Community Forums

akadeadeye · 07-07-2013, 08:00 AM

We are building a garage for our MH and have found the need to install a trench drain in front of the garage to handle some water run-off coming toward the garage. This is to avoid excessive slope we would need if we didn't do the trench drain. The slope could cause clearance problems either at the rear and/or the front.

Question. What load rating or type of trench drain do we need? Our back axle weighs about 19,000 lbs. Front axle about 12,600 lbs. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for your response.

Don

Dogpatch · 07-07-2013, 08:15 AM

I would form a concrete box trench tied into your slab. You will need to get the water out of the trench. Do you have a means to tie into a storm sewer? If not you only have 2 options. One, to form a hole into the end of the box trench connected to some 4" pipe. The pipe needs to slope away from the trench to drain to a lower area away from the slab. Two, a drain could be put in the bottom of the box trench. 4" pipe again, but would have to go to a dry well pit. The pit needs to be dug fairly wide and deep and filled with crushed rock to let the water disapate.
You will have to get a steel grate made up and inset into 1" formed ledges of your trench box so that it's level with the top of the slab. I've seen some people use steel plate with holes drilled, but a heavy rain can let water flow over the areas where there are no holes drilled and cause issue.

CarlGeo · 07-07-2013, 09:36 AM

Just buy a commercial trench drain rated for highway vehicle traffic, and you will have no problems.
They are available at all commercial builders outlets.

Stealth01 · 07-07-2013, 04:22 PM

Since you mention "putting in a garage", make sure it has a BIG DOOR!! We just traded a 2002 Beaver Patriot for a 2011 Newmar Essex... and the RV garage door isn't tall enough! Using the airbags and a little "magic" I can get the coach into the garage... but it is CLOSE!! We're having the door opening raised from 12' 6" to 13' 9"!! I should have planned ahead, I thought about length

but forgot about height!!

akadeadeye · 07-07-2013, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth01

Since you mention "putting in a garage", make sure it has a BIG DOOR!! We just traded a 2002 Beaver Patriot for a 2011 Newmar Essex... and the RV garage door isn't tall enough! Using the airbags and a little "magic" I can get the coach into the garage... but it is CLOSE!! We're having the door opening raised from 12' 6" to 13' 9"!! I should have planned ahead, I thought about length

but forgot about height!!

Thanks for the replies. Sorry your door needs to be modified. Ours is 14' X 14'. Plenty to spare but it does no good until I can get the #%&$!!#$ Motorhome inside.

A trench drain is definitely our solution. We were assured by the contractor that the slope issue was not a problem. Here we are improvising.

Don

Scottybdivin · 07-07-2013, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akadeadeye

We are building a garage for our MH and have found the need to install a trench drain in front of the garage to handle some water run-off coming toward the garage. This is to avoid excessive slope we would need if we didn't do the trench drain. The slope could cause clearance problems either at the rear and/or the front.

Question. What load rating or type of trench drain do we need? Our back axle weighs about 19,000 lbs. Front axle about 12,600 lbs. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for your response.

Don

Any grate with a "H20" load rating will work. That is the load rating designated as "traffic bearing" for structures used in public roads and highways.