Community Forums

frederick w · 12-26-2010, 05:36 PM

I'll be parking my MH on a typical home driveway slab. My MH
is a 30 Ft. Flair (17,000 lbs). 11k on rear and 6k on front plus
fuel, ect.

I will be useing plywood pads (2 ft. by 4 Ft. at 1 inch thick)
under the wheels to spread the weight out.

Hate to pay for a driveway that isn't even mine if it cracks

Best wishe for the New Year to everyone

RVThere · 12-26-2010, 07:51 PM

Do you know how thick the slab is? If its a residential slab, it will be about 4 inches at most.

Keep your tires as close to the center as possible when driving in. The slab will usually snap on the corners when you are backing in.

swampdog2 · 12-27-2010, 02:37 AM

you are kidding i hope

i don't think a 17000 lb m/h balanced over 6 wheels would ever cause a slab to crack , mine weighs 33500 and it's been parked on many diff. 3 1/2 slabs and not one of them cracked

WeBeGone2 · 12-27-2010, 07:06 AM

Oh ye wise one...A 30k M/H will crack a 4 plus inch driveway. Especially at the driveway flair at the street and if you are too close to the edge. Pictures to prove it. Stay off the edge area and you should be fine.

Gary - K7GLD · 12-27-2010, 05:23 PM

Much depends on the type of soil, ground preparation and hardness of the concrete - 5 sack or 6, etc., but for sure, I'd stay off a residential driveway unless I knew for sure it was thicker than 4 inches - 10 seconds of caution is far better than a lifetime of "I'm sorrys"...

two-niner · 12-27-2010, 05:37 PM

The "driveway flair" (never heard it called that) is a Thickened Edge.

If the driveway was built to code and properly inspected, it's actually the strongest part of the driveway. Think..bridge abutments.

On the other hand, if you have zero knowledge of the driveways construction, see Gary - K7GLD's advice.

Kerry

Wayne M · 12-27-2010, 07:57 PM

And it depends on when the driveway was installed. The present day codes in most cities call for re-bar, or some type of reinforcement. Older driveways of the early 60's and before, and maybe even some of the '70's were not required to have reinforcement. My driveway was constructed in 1964 by the previous owner. It cracked with the weight of the MH on it. It does not have reinforcement. Each additional time I park on it it cracks some more. So yes, driveways can crack but it depends on a lot of variable information.

Darn! I need to replace my driveway and that's about $6k.

bdpreece · 12-27-2010, 08:23 PM

When I had my driveway replaced I asked about parking the motorhome on it. # 1 No guaranty that it will accept that much weight. #2 if you want to park heavy vehicles on it you need to pour at least 6 inches and use rebar. Still no guaranty

swampdog2 · 12-28-2010, 04:02 PM

I just backed a concrete truck all the way down my driveway so i could pour a slab for a building to park my m/h on didn't hurt a thing .If you crack a 4in slab with the weight of a m/h then you have nothing to park you car on either.I have parked on the driveway on every house i lived in and never cracked a driveway and always made a point to park the drivers side as close to the edge as i could get. I would not own a house that i was afraid to park my m/h on the driveway ,come to think of it my brother has parked his 45ft marathon on my driveway for 2 weeks before with no problems ,

Ray,IN · 12-28-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

And it depends on when the driveway was installed. The present day codes in most cities call for re-bar, or some type of reinforcement. Older driveways of the early 60's and before, and maybe even some of the '70's were not required to have reinforcement. My driveway was constructed in 1964 by the previous owner. It cracked with the weight of the MH on it. It does not have reinforcement. Each additional time I park on it it cracks some more. So yes, driveways can crack but it depends on a lot of variable information.

Darn! I need to replace my driveway and that's about $6k.

Re-bar, wire reinforcement, or fiber-filled, cannot prevent concrete from cracking, actually nothing will. That is why bridges are inspected on a schedule. It merely prevents the cracks from pulling apart and the pieces from shifting around. Ask any competent concrete worker, there are two types of finished concrete. That which has not cracked yet, and that which has cracked.

Wayne M · 12-28-2010, 10:09 PM

Ray, IN,
you are correct, but all things considered, thickness and re-bar will assist tremendously in preventing cracking. I have driven on cement highways that take a beating from all types of heavy vehicles and I don't see that many of the cracking. So what are they doing right. There is also different "grades" of cement, depending on what you are using it for. Having done stress testing using compression machines, the road grade cement can take a tremendous amount of pressure, in excess of 100,000 PSI. I know, I busted a few beyond that threshold as a lab manager.