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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: Mark of Houston on April 22, 2015, 11:08:35 pm

Title: Parking base for 1989 (split from another topic)
Post by: Mark of Houston on April 22, 2015, 11:08:35 pm

I spent the last two days clearing a space for it..  I've got a dump truck delivering 12 yards of Limestone at noon tomorrow.
 
My plans are..  Friday ,  install batteries, run over check list, and get it started.

Then Saturday or Sunday, drive it home..  :P  :P

Title: Re: Parking base for 1989 (split from another topic)
Post by: nitehawk on April 22, 2015, 11:52:38 pm
Just out of curiosity: what will be under the limestone? Our coach is a 36' GV and our asphalt driveway is about 12 years old, 3"+ thick, with crushed rotten granite underneath. Our rear jacks have coined down into the blacktop, even tho I have 16" dia by 3/4" thick solid steel discs under the jack pads. When I say coined down I mean that there are two depressions about 1-3/4" deep. The rear duals also have sunk the asphalt.
Oh, under the rotten granite is pure sand all the way down to hell, as far as I know.
I made some ramps for the front because our drive slopes down quite a bit. I used 2"x12" planks stood on edge and sandwiched 6 planks wide. Overall length of each ramp is 5' and I also made sandwiched blocks for the front jacks. 2"x8" stood on edge, sandwiched 5 wide and 16" long.
All the above things done to lessen the coach sinking any deeper.
Newest project is cutting a pad 8" deep where the rear wheels and jacks sit and filling it with 6 bag rebarred concrete. The pad will be 96" wide x 84" long x 8" deep.
Title: Re: Parking base for 1989 (split from another topic)
Post by: Mark of Houston on April 23, 2015, 08:51:26 am
Hey Nighthawk,

Yeah..  lots of limestone for my base...(not using crushed) the ground beneath is sand and dirt with
East Texas Gumbo "hard clay" a foot below... someday I'll finish it with concrete or asphalt.

Your undercut pad sounds like a good idea..  I would consider another foot each side wider if you
have the funds.  The wheels will be sitting on the outskirts of that 96" width.. every foot wider
will make a huge difference,    just my 2 cents..  I'm a retired general contractor.
I admit, I tend to overkill every thing I do, ...... Yah, and lots of rebar  :)


Just out of curiosity: what will be under the limestone? Our coach is a 36' GV and our asphalt driveway is about 12 years old, 3"+ thick, with crushed rotten granite underneath. Our rear jacks have coined down into the blacktop, even tho I have 16" dia by 3/4" thick solid steel discs under the jack pads. When I say coined down I mean that there are two depressions about 1-3/4" deep. The rear duals also have sunk the asphalt.
Oh, under the rotten granite is pure sand all the way down to hell, as far as I know.
I made some ramps for the front because our drive slopes down quite a bit. I used 2"x12" planks stood on edge and sandwiched 6 planks wide. Overall length of each ramp is 5' and I also made sandwiched blocks for the front jacks. 2"x8" stood on edge, sandwiched 5 wide and 16" long.
All the above things done to lessen the coach sinking any deeper.
Newest project is cutting a pad 8" deep where the rear wheels and jacks sit and filling it with 6 bag rebarred concrete. The pad will be 96" wide x 84" long x 8" deep.
Title: Re: Parking base for 1989 (split from another topic)
Post by: turbojack on April 23, 2015, 05:35:37 pm
Mark, what side of Houston do you live on?  I am leaving for Austin in morning but will be back Monday.
Title: Re: Parking base for 1989 (split from another topic)
Post by: Mark of Houston on April 23, 2015, 06:10:53 pm
Mark, what side of Houston do you live on?  I am leaving for Austin in morning but will be back Monday.

Hey Jack,

I'm in east Houston..  but the coach is in Conroe Texas..  I should have it here by Sunday if
everything pans out.. :)

I've got to get a tractor now to level out the limestone pad..  I am going to fire up
the coach Friday (tomorrow)  I think I've got someone showing up that's a Detroit mechanic
an so was his Dad for 33 years..  He specialized in Detroit's.  It will be smooth sailing if he shows up :)
I've been knowing him for a couple years..  if he gets rained out tomorrow, he'll be there for sure.
There is a God... :)  :)