Padlin
W. Ma.
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Joined: 06/15/2006
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I have heard that it is undesirable to park your trailer on grass/dirt for long term storage as opposed to a gravel or hard top spot. Is there any truth to this or am I alright parking mine in the yard when not in use?
Thanks
Bob & Deb
W Ma.
04 GMC 1500 4X4, 5.3L
06 Starcraft 18SB
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sele
illinois
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Joined: 03/05/2005
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I park mine on Gravel, gravel packs better the just dirt and it won't be muddy around the f'ver.
scott
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rconkin
Johnson City, TN
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Joined: 05/09/2007
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I parked a pickup that I did not drive much on grass and it rusted so bad underneath that the guy putting new shocks on it asked me if it had been up north. I was told that a lot of moisture comes off the grass and that is what causes it. I don't know if it is true, but it makes sense and I won't do it again.
97 2500 CTD, US Gear Exhaust Brake, Prime-Loc, Silencer Ring removed
02 Jayco Eagle 305BHS
"For those that fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know!" Semper Fi
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JimInMA
Littleton, MA
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Joined: 07/27/2008
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I park mine on dirt and it isn't a problem - at least not for the TT. The biggest problem is that the ground is soft so over time the TT will start sinking in. A couple of 6' long pressure treated 2"x10"s under the tires helps.
The only other "issue" is that you end up tracking grass slippings and such into the TT. You walk across the lawn, stuff sticks to the bottom of your shoes, it gets left on the TT floor. It just means I have to vacum/sweep more often than if I had it parked on a hard surface.
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Terryallan
NC
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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Been parking my campers in the yard, not grass any more. It all died under the TT. For 25 years. Anyway. I put 3 paving squares on each side, and back the tire up on them. but it is still dirt under the TT. Hasn't bothered any of them yet.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
04 F150, 5.4, Lariat SuperCab
Lazy Campers
NC
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PGR_Skye
Indiana
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Joined: 11/11/2007
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We park our 5th wheel in the yard and put what looks like big plywood squares under the tires. Just like JimInMa, we have to walk through wet grass sometimes and get grass clippings in it. Next time we have gravel brought in we are going to dump a lot where we normally park it.
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Padlin
W. Ma.
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Terryallan wrote:Been parking my campers in the yard, not grass any more. It all died under the TT. For 25 years. Anyway. I put 3 paving squares on each side, and back the tire up on them. but it is still dirt under the TT. Hasn't bothered any of them yet.
I'm really just concerned with rust due to moisture from the ground. Have you noticed any more then normal? if it hasn't been a problem in 25 years I won't worry about it.
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JimInMA
Littleton, MA
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Padlin wrote: I'm really just concerned with rust due to moisture from the ground. Have you noticed any more then normal? if it hasn't been a problem in 25 years I won't worry about it.
Personally, I don't see it as an issue. I'd have a hard time swallowing the idea that the humidity level is much different between parking in the lawn or parking on pavement that is 3' from the lawn.
If you do park on the lawn the grass under the trailer is going to die. Eventually you'll get some dirt splashing up when you get a heavy rain (mostly on the wheels/tires and stabilizer jacks) and that probably doesn't help with rust and such. But you can hose the undercarriage off once a month or so and deal with it.
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itsalleasy
USA
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Joined: 07/20/2007
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JimInMA wrote:I'd have a hard time swallowing the idea that the humidity level is much different between parking in the lawn or parking on pavement that is 3' from the lawn.
No moisture is going to get thru pavement or cement, it will evaporate from dirt every time it rains.
I looked at a Nova that had been parked next to a garage for several years. Body looked real good, kind of dull original paint, only a few spots of rust from paint chips or small scratches. Underneath you could poke your finger thru the floor pan in places. The moisture evaporates out of the ground, first thing it hits is the bottom of the vehicle. On hot summer days it doesn't matter but in spring and fall when it is cool and rainy it never dries out.
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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Padlin wrote:I have heard that it is undesirable to park your trailer on grass/dirt for long term storage as opposed to a gravel or hard top spot. Is there any truth to this or am I alright parking mine in the yard when not in use?
Thanks
Outside of the sinking of the TT into dirt which will trap some moisture that might be there for extended period of time as long as there is good drainage it might be O.K. However, your ground should freeze and if you get indentations in the ground from the tires that water freezing right next to tires closely packed even slightly in the ground can't be as good as getting those tires out of that environment. I would think about marking where your tires are normally and then putting in at least a gravel or hard pad out of concrete pavers for the tires to set on for extended periods of time. I put a gravel drive next to my house for my TT which ties into my concrete drive way and asphalt private drive.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
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