bajapapa
Newbie
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Registered: 4-22-2017
Location: BOLA
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Concrete slab under trailer?
Going to place a permanent trailer,about 27' long on my sandy lot at BOLA.
I am planning to have a large PATIO SLAB out front. I will hook up to my Septic Tank,Fresh water tank,and electric.
-- Do I need a concrete slab UNDER the trailer? What are the pros and cons?
Many Thanks
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Pro's are many. Major con is the wind will erode sand, at will, under the trailer.
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
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Do it...
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Russ
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I agree with B&S.... getting your trailer strapped down is a really good idea. Having it up off the tires is good too and if you skirt the trailer
where the tires are they'll be better protected from sun. If you have a dog it'll love to get under and dig a cool hole for the hot days.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Sonotube. I poured pads for the jacks to sit on. The sand still goes and goes wherever it wants to.
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bajabuddha
Banned
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Location: Baja New Mexico
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Having a pad and 4 rebar tie-downs is a good thing. More stabile, you'll only level and block once. Sauna tubes and simple footers will shift in
moving sand more than a pad will. Also if it's an elevated pad you can anchor to it with skirting and have potential out-of-weather storage
underneath with no worry of weather damage. As long as you're pouring a large patio slab, a few more yards of mud won't upset the apple cart. The
only drawback is materials cost... but as long as you're pouring, utilize the '6 P's' and do it right. I'd slab if it's soft sand, and use plenty of
rebar, and don't go thin. It's only money, right? That's also an equity builder as well. Also block and level on good quality concrete blocks with
2x8x18 spacers in between each; a 27' trailer should have at least 3 pedestals on each side, and pull the wheels off. you can lay 'em down under the
axles on the slab for storage out of the sun. 4 cables with turnbuckles from the frame to the tie-down loops and you're good to go for most big
winds.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
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What he said
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mtgoat666
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I don't have a trailer, but have visited friends with such, and seen a bunch more in rural baja. I would choose a paved pad. But more importantly,
in BOLA I would build a shade structure, elevated patio (grade matching trailer floor), and put in some xeriscape plants to take the edge off the
wasteland aesthetic, and provide a bit of windbreak.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
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You can't take it with you - spend it if you got it.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Bajapapa, welcome to the Nomad board!
Here's what we have in Bahia; Our slab is 6" thick reinforced with malla ( 6"x6" steel mesh that comes in a big roll). It's 35'x35', raised
foundation. The trailer is anchored to the slab. We have a deck above the trailer held up by 12x12 concrete columns, and shade over the front and back
sides of the patio. Shade is your friend.
Many years ago our trailer was on the sand and it sucked. Between the sand building up under the trailer due to Bahia's wind, mice, rattlesnakes,
coyote dens, stray dogs, spiders and scorpions, then rain wash outs, did I say it sucked?
We tried using La Gringa rock in thick layers to keep sand covered, but found it only lasted maybe a season or two before the sand took over.
Now that we are up on the slab we've eliminated all those issues. It's clean, varmit free, easy to go under the trailer. We sleep up on the deck in
the summer, have two shaded patios to have a nice place to sit out of the wind no matter the direction it blows.
P>*)))>{
[Edited on 29-4-2017 by Paulina]
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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smile4menow222
Newbie
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Registered: 4-2-2017
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soooooooo... what did you do? I am in the process of doing the same thing and found this post... great info!
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