Parking at Home

[followingfreddy]

Hi all,
Looking to create a parking space at home for the FR3. The space would be separate from but alongside the driveway. Anyone make a parking space? What material, and what type of contractor did you use?
Thanks in advance.....

[NC Bill]

Road bond gravel (it packs tight). Carolina Carport to cover the trailer.

In the past, I have used a different grade of gravel. Mistake. Eight years later, and it still hasn't packed.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by followingfreddy

Hi all,
Looking to create a parking space at home for the FR3. The space would be separate from but alongside the driveway. Anyone make a parking space? What material, and what type of contractor did you use?
Thanks in advance.....

Ideally one would use concrete for the parking space. A slab poured so the portion where the tires would sit are level from side to side and the rest with some slope, about 1/8th inch per foot, to a natural drainage point.

I built my own pad. I chose crushed rock for the material. I scraped off the topsoil and sod down about 6", sloped the bare soil toward an existing french drain, then filled the area with some 1/2-5/8" crushed "free draining rock. Ran a pan type vibrator over it to get the rock as well compressed as possible. The area was pretty flat to begin with so I only worried about side to side level. I back trailer onto pad and it's side/side level. When disconnected I then finish leveling by raising/lowering tongue jack then putting down stabilizer jacks.

The free draining crushed rock is cheaper than concrete, stays in place pretty well, and I don't have any water pooling around tires. Do need to apply some "Roundup" or other grass/weed killer annually but no big deal.

Some prefer concrete but I am able to achieve the same purpose at a fraction of cost and if I ever decide to get rid of RV's (fat chance) the gravel can easily be removed and grass planted. Concrete is a little more difficult.

One recommendation, before building a pad check to see what utilities are nearby. Run power, water, and possibly a "Sewer Cleanout" to the side where your RV utilities are connected (cable too as then you have a great guest house or "escape capsule"). Easier to do this when you are building than trying to add later. I have a 30 amp power post at mine. Water and sewer were too far away to be practical.