how big a pad ?

[Pete Masterson]

On Apr 21, 2008, at 9:11 AM, Dorn Hetzel wrote:

Actually, the two pads I'm pouring for "easy in - easy out" nightly spots will be 6" at the thinnest spot and 12"+ at the edges.

I'm mostly trying to decide if 40 feet is long enough for the wheelbase of most rigs or if they need to be longer.

My 42' coach has a wheel base of about 30' or so. I doubt that even a 45' will be much longer. So a 40' pad would allow plenty of room to position even the longest RV all on the concrete. Do leave another 25' or so space at the back of the site so a toad can stay hooked up. (i.e. the pull through is best if it's 65-70 feet in length.

The main problem I've had is a site that has a poor placement of the utilities. While RVs will all have different utility locations, most coaches can accommodate hook-ups that are about 2/3 or so toward the rear end of the pad. But, I don't have a clue how this matches up to the typical fifth-wheel unit or larger travel trailer that might also use the space.

<snip>
I have a limit on the number of sites with water I am allowed to put on my well without paying for a state-mandated metering system, so the "one night" spaces will be electric only for now (though I'm setting pipes for water and sewer for the future).

If you have a separate dump station, be sure that it is actually reasonable for a big coach to get to it. One of the main reasons I use an RV park (rather than a Walmart lot) while I'm enroute somewhere is so I can dump my tanks. I've been at a few water/electricity only sites where the dump station required a maneuver that a large coach simply couldn't make. (Those when into my never again file.) The dump station should be reasonably accessible _on the way in_ since that's when I'm usually most "desperate" to dump.

The 'electric only' might prove to be a problem as many RVers will be using an RV park because of its water availability. Once we get there, then it depends on how much of a discount for the inconvenience is offered. While dumping the storage tanks only takes a very short time, it can take 30-40 minutes to fill my fresh tank, if it is way down. Not really for making a 'happy camper' if I have to hang around after a day on the road to take on water. 

I'd suggest getting water to the sites would be worthwhile, even if there is some additional certification of water quality required.

I've stayed in a fair number of water & electricity only sites and been perfectly happy. Indeed, there are times when I've stayed overnight in a full hook-up site and simply didn't bother with dumping the tanks at all...

However, I realize that nearly all RVs have smaller tanks than my 'bird.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"