Community Forums

ArkTerry · 08-22-2015, 06:22 PM

Will be purchasing a 35' to 39' Gas class A soon, and am currently about to build a concrete parking pad in my backyard in preparation. I think from doing searches of old post here that I have a good feel for psi, site prep, rebar, etc...., but have a question on how level I should strive for.

The lay of my yard where the pad will be will automatically make long ways (front to back) an easy perfect level, but there is a mild right to left (side to side) slope, so I will have to build up the low side some. I will,want at least a slight slope for rain runoff of course.

My question is, since I am kinda new to the power level jacks of a class A, do I still need to try for as level as possible, or with a 15' wide pad, how much fall over that 15 feet would be alright for long term storage and use of slides etc...? 1 inch? 2 inch? 6 inch? More?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Civdiv99 · 08-22-2015, 08:29 PM

Mine is alongside my home so I didn't want puddle and stuff. You coach will be forgiving of a little slope.

11 years ago, I specified 1/4" per foot away from my house, and the pad is 14' wide by 22' long.

I just went out and set my level under the coach. ( you can see the front wheels out of focus in the background). 1/4 per foot is what I still have, and I've been very happy. Not perceptible for the most part in the coach, and drainage has been fine.

Civdiv99 · 08-22-2015, 08:31 PM

If it matters I think I went with 8" thick 6-sack mix. It's been stellar. I remain convinced the guy didn't charge me nearly enough.

CJ7365 · 08-22-2015, 08:40 PM

That's an awesome level, never seen one like that

alank · 08-23-2015, 05:47 AM

I'm doing a pad next week, depends on where it is and what you want. Next to your house, as Civdiv99 did, the 1/4" per foot is good, that would be 3 1/2" for his 14' pad and is more than I would do, bot nothing wrong with it. I'm out in the back yard and side to side will be level, end to end will be about 1' over an 50' run. we will also have a metal bldg. on the slab and they say a minimum of 3'' over the length of the bldg., so our back yard is nearly perfect and will require min. grading. The jacks aren't something you should store the coach on, I now park mine on some 2x blocks to make it level while not in use.

HD4Mark · 08-23-2015, 06:01 AM

If you have room I would suggest making it long and wide enough for a 45' MH. We had ours poured for our 31' class C thinking it was the largest coach we would own. Now our 40' class A hangs over in the rear

ArkTerry · 08-23-2015, 06:28 AM

Thanks for the replies! I was thinking something about 1/4 inch per foot would hopefully not be too much, as I prefer to have enough slope for good rain run off. Thinking good base of course and 6 inch 4000 psi at minimum.

jdoc · 08-23-2015, 07:02 AM

Built mine 10 years ago. My motor home shed is next to my house. It is 15x45x14 and 6 inches thick with wire and fiberglass in it. I had the contractor make it level. He screwed up and didn't order enough cement by 1/4 of a yard. Then to make matter worse when he knew he was short he put the low side next to my house.

So, now when it rains I have a huge puddle of water next to my house.

By the time he told me about it was to late to change it.

But, it is really nice to have a place to keep the motor home out of the HOT West Texas sun.

Sounds like you have the everything under control. Even though it is not level on that one side, I still have not had to use the levelers in the 10 years it has since it was built.

Jerry

ahicks · 08-23-2015, 07:16 AM

Our 12' wide pad is only about an inch lower (towards driver), and it drains fine. No need for the jacks to be down to feel reasonably level inside.

Grey Ghost I · 08-23-2015, 07:52 AM

My dw stated years ago that we could not afford a mh if we could not afford a roof over it. The 13 foot high carport type shelter cost us $1800.00. Money well spent as we stay in the mh sometimes between trips. I used sack mix to install pads for each wheel using a vial and hose water level to get the pads level with each other. The pads are 6" thick with a LOT of rebar. Surface area of each: 2' by 3'. I have been very satisfied with this setup. Almost forgot,,,,,the double width shelter allows walking room past slideouts on both sides.

Melmoses · 08-23-2015, 08:42 AM

Our pad was supposed to have a slope as discussed above. The contractor didn't follow the written contract and made it perfectly level which I didn't discover until too late. He discounted his price for his mistake (it was in the contract) but that doesn't help me with issues related to that. It is 24' wide and nothing runs off of it. I have to contend with water standing under the coach with every rain. My levelers were rusting so I have to use jack pads under them and I also have to put pads under the tires. Then to top it all off, dirt, leaves and other stuff accumulate all over it. I learned a big lesson, a very expensive lesson, about contractors following contracts. Make sure the slope is there before the pad is poured, verify it yourself. Trust no one. Dealing with a mistake afterward is a lot of work and trouble.

Dogpatch · 08-23-2015, 09:20 AM

I'm a General Contractor.

You can get away with 1/8" slope per foot and water will shed and leave your coach relatively level.
That's 1" per 8' run.
Put the slope side to side and away from outbuildings. That would give you 1-7/8" drop in a 15' wide pad and approximately 1" side to side lean in coach. That's livable.

If you use 1/4" slope, double all slope measurements above.

Personally, at 1/4" per foot, I think 3-3/4" slope is too much in 15'.
That would put your coach at a side to side lean of almost 2".
That's too much in my opinion and you would want to use leveling jacks.

ga traveler · 08-23-2015, 12:28 PM

I have had two parking pads at two different homes. I do not pour a pad. Instead I measure the wheel base. I then make 4 pads about two and a half by two and a half feet. I use 2/4 treated lumber and bricks. I frame the bricks with the 2X4's. Then I put down a gravel bed. All is perfectly level. There is no standing water because of the gravel. This has worked for me since 1985. The cost is minimal.

DD788Snipe · 08-23-2015, 03:33 PM

Mine is 14'X50'. I put a 1% V to the center then put a 1% slope length wise that way the water drains to the middle of the slab then out to the street side of the slab. I never have any water standing around it even when I wash it at home.