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07-07-2020, 03:21 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
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36' 5th wheel...how big to make the parking pad?
Wife and I are absolute RV neophytes possibly looking to purchase this beast to live in off and on while our house is being built....
Coachmen Chaparral Fifth Wheel 336TSIK
https://coachmenrv.com/fifth-wheels/...l/336TSIK/1588
...and we wanted to create a level RV pad in our yard that takes up the least amount of space (yard is flat, but I understand it's best to have a legit, level concrete or gravel surface so it doesn't sink, etc.)
With about a 12' height, 36' length and likely 12' width with all the sliders out, could we still get a way with something smaller than that (like maybe 30'x10'?), given that the sliders don't touch the ground and the other points of contact aren't at the extreme ends of that length?
Talking to a dealer he vaguely told me to add something like 10' to either end of the length so that the truck would also remain level when parking it, but that seemed extreme (and we wouldn't have room for that in the yard size we have)
Anyway, figured I would see if anyone had any experience/advice. Apologies for the very basic question...we are still a bit new at this
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07-07-2020, 03:52 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas,OR
Posts: 4,584
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8x40 would be minimum. Im wondering are you going to keep it? Then make a permanent pad 12x45. That would give you a solid surface come wash and wax time.
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Don and Lorri
Resident Dummy.
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07-07-2020, 04:03 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
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Thanks so much for the response and info.
We may keep the RV after the house is built but I imagine we will trade and downsize a bit. So maybe more reason to keep the pad modest if possible. Overall just not a ton of room in the yard so wanted the pad to take up as little space as possible without risking messing up the RV in any way.
Any rules of thumb or weight/size relation to whether to do gravel or poured concrete pad or is that generally just a matter of preference?
Thanks again.
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07-07-2020, 04:37 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,671
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If unsure, why not just lay pads for the wheels and the front jacks (landing gear)? Either poured concrete or sets of 4x6x16" solid concrete block bedded in sand? Those will support the RV nicely, yet not large (or expensive). And if you use the concrete blocks rather than poured, easy to remove or re-size later.
Wheel pads would be about 2'x8' on each side. Landing gear pads could be as little a 2'x2'. Bigger pads are easier to hit if you take the trailer in & out often, but if its mostly just parked there they can be small.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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07-07-2020, 04:39 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 255
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Under your circumstances I would just get some good thick pavers and put them under the wheels, jacks, and levelers. After you build your house you will have a better idea of your needs and location.
__________________
2015 Montana 3100rl Legacy ---- 2005 F250 6.0
AirLift bags & Bilstein's, tows like charm! Updated to 2017 Chevy 3500 SRW Duramax, tows good too!
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07-07-2020, 04:50 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 102
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If you make the pad out of gravel, 2 things. 1... make sure you put a weed barrier down first. 2..you can always add gravel to make the pad bigger or take some away to make it smaller
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07-07-2020, 05:39 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Braidwood Il.
Posts: 8,300
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Plus 2 on some heavy pavers. Concrete is too expensive to pour and remove if it doesn't suit your needs later.
__________________
95 Monaco Crown Royale
M11 400hp, 4060 trans.
Aquahot, Generac Guardian7.5k
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07-07-2020, 07:17 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 1,729
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I agree with the temporary heavy pavers. If your yard is fairly level you shouldn't have issues. I'd get the biggest pavers I could. I'd even venture to say that a 2'x8' sheet of 3/4" marine grade plywood under each of the tandem wheel sets would suffice to distribute the weight on "normal" ground. You could get a 4x8 sheet and cut it in half length-wise. Then use the pavers or 2'x2'x 3/4" treated plywood for the jacks.
__________________
"Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning"
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07-08-2020, 05:13 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: LA, Lower Alabama
Posts: 2,430
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Your main question dealt with a pad size but in the OP you made reference to 12' height. Bigger 5th wheels are considerably taller than 12' so if height is an issue where you park, don't rely on any online measurements. Generally the front air conditioner is the highest point and it can push the 12'6" figure easily.
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07-08-2020, 05:29 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 3,542
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
If unsure, why not just lay pads for the wheels and the front jacks (landing gear)? Either poured concrete or sets of 4x6x16" solid concrete block bedded in sand? Those will support the RV nicely, yet not large (or expensive). And if you use the concrete blocks rather than poured, easy to remove or re-size later.
Wheel pads would be about 2'x8' on each side. Landing gear pads could be as little a 2'x2'. Bigger pads are easier to hit if you take the trailer in & out often, but if its mostly just parked there they can be small.
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This is exactly what I did for my parking space, which is in my side yard.
Solid concrete block under the tires, with rubber stall pads cut to fit over those. Solid concrete block under the jacks. Because I leveled the blocks under the tires when I placed them (dug some just a bit deeper than the others) the RV sits level without using the jacks so I rarely deploy the jacks. But if/when I do they'll be on concrete block also.
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2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
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07-08-2020, 10:15 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 8
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This is all great info and will save us a ton of hassle. I had assumed one needed a very over-engineered, giant poured concrete pad but it's good to hear that may be overkill for the situation and that there are other options. The pavers/concrete blocks and similar solutions sound like the right move for the initial setup. Thanks!
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07-08-2020, 10:33 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 617
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We made ours 14’ but that was out of necessity to access behind the MH.
We used conbit(crushed concrete). Inexpensive in this area and supply was nearby to minimize transport costs. Used a bobcat to remove material to maintain it level with surrounding area. Got a bit zealous with the bobcat and ended up with a pad of 12”conbit base. Extremely solid. No problem with weight!!!! A quick spray of pre-emergent each spring stops any weeds as weed barriers don’t work well in the long run (JMHO).
We’ve never put anything under the tires of either of our coaches with no harm but may consider the concrete wheel pads or at least plywood/rubber mats. Nice idea!
__________________
Bob and Marcia
‘03 Winnebago Adventurer 33V Workhorse
Toad- '03 Jeep Liberty 4-down
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07-09-2020, 07:57 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,012
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I would also recommend some sort of pad at the bottom of your steps especially if the surface is dirt.
__________________
2004.5 Ram 3500 2WD DRW
2008 Carriage, tows at 10k#
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07-09-2020, 09:51 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 683
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Pavers are a great idea, and you can reuse them after the trailer is gone.
I would install them as you would for a driveway, over a suitable paver base. In FL we use recycled concrete screenings They are affordable and pack excellent. Don’t worry about edging though not needed for a temp install.
Your pad at minimum needs to be 10’ wide and the length should be 2’ longer than the distance from front landing gear to rear stabilizer/leveling jack. The concrete screenings can make a suitable approach for the tow vehicle. But since pavers are reusable you may want to make a paver patio area off your entry. Good luck!
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