When parking the RV at your home

[MaximumEffort]

I have a 33' class A RV and when I'm not camping/traveling it gets parked in my yard.  Are there any best practices I need to adhere to going forward?  Particularly, I was wondering if I should always leave it leveled with the jacks down?  I do have a cover for it and was also considering wheel covers but not sure how necessary or useful they would be. 

Unfortunately, I only have a spot in the yard that's covered in grass so It will not (at least for the foreseeable future) have it's own driveway or special pad for being parked.

Thanks
Max

 

[Gizmo100]

If your going to keep the refrigerator going then YES level it.

Otherwise it's up to you.

I would consider putting down some wood planks to help spread out the weight so it doesn't sink in the yard.

 

[IBTripping]

There's a current thread on wheel covers which keeps getting longer every day. After reading all of it, I've decided not to spend my kids inheritance on wheel covers. But, I do plan to spend all of their inheritance on myself. Just not on wheel covers.

 

[jubileee]

  We had our 34? class A for 23 years.Sold it last year. Always parked on asphalt at my truck shop. I always pulled all the weight off the steering axle tires and about 75% of the weight off the drive tires with the leveling jacks. Of course the nose was much higher than the rear. I felt it was better for the tires and front springs and never caused me any other problems, jacks never leaked. It usually set for 6 mos. Oct thru Mar

 

[glen54737]

You might want to check the zoning where you live to see if it's legal to park it on grass. The last place Ilived it wasn't I got away with it until I had a paved driveway.

 

[John From Detroit]

I would keep it leveled with jacks down for multiple reasons

1: Take a load off the springs
2: If you wish to use it .. It is ready for use..
3: more stable if the wind does blow.

Why might you want to use it?  Guest house. Problem with main house. Power fail (The RV has a generator) and in my case.. Ham Shack (but that likely does not apply to you)


Keep it powered too if you have a good 3-stage converter or inverter/charger.. No need for dead batteries.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

You will get many differing opinions, but there really isn't anything you MUST do.  Well, the rig must be reasonably level to operate the fridge, but that's a separate need and not related to storage.


If the ground or pavement is firm and reasonably well drained, no worries about tires or sinking into the ground. If not, maybe some masonry blocks or boards to park on?  Jacks down is nice if you will be going in & out of it regularly and it also takes some strain off tires & suspension, but those would still be carrying the same weight if you were driving down the highway. It's their job, afterall!


If not used for a 4-6 weeks, start the genset and run for about 30 minutes with a load on it (a/c, space heater, etc). That will keep the generator healthy in both its engine and electrical components.

Covering the RV is a nuisance but may help keep it clean, if that's important to you.  Covering tires is another highly debatable thing and discussed elsewhere here. Probably not worthwhile unless in a high sun climate and stored long term.  Even then, I have my doubts. Never found a need to do so when storing our Rvs off-season at our Florida home.

 

[AStravelers]

Tire covers are not all that expensive.  The ones I bought from Amazon cost from $18 to $31 depending on the size of the tire. 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FMTS4GH/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[HappyWanderer]

Being level is for the comfort of the occupants and operation of the absorption fridge. Otherwise, it's a truck on a chassis designed for the weight it carries.

As to covering, Entegra says they will void the paint warranty is the unit is covered. They must know something that we don't.

 

[MaximumEffort]

Thanks for the feedback, yeah my primary concern was more about taking weight off the springs while sitting around.  I will take the advice about putting something under the jacks just in case there could be issues with soft soil. 
As far as zoning goes, there's no issues with that where I live since I'm in the sticks and have no HOA's to worry about.

 

[A Traveler]

Tire covers are not all that expensive.  The ones I bought from Amazon cost from $18 to $31 depending on the size of the tire...

Why is it that the only place I see tire covers used is on motorhomes? Farm trucks and tractors, which also sit outdoors for months at a time? Nope. OTR trucks that are outdoors 24/7? Nope.

I guess the tire cover makers know motorhome owners are pretty gullible and will buy anything.

They are totally unnecessary.

 

[thesameguy]

Tires that sit are in greater peril than tires than move....  and sitting in the sun accelerates the problems that sitting tires create in the first place. Accelerate to the point it makes a functional difference in tire life? I dunno. But tires that don't get re-vulcanized by heat cycles are definitely at risk. Add in some UV exposure and oxidation and there is at least the ingredients for problems that you would just never see on a regularly used vehicle.

That said, I don't use tire covers. But what do I know?

 

[IBTripping]

Tires that sit are in greater peril than tires than move....  and sitting in the sun accelerates the problems that sitting tires create in the first place. Accelerate to the point it makes a functional difference in tire life? I dunno. But tires that don't get re-vulcanized by heat cycles are definitely at risk. Add in some UV exposure and oxidation and there is at least the ingredients for problems that you would just never see on a regularly used vehicle.

Easy solution. Regularly use your RV!!! 

 

[thesameguy]

Tell that to my boss!

 

[Gizmo100]

Tell that to my boss!

Just give us a phone number...We'll make sure you get plenty of time to use your RV ;D

 

[larrypowellnc]

I have a level concrete pad with a shed cover and 30 amp service at the end of my garage.  I drive my RV once a month for at lease 20 miles and run the generator 30 minutes each week (manufacturer recommends 2 hours a month).  The shed keeps my RV, toad and boat out of the sun (except for late in the day) and protects them from the weather.  Not an inexpensive investment but much less than having to repair or replace the RV.  I guess it pays to live on 5 acres on a private road.

 

[SargeW]

The one item I haven't seen mentioned yet that I believe is the most important of all. Storing a rig for a while in a grassy field can be an open invitation to mice and critters. Even the best RV's have small spaces that mice can get in and do an amazing amount of damage in a short period of time. The eat wiring, wood, and insulation without problem.  Efforts to keep them out can be futile, and a full time job. I recommend trying to find somewhere to store the rig that is not in the middle of a field.

 

[RedandSilver]

I park in my yard when home and on the grass. 
I made 2'x2'x1.5" boards for the tires to sit on.  It spreads the weigh out and I have one 2'x2' impression in the ground per wheel
instead of the 2 rear tires each making a deeper divot in the ground.

If I know it's going to sit a while I dump the air and may use the jacks if it's more than a little unlevel.
I also have blocks for those but keep in mind they will make a deeper divot especially if you put a lot of weight on them.

Don't forget your going to be mowing around it - at least I have to.
Also if kept there for a long time it will kill the grass under the MH.

I'm considering buying patio blocks and making a path to the MH door as sometimes the grass is still wet long after
the rain stops so my feet would be dryer and cleaner before I stepped into it - however I take my shoes off if they are not very very clean.

 

[Powerstroke2000]

Much depends on the owner of the RV it seems, but some good tips here on this post!  Our 37' Phaeton sits level on one side of our double driveway, leaving about 3' (4' from house - 3' from our cul-de sac).  I haven't put the jacks down, albeit I 'did' just run them up and down many times last week when adding Snap Pads, but I may leave them down after reading this post on taking the weight off of the springs.  Living here in southwestern Canada, I don't worry too much about the hot sun on the tires, albeit last summer I put wheel covers on the one side which got the afternoon & early evening sun.  I also put Aerospace 303 UV protectant on the tires occasionally, as well as on the rubber on each side of our slides.  I actually went up and cleaned my roof real well, and put a double coat of wax on the roof, to handle the harsh weather of the season.  I'm plugged in with 15 Amp, to keep the batteries up, and to use the lights if/when I go into our unit.  One thing I was wondering about is if anyone puts something inside to keep the humidity/moisture to a minimum, such as a dehumidifier, or even those little baskets with drysol in it?

 

[IBTripping]

I'm plugged in with 15 Amp, to keep the batteries up, and to use the lights if/when I go into our unit.  One thing I was wondering about is if anyone puts something inside to keep the humidity/moisture to a minimum, such as a dehumidifier, or even those little baskets with drysol in it?

I live in an area with high humidity during the warm season. So, I purchased a small dehumidifier. Let me also note that the humidity will be higher during any season when my TT is occupied due to cooking, people/pets breathing and sweating, etc. But, IMO I don't think things like drysol or spreading around clothing dryer sheets will make much difference in the humidity level, especially in my high humidity location.

I notice that some posters say "just my 2 cents." But my opinion is worth much more, say a tall draft beer.