Where do you put your rig?

[polkadotsuitcase]

I'm about to inherit/buy a 31-foot TT in a couple months. While our home is on an acre lot, it's weirdly positioned/odd hills and I'm kind of limited about where I can store the unit on my property. I'm trying to get ideas from other folks who have largish rigs -- where/how do you store it on your property? What kind of pad do you put it on -- just grass? Paving stones? Crushed rock? Cement? (Hey, if you have photos, too, I'll be grateful forever.)

Right now, I think it needs to go on the opposite side of my house from the garage -- between our house and the neighbor's. There is a thick row of evergreens between our houses, so neighbor wouldn't have to look at the TT, but I wonder about a) what goes underneath and b) how to make it look semi-attractive from the road.

Thanks for any input -- you may just save my marriage, too! :goodvibes

[lawnspecialties]

Hey polkadot. Another home-schoolin' NC parent here as well.

When we lived in Zebulon, our lot was sloped from one side of the property to the other. Typically with TT's; especially those with slideouts, you want it to be stored level.

What I had to do was cut some treated 2"x8"s long enough to fit both tires per side. But on one side, I had to stack a few 2"x8"s to bring the lower side up to make it a level. Once I figured out how may boards were required to make it level, I nailed them together. I even had to use some 4"x8" blocks to put under my stabilizer jacks. It wasn't a big deal once I got it all setup.

I think the key is not having the camper resting in a twisted position over a long period of time. Also, be careful when driving your TT up any boards for leveling. Use a spotter and go slow to get it perfected.

[disney4dan]

During the camping season we put the TT in front of the garage and use the empty garage bay as the temporary staging area for camping gear in between trips. When we are done in the fall, we have a spot behind the house that is currently set aside for a small vegetable garden during the summer. The garden is in boxes of 2x8 lumber that will fit between and underneath the trailer when the plants are removed in the fall. I plan to put crushed stone in this area this fall, but has been just mowed grass in the past.

[Shan-man]

I put in a paved pad alongside the barn for my motorhome. I didn't like having to weedeat next to the rig and getting the sides all messy. I also installed a 30amp outlet next to the pad so I could plug-in. I am now also planning to run water and sewer out there, as we have had visitors use it as a guest house, and having a fully functioning bathroom would be nice. Plus, no matter how much I beg, my wife ALWAYS uses the toilet on the way home (after I cleaned the tank) so it would be nice to have my own dump station so I don't have to store the RV dirty. Just some other things you might want to consider.

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w359/SLSettles/Web%20Graphics/ShantaClausSm.png

[retired and happy]

My driveway slopes down from the street then levels out by the basement-garage, which is really a glorified storage bin. We park the motorhome across the drive from the garage door and the cargo trailer next to the door. Our neighbor's deck overlooks the top of the M/H, but he has never complained about the view. (It's actually closer to his house than mine. :3dglasses) I built two concrete ramps for the front wheels, to make it sit level and this has worked out well. I have 15 A power to it and plan a 30 or 50 amp service when I get around to it. I can't put a sewer connection because my septic tank is on the opposite side of the yard and sits quite a bit higher than the driveway. This setup has served us for many years without neighborhood complaints, so we'll leave it for as long as we have a M/H.:thumbsup2:thumbsup2

[clkelley]

We built a garage.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/clkelley564/Garage/DisneyFourthofJuly031.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/clkelley564/Garage/DisneyFourthofJuly045.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/clkelley564/Garage/DisneyFourthofJuly047.jpg

I know that's not much help for you, but seriously,you do need to put some kind of hard surface under it. I used to store mine in my parents back yard and that worked well, until....... I got stuck in the backyard one day when picking it up..

[ftwildernessguy]

I wish I had a garage.

[4mickey2]

we did a garage, too... i think the large door is 14' tall and the bay is 50' deep.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii97/ulookmarvy/july09.jpg http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii97/ulookmarvy/garage09-1.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii97/ulookmarvy/garage09.jpg

this is the best thing we could of done. living in wisconsin with the rain and snow it is great to walk from the house to the camper in all the seasons.. we love it. :lovestruc

[tim5055]

I built a garage too.

http://www.popupcamping.info/images/091107a_small.JPG

The door is 15 feet wide and 14 feet tall. Inside it's 36 feet wide by 50 feet long. Additionally there is a 15 X 26 efficiency on the side that includes a living/sleeping area, kitchen, shower, bath vanity, toilet and washer dryer.

I still wonder why the DW says it's overkill for a pop up.

To view a larger photo, click HERE. (http://www.popupcamping.info/images/091107a.jpg)


But, to be perfectly honest, it only sleeps in this garage during the winter. During the camping season it stays in the house garage or the driveway if we are going to have back to back trips.

Next week the kitchen of the house is being torn out, so the pop up will stay set up in the driveway for a few weeks so we can use the kitchen in it while the one in the house id out of commission.

[auntie]

We have a long driveway that widens as it goes back to a detached 2 car garage. It holds five cars in the winter when we need to get them off the street for the plows to get through. Fortunately, we have a nice area right in front of the second bay door of the garage. The trailer fits nicely there, as it widens up in front of the second bay. It's level and we only need to put some wood under the stabalizer jacks..as it's asphalt. So far..no problems. It's been there since October on a regular basis. Only moved out once to go camping last month. We've thought of moving it onto the grass area next to the garage..but my neighbors kid has the basketball go over the fence more than it goes into his net..and it would be hitting our trailer everytime it came over the fence. So for now..it's staying at the back of the driveway. At least until the kid moves out..I don't think his aim is ever gonna get better.

[polkadotsuitcase]

Thanks for the input, all. I like hearing what's worked for everyone. I'd love a concrete pad, but the weird placement of the house on the lot limits that. The other issue is a drainage ditch I need to cross -- it's not terribly deep/steep, but it's present and I need to navigate over it.

I appreciate the ideas -- and I wish, wish I could have a cool garage like some of yours, too!

Jamie/lawnspecialties...we're practically neighbors! :goodvibes

Thanks again!

[Shan-man]

If you can't do a concrete pad, I would at least recommend parking over weed-block fabric held in place with gravel to keep vegetation (and wildlife that hides therein) at bay.

http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w359/SLSettles/Web%20Graphics/ShantaClausSm.png

[2goofycampers]

We now have a 33 X 36 barn for the boat and TT, but at our old house we needed a quick place to park the boat, a couple loads of mulch worked great and was cheap.

[Live4FW]

You need to check your local city/county ordinances. In my city, we must have a solid surface such as concrete or gravel under a stored vehicle. It cannot be parked over grass. There are also restrictions on #, and visibility from street.

Now, HOA's are a whole nother ball of wax. That keeps me from having to worry about the first issues.

We store at a storage site for $75 per month.

[medic9016]

I poured two small concrete pads to get the tires on and use patio stones for the tongue and stabilizer jacks. I also installed a 30amp plug to keep my TT plugged in all the time.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/Medic9016/Travel%20Trailer/MIsc181.jpg
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii142/Medic9016/Travel%20Trailer/MIsc182.jpg

[ynottony99]

We don't have much yard. But I hate the thought of putting the trailer in storage. So we have built our back yard around the TT, embracing a camping/Disney theme.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09001.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09003.jpg

I laid these pavers from the gate back to where the wheels sit. It is just dirt under the trailer, which is where the dogs love to occupy in the heat of the summer.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09004.jpg

Like Shanman, we use the unit as our 'guest villa'. I ran power, water, sewer, cable and telephone. Never hooked up the phone, since everyone has a cell phone these days. Of course city ordinances prevent the actual hook up of utilities for someone to occupy the trailer. So the sewer hookup is actually an "extra clean-out". The water just another hose connection, etc. ;)

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09006.jpg


http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09014.jpg

Yes, our Dis board inspired Mickey light is set up for use when we are home. I just use a bungee to attach it to the fence, and plug in in. Oh and yes, that railroad tie there on the ground, just did so happen to come from FW. :rolleyes1

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09008.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09009.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09011.jpg

I ran a 50 amp service, only needed 30 now, but rather not have to upgrade later. I mounted the box on a a post here in the bamboo (the bamboo is our tribute to Animal Kingdom). I have 3 hanging light fixtures that are very similar to those at the WL, tucked into the bamboo.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09015.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09018.jpg

I have a small storage area on the porch and have started to add a few decorative items. Lots more to do.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m133/ynottony99/BackyardAug09023.jpg

[kc5grw]

That's a really nice setup Tony.

I keep mine in my backyard. No special landscaping though.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5991/housexz5.jpg

[railmail]

One place you don't want to put it, on grass. We had a popup that we kept in the back yard, and somehow a huge colony of ants decided to make it their home. Almost destroyed it before we discovered them. Don't know why they moved in. There was no food of any kind in it, and it was clean when we stored it. Anyway, the new travel trailer sits under it's own tall carport, with gravel pad, [concrete in the future], and of course we sprinkle ant barrier around the tires, tongue, and jacks.:thumbsup2

[Doggmeat]

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x92/SFRDoggmeat/IMG_0115.jpg

this is my setup. right now it's dirt, in process of adding a 14x12 storage area off the back, and when thats done concrete runners for trailer.

[ynottony99]

:thumbsup2

[daddyphat808]

We just park ours in the back yard we have three acres. But after seeing all of these setups I have parking envy! :banana:

[Shan-man]

Cool diggs Tony. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who relegates house guests to the camper! Oh, and I thought I was clever having a spike from the FWRR, you have a tie! What a nut! http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w359/SLSettles/Web%20Graphics/sc_rofl.gif
http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w359/SLSettles/Web%20Graphics/ShantaClausSm.png

[stacktester]

My grandmother has 5 acres and has horses on it. Some of her borders have horse trailers they leave there and I park my camper next to them. I have friends always ask if they can park theirs too lol. The average around here is about $75 - 100 a month storage.

[I'mDownWithDisney]

I backed our new 5'er into its new home today.....a 44' x 100' shop complete with a rotary car lift, lathe, brake rotor machine, bead blaster, mig welder, various presses, 1000 sq ft of finished space, built in wash bay with steam cleaner, and a few other toys.:banana:

I am very lucky to able to use my granddad's former repair shop as a garage.