At Halterman’s RV, our technicians and motorhome experts hear hundreds of quirky DIY RV parking pad ideas every year from long-time customers and newbies to mobile home living. RV pads allow you to keep your rig well-maintained and free of fungal spores and dry rot. They’re an essential addition to every camping vehicle, and you should not stay on the road for more than a few weeks without one.
We answer numerous questions about RV parking pad sizes and whether to go DIY on RV parking pad construction every month. We have a growing list of satisfied customers in Washington, and we’ll be more than happy to add you to the roster.
In this explainer, our experts will outline why parking your RV on grass is a bad thing and whether you should consider buying a gravel RV parking pad.
RV Parking Pad Ideas
When it comes to RV parking pad ideas, companies and experienced campers follow a golden rule. The simpler you design your parking pad, the easier it will be to maintain, clean, and pack.
Today, four RV parking pad setups dominate the market.
Grass Protection Mesh—Heavy Grade
Grass protection meshes come from companies like Green Tech and The Rubber Company. They include an amalgam of rubber and polyethylene, which creates a UV-stable and slip-resistant surface for trucks and RVs to park on. You can also find grass protection meshes on wheelchair paths and pedestrianized grassy surfaces.
Permeable Pavers
Permeable pavers rank highly among business owners looking to expand their RV parks and campers to those who want a long-term parking option. Masonry companies create permeable pavers from fired concrete or clay bricks and sell them pre-made.
Permeable pavers allow snow, rainwater, and other effluents to seep between them and fall into pre-constructed soil and gravel basins underneath. They reduce the strain on RV park sewage systems and stop pollutants from flowing into nearby water sources.
EGA Ground Grid
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Manufacturers create EGA ground grids from high-density polyethylene. They consist of three-dimensional honeycomb-shaped cells that can reinforce various topsoil types, such as concrete, gravel, and grass.
EGA ground grids are UV-stable and waterproof, allowing RV owners to enjoy stable parking even on steep embankments. They compact gravel and loose topsoil, so you don’t need to implement other measures to prevent erosion. They make a popular option for campers planning a long-term stay on mountainsides, riverbanks, and other sloppy areas.
Concrete Pad
Concrete slabs stand out as the number one option for business owners and property managers who run motorhome parks and rest stops across America.
Concrete is highly cost-efficient, durable, and impervious to snow, rain, and other weather effects. It’s impossible to bring a concrete slab along with you while traveling, but if you’re looking for a similar method to disperse the weight of your RV for long-term parking, you can try wood or metal leveling blocks.
Vapor Barrier on Grass
While most RVs in the market feature rust-resistant paints and other high-tech insulation, they require a vapor barrier to prevent ambient moisture from seeping into their protective layers.
Vapor barriers will keep warm, humid air and moisture from cold weather from accumulating in the underbelly of your RV. They make a cost-efficient solution, costing only $0.75 per square foot.
How To Build an RV Parking Pad
Have some RV parking pad ideas now? Make sure to dedicate a space at least four feet longer and four feet wider than your RV or camper. Keep it free from low-hanging power lines and branches, and ensure it is close to a power source.
Dig five to six inches deep and lay a filter cloth over the leveled dig site. Pour in your filler material and install the wood posts on the right side of your RV, which will contain your surge protectors and power hookups. It is best to call a trained electrician and plumber to prevent electrocution and digging into gas lines during installation.
Do’s and Don’ts of RV Parking Pad
At Halterman’s RV, we serve many customers who call us in the middle of a project because they didn’t know they were doing some things wrong. A poorly built RV parking pad can give you uneven weight distribution and uneven surfaces, ultimately causing the ground under your RV to puddle or erode. Let’s review some do’s and don’ts when building an RV pad.
Dos
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Use asphalt or concrete pavers
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Build it close to a water and power source
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Use a CPVC pipe to handle water at high temps
Don’ts
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Handle electrical equipment without prior experience
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Start a project without a step-by-step plan
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Park multiple RVs on a single pad
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Skimp out on vapor barriers
Benefits of Having an RV Parking Pad
In Between Adventures
RV pads are perfect for sudden prolonged stopovers as they provide excellent traction, preventing your RV from sliding off inclines and other uneven surfaces while you enjoy the outdoors.
Protect Those Tires From Dirt
A parking pad will insulate your tires from fungal spores, parasites, and moisture in the dirt, protecting them and the lower parts of your RV from dry rot.
Use Gravel for Your Parking Pad
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Gravel resists the friction and weight of heavy vehicles like trucks and RVs. They will allow you to create a parking area that won’t turn to mud or disintegrate, even without pavement.
Legal Aspects of Building an RV Parking Pad
Before building an RV parking pad, read up on the regulations that your homeowner’s association, city, or county enforces. Anything goes in rural areas. However, in urban jurisdictions, you have more restrictions to consider.
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It’s illegal in Washington to remove the wheels of an RV or build a foundation beneath it.
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You can’t create an RV pad in your front yard unless you can prove that rear and side yard spaces are unavailable.
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You can only have one RV parking pad on your property.
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Residential parking pads must be at least 3.5 inches thick.
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You must enclose your parking pad with a six-foot-high fence.
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Passersby on the road must not see your parking pad and RV.
Contact the RV Parking Pad Experts Today
You can find hundreds of different RV parking pad designs in the market, and they all promise extraordinary things. If you want to purchase the correct RV parking pads for home use, or you want to learn how to pick the right RV parking pad dimensions for a handcrafting project, call our professionals today.
If you have any queries regarding Class A, Class C, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Tent Campers, Toy Haulers, Dial 360-283-5306 . We’ll give you a free consultation and quote.