Bus Parking Pad

[Bill 340]

Mung Back the bus in exactly where you want it to be,  On a fairly dry day of course, then pull it out, you will then see the tracks you made as they will be the most important places to reinforce ,  rebar oe scrap metal in the concrete and good drainage around the area,  we sunk a homedepot bucket in the ground behind the bus and put a sump punp in it, whater pumps away in 20 min following a heavy rain,   But parked on concrete,  good luck,  see you in Arcadia,

[mung]

Thanks Bill. It is funny because my wife said we need to measure, I said no, we need to park the bus where we want it and mark it.

[mung]

Wondering now if I should make the pads go across the bus at the axles to make sure I have a stable jacking area.  Seems like that would be better use of the concrete than running the length of the bus. 

[robertglines1]

need a extra parking pad for guest. Place to stay for working on bus.   Been in Ocola area for several years during winter.  Have seen several go down in sandy loam soil there.  FWIW  Bob

[mung]

I can fit one in the driveway, that is where mine is now.  Just have to park the cars in the grass.

Ocala is a LOT different than over in Melbourne.  Where I am sitting I am right next to a creek and 13' above sea level.  Mostly hard packed sand.

[MightyThor]

If you are planing to work under the bus you might consider pouring the concrete above grade thus giving you 6 or more inches of wiggle room along with that much additional room for jacks etc.  I have 10X10 inch steel plates that I use as bases for the jacks and I can move and remove them when not in use.  They travel with the bus cause I have sunk jacks into hot asphalt.  On a grass lawn the plates do sink in some, but not more than an inch or so and then up goes the bus.   On my bus the blocking and jacking points are pretty much in line with the wheels so a wide concrete track serves two purposes but still allows room under the center of the bus or motor home.

[sdc53]

PO of my house got his hands on some large concrete blocks (think cut up highway) reinforced with rebar and buried them in the dirt alongside the pole barn as RV parking. Over time they have bucked and heaved and are not entirely level anymore. I've considered digging up the center strip of them to give myself a trench of sorts to crawl under. It would be a puddle 9 months out of the year here in Oregon though.
I'd give consideration for sure to having a way to "park higher" for work underneath... Like some of the ideas I'm seeing here on that.

[MightyThor]

On the other hand you don't want things such that you drive off the pad and are stuck.

[mung]

You have a very valid point Thor, that is why I am thinking of doing the pads across the width of the axles instead of down the length of the bus.  The coquina can be down lower in the middle while still being high enough to drive on if I miss the pads.  But then again if I put it all of the way across it will be harder to get under the bus. 

I need to do some real engineering here to get everything to be the best for my situation. 

[pete36330]

Just finished pouring a 60'by 72' 6"concrete slab with rebar and concrete wire under a 60 by 72 pole barn with 14ft eaves, My crawling around in the dirt, mud, and sand are over with,, Going to have elec,heat and water too. Don't ask about cost ,I'm afraid to even think about what it cost. Good luck

[chessie4905]

   Just do it right the first time and pour a full size pad. Sure,it'll cost some bucks, but it'll be done right Useful even after you get out of busconversions if that might happen in future. Also probably be more beneficial if you ever sell your residence in future. Don't skimp on pad size. You may go to a 40 footer or larger in future when you can't pass up a fantastic deal.

[mung]

But what makes that right?  I mean if it is the best ROI for me I am not afraid to pour the whole pad, but is that the best for my situation?

[chessie4905]

   Your Decision-my opinion

[Oonrahnjay]

Just finished pouring a 60'by 72' 6"concrete slab with rebar and concrete wire under a 60 by 72 pole barn with 14ft eaves, My crawling around in the dirt, mud, and sand are over with,, Going to have elec,heat and water too. Don't ask about cost ,I'm afraid to even think about what it cost. Good luck   

    Having recently done a 22x48 (6", deeper "footing" edge) slab, I don't want to think about it either!   Sounds like you're going a have a super setup. 

[Oonrahnjay]

   Duplicate - please excuse  ...