tires!! 7-8 years seems to be about the max most folks, including me, feel confortable running tires on an RV. "Just sayin"

[bob caldwell]

I apparently do everything wrong......

[heavynlori]

Ours is parked on a gravel seasonal site from April to November - we do put 2x10 under the tires as well

When it is home, we park in the grass but also on the 2x10 - have done this way forever....

[2013leprechaun319dsf]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

I have always heard that if you park your RV on gravel or dirt even grass for the winter to put it on wood. I have also heard that if you park on asphalt or concrete over the winter you should put a rubber mat under the tires. I park mine on asphalt and have never done that. By what members are saying, maybe it just an old wives tale. Like soooomany other things.

Agree!


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[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

I apparently do everything wrong but I have 5 trailers and two cars that sit all the time summer and winter on either gravel or grass they may sit 6 months or more at a time. One trailer is a 1980, & one car is a 1953. The trailer that is a 1980 just went last spring to Wilmington NC & back over 500 mile round trip but I guess I need to replace the tires since I bought them in 1992. it sits on grass. I do put the camper tires on 2x s when it is at home but it has been sitting on a gravel lot since mid July.

This is probably true, but we were talking about winter storage where the ground freezes.