Parking on grass

[moorski]

We are going to park our 45' Entegra Cornerstone on grass for 1-2 months. We have never parked on grass. We have heavy duty jack pads but were wondering if anyone knows if we need something under the tires to protect them. If yes, what are your suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Steve Moore

[AFchap]

The most important thing is that the tires should not be parked in standing water ...or where water will pool and stay. Putting vapor barriers under the tires would be a good idea ... plastic, wood, even rubber mats.

[Kirk W]

I agree with Paul, but would add that I'd place some sort of material under the wheels to make sure that they don't settle into the ground to collect moisture, even with the moisture barrier. I like to use at least 2" lumber under all wheels with some form of moisture barrier on the top layer. Also, use pads of sufficient dimension to support the full width of the tread. And I also put some type of strong materials under the foot pads of the leveling system to keep them from sinking into the ground.

[2gypsies]

Yes, you'll definitely want something under your jack pads or they'll sink and will be difficult to raise.

[Pat & Pete]

We parked on grass , once or twice ... I think it was the last time that cost us over 200 bucks to get pulled out and a trip to the quarter car wash to get all the sod and mud from the under carriage . The rig went in to the axles .

 

Be very careful .

[2gypsies]

Don't park over an old septic tank either....we broke through.

[remoandiris]

Position the coach. Mark off the spots the tires will sit. Pull out a few feet. Put down a few bags of gravel in the marked spots for the tires. A shovel and/or rake will help. Back coach into position.

 

Rain will drain thru the gravel and the tires will remain off the grass. Total cost for the gravel will very likely be under $50.

[Pat & Pete]

Position the coach. Mark off the spots the tires will sit. Pull out a few feet. Put down a few bags of gravel in the marked spots for the tires. A shovel and/or rake will help. Back coach into position.

 

Rain will drain thru the gravel and the tires will remain off the grass. Total cost for the gravel will very likely be under $50.

 

Hmm ... about 12 tons of coach on a bit over 500 square inches ... It seems that gravel would have to be pretty thick not to get well mingled with the sod . Maybe if the gravel was left in the bags ? That would make clean up a lot easier , too . But ???

[moorski]

Thanks to all.

 

Steve

[Chris-n-Dennis]

Position the coach. Mark off the spots the tires will sit. Pull out a few feet. Put down a few bags of gravel in the marked spots for the tires. A shovel and/or rake will help. Back coach into position.

 

Rain will drain thru the gravel and the tires will remain off the grass. Total cost for the gravel will very likely be under $50.

 

Don't know of a single park that would allow you to dump gravel on their grass.

 

Along with spreading the load weight via pads or lumber, some consideration might be directed to the grass growing and the ingress of critters and insects from that growing grass. Also, upon departure, if the grass underneath has dried out consideration of fire hazards when starting or running your rig wouldn't be a bad idea.

[DuneElliot]

I have consistently parked my fifth wheel on grass and dirt (don't have much choice where I live). I have always put a 4-6ft length of wood underneath the tires, making sure that it is also wider than the tires. I then put an 8ft board down underneath the jacks, from side to side so that both jacks are on the board, and then add another square board below each foot jack.

 

I always made sure that either the hitch is over packed gravel or that I never try to pull out when it is wet. I have never had an issue with this set-up. I do the same for my stock trailer.

[oscarvan]

None of the above posts are relevant without taking local conditions into consideration.

 

How wet? How clay? How dry? The grass part is just the surface and has NOTHING to do with suitability.

 

Every place is different.

 

Some would be fine for 6 moths, some would be a problem in 6 hours.

 

"nuff said.

[gjhunter01]

If you are parking on grass then moisture must be present which is a bad thing for any undercarriage. I once parked a Buick Lesabre on grass for a year and the brakes rusted so bad that none of the wheels would rotate when I went to move it. Granted, a year is a long time on grass, but I would advise putting a tarp or moisture barrier under any vehicle parked on grass for a month or more. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Greg