How to Prepare Your Home For Parking an RV?

If you’re an RV enthusiast who likes to bring your home on wheels with you wherever you go, then the chances are good that you’ll need to park in your driveway from time to time. Preparing your residential property for recreational vehicles can be tricky, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps necessary to get your driveway ready for an RV. Let’s get hit the road!

Check-In With Your Neighbors & HOA

When you’re not out exploring in your RV, you can save money and time by parking it at home. When preparing your driveway for an RV, the first thing you’ll want to do is check in with your neighbors, homeowners association, and local municipality. This is especially important if you live in a neighborhood with strict parking regulations.

Start by reviewing your town’s municipal code regarding residential parking. While the local government rarely dictates what you can do on your private property, the code does have authority over the public spaces touching your property, including local roads and sidewalks. You should make sure you have enough room to park your RV at home without blocking fire hydrants, sidewalks, crosswalks, or roadways.

If your neighborhood has a homeowners association, find out if there are any rules or regulations you need to follow when parking an RV on your residential property. Some HOAs have strict guidelines about the size and type of vehicles parked on city streets or in driveways. Checking before you build will save you time and money.

Regardless of your neighborhood code or city rules, it’s always kind to check in with the adjacent property owner before storing an RV in your driveway. Let them know that you’ll be parking an RV at your house. If they have any concerns, work together to find a solution to make everyone happy.

Prepare the Space

Once you’ve confirmed that it’s okay to park your travel trailer in your driveway, it’s time to start preparing the space. You’ll want to make sure the ground is level so your RV doesn’t shift and cause damage when you’re parked. Inspect the area for cracks or uneven spots that could trip people or damage your tires.

If you have a steep driveway you’ll need to raise it to a more level gradient or invest in strong tire blocks.

Once you have a level location, you need to create a solid concrete or stone foundation that can support the weight of your RV.

When you’re looking for a suitable space, make sure you measure your RV’s length, width, and height.

Even if you have the space on your driveway, consider any plants or trees blocking your parking space. Trim them or remove them to ensure adequate room for your camping trailers.

Build a Shelter

If you want to keep your RV in tip-top shape, you’ll need to build a shelter to protect it from the elements.

If you have a large enough garage for an RV, you’re in luck. If you, like most people, don’t have a big enough garage, you can quickly build a DIY RV carport that addresses all of your coverage requirements.

A basic carport can be built relatively cheaply and will protect your RV from sun damage, hail, and other natural elements. If you live in an area with severe weather conditions, you might need to build a more extensive shelter.

To get started, buy an RV carport kit. These DIY packages usually come with the necessary materials, including sheet metal, support beams, and fastening tools. You’ll still need to prepare the ground and build any barrier walls you want for aesthetic purposes.

Figure Out Utilities

If you or someone else will be using the RV as a primary residence, you’ll need to supply electricity, water, and sewage. Even if you’re using it for temporary living quarters, you might still need the option for electricity at least.

For electricity, you have a few different options. The most common choice is to connect it to your residential electric system. An extension cord works fine for essential RV functions.

Still, you’ll need to have a professional electrician establish an official electrical hookup if someone will be establishing their primary residence there. Large appliances like the washing machine and air conditioner can’t run on an extension cord alone. 

Similar options exist for water connections. Connecting the RV to a spigot on your house via a potable water adapter is easy but doesn’t supply large volumes of water. To operate the shower or RV washing machine, you’ll hire a plumber that can install a hookup.

Last but certainly not least is waste disposal. If your home has its own septic system, you can attach your RV to it. That’s only necessary if you’ll be using the RV as a primary residence. People with less waste can simply transport the black water tank to a safe site as needed.

Leave Room For Maintenance

You should always leave a little extra room on your driveway whenever you’re parking recreational vehicles. That way, you can easily access the different parts of the vehicle for routine maintenance and keep it in top condition.

When you’re planning where to park your RV, make sure you’ll be able to open all the doors and hatches. You need to be able to walk around the RV to inspect it and clean it.

You also need to be able to access the engine. That means you shouldn’t park too close to a wall or another vehicle. In general, you should try to leave about two feet of space on all sides of the RV.

Most importantly, make sure that you can get your RV out of its parking spot as easily as you got it into the parking spot.

Residential RV Parking Made Easy

If you’re lucky enough to have an RV and want to be able to park it at home, there are a few things you need to do to make the experience go smoothly. By preparing your driveway for an RV and checking in with your nearby private residences and HOA, you can ensure that everyone is on board and knows what to expect.

Then, by sealing your driveway and connecting the necessary utilities, you can set yourself up for years of comfortable parking. Just be sure to leave room for maintenance, and you’ll be all set! Have you ever parked your RV at home? What tips would you add?

Home Base Project Team
Home Base Project Team
At The Home Base Project, we offer practical, real-life tips and inspiration about DIY, decorating and gardening. The Home Base Project provide the best information about home renovation and design, connecting home design enthusiasts and home professionals across the world.