How to Pour a Concrete RV Pad

For any RV sized slab you'll need to work with a mixing truck.

It's a lot nicer to park an RV on a concrete pad instead of on the bare ground. Parking on a concrete pad prevents the RV's tires from rotting and keeps the level of moisture on the underside of the body down, extending the lifespan of the RV and protecting your substantial investment in it. It also makes parking and leveling easier. If you have a little bit of time and don't mind some physical labor, pour your own pad.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Iron Rake
• A 100 foot tape
• 4 stakes
• Level
• Hand saw
• Hammer
• Nails
• 6 2-by-6 totaling greater than the linear footage of the pad
• Steel Mesh equal to the square footage of the pad
• A 2-by-4 shorter than the width of the pad
• Push Broom

Instructions

Preparing The Pad

1. Layout the concrete pad. The pad should be approximately 2 feet wider and 4 feet longer than the RV. Put stakes in the four corners to get a visual.

2. Prepare the ground. Dig down six inches and level the ground. Make a hole 6 inches to 1 foot wider that the pad's footprint.

3. Build the form. Re-stake the corners, then recheck the length, width and square. Lay 2-by-6 boards out for the form with the ends flush against each other. Use scrap wood between 1 and 2 feet long as backers to connect the boards where two ends meet. Nail the corners together with heavy duty nails. Run a string around the form to keep the sides straight.

4. Backfill the form. Using the dirt removed from the hole, thoroughly bury the outside edge of the form. Backfilling the form prevents the concrete from bowing when you pour, providing clean straight edges.

5. Cover the entire inside of the pad with steel mesh. Steel mesh adds strength to the concrete.

Pouring The Pad

1. Determine the amount of concrete you'll need in cubic yards. Convert the width, height, and length into yards. Multiply the height by the width, then multiply your total by the length. Call a concrete plant and schedule a time for it to be delivered in a mixing truck.

2. Get the right mix. When the truck arrives, let the driver know you want a fairly dry mix; one with a greater ratio of concrete to water. A dry mix will be harder to put in and level, but it will be stronger than a wet one.

3. Pour the concrete in the form. As the concrete comes out of the truck level it with an iron rake. Use the form as a guide and check for level regularly. Pick up the steel mesh, so it is in the middle of the concrete. Work fast, as the concrete begins to set it becomes harder to work.

4. Flatten the concrete. Using a 2-by-4 slightly shorter than the width of the pad, vertically giggle the concrete, this will flatten it out, make the surface creamy, and easier to work. With the 2-by-4, horizontally screed the top of the concrete to smooth out any remaining rough spots.

5. Finish the surface. To finish the surface the concrete needs to harden; it should be hard enough to hold itself together, but not hard enough to walk on. Once it has hardened, run a push broom across the width of the pad. Keep the broom as straight as possible and leave an inch of overlap between passes.

6. The next day, remove the form and backfill dirt against the pad edge. Wait another week before parking your RV on it, as it continues to harden.

Tips & Warnings

• Working with concrete is very physically demanding and time sensitive. You should have at least two physically able people to pour a pad.

References

• ACE Hardware: Pouring Concrete
• Concrete Network: Build a High Quality Slab on Grade