What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site
- What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Store
- What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Sites
- What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Near Me
- What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Will
- What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Will
- What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Sites Near Me
Electric Hookups. Electric RV hookups power your entire vehicle’s electrical system. This is what allows you to use lights, AC, heat, appliances and any indoor or outdoor outlets. Electric hookups are offered at most parks and campgrounds, although they may only be offered as either 30 or 50-amp hookups. In this case, you may need a converter. At an RV park or a campground, you’ll either park on a natural surface like dirt, grass, or gravel, or you’ll park on a paved pad. Pads range from 10 to 12 feet wide and vary in length from 20 to 45 feet. What can you do to get the best RV parking spots? We are nearly 69′ when hooked up (45′ 5th heel towed by a full-size, double-rear-axle semi truck). I always use Google satellite view to measure the actual length of a site. Here’s how: 1) Change to satellite view. Zoom in on the map about as far as it will go. 2) Using the mouse, click on one end of the driveway/site. Rv hookup - If you are a middle-aged man looking to have a good time dating woman half your age, this advertisement is for you. Register and search over 40 million singles: chat. How to get a good.
RV hookups can make or break your camping experience — and no, we’re not talking about “hookups” of the romantic kind. (Though come to think of it, those would certainly have an effect, too.)
For our purposes, though, we’re talking about the ways you connect your RV to the amenities that might be available at your campsite, like water, electricity, and cable television. After all, the whole point of RVing is bringing creature comforts to camping; even the most scenic vista in the world is improved with freshly-brewed coffee, your favorite shows watched from a comfy couch complete with a cozy throw blanket, and, of course, air conditioning.
RV hookups might seem pretty darn self-explanatory. You just plug your rig into the amenities and you’re done, right?
Well, it’s certainly not rocket science — but there are a few things you should know in order to make your RV hookup experience even easier and more efficient.
So whether it’s your first time and you’re looking to familiarize yourself with the setup before you get to the campground, or you’re an old hat looking forward to a trip in a new make or model of RV, here’s the skinny on RV hookups and what you need to know about them.
RV Camping
Before we dive into the details about full RV hookups, let’s get one very important thing settled upfront: not all campgrounds offer them!
Camping without RV hookups, otherwise known as dispersed camping or boondocking, is one of the best ways to experience some of the wilder, more untouched areas of the country. However, it also means working hard to conserve your water, as well as potentially running a noisy, smelly generator if you want access to electric power.
This brings us back to RV parks that offer hookups, which provide a source of water, power, and sometimes even cable TV and WiFi so you don’t have to worry about “roughing it” while you’re in your camper.
Main RV Hookups
Which hookups are available will depend on what kind of park you’re staying in. For example, privately-owned, resort-style campgrounds usually offer the full monty, including water, power, and RV sewer hookups, too. More modest public campgrounds may offer some, but not all amenities, or only offer 30 amps of power (as opposed to the 50 amps a large Class A motorhome might draw).
We’ll talk more about how to find great campgrounds with full hookups in a moment — and even save you some money in the bargain. But for now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
What Are RV Hookups?
There are three basic RV hookups that take care of the “essentials,” and a few extras that may or may not be offered depending on the poshness of the campground you visit.
Let’s start with the basics.
RV Electric Hookup
If an RV park is going to offer any kind of hookup, it’s likely to be this one: shore power.
When it comes to an RV electric hookup, it is pretty much as simple as plug and play, but it’s important to power down all your electronics before you do so — just in case the campground’s power source has any faulty wiring that might fry your electronics. You can also invest in a polarity tester to ease your mind before you plug in, as well as routing your devices through surge protectors just like you would at home.
Another important note: RVs draw different amounts of power, or amps, depending on size and design. Your rig might come with a 30 amp plug (three prongs) or a 50 amp plug (four prongs), and you may need to invest in a converter if the site you’re staying at doesn’t offer an exact match. Keep in mind, too, that if you can only draw 30 amps of power, you’ll be able to use fewer electric goodies at once — makes sense, of course, but it’s a good reminder!
RV Water Hookup
Next on the list: water. With an RV water hookup, you can run your kitchen and bathroom sinks, flush your RV toilet, and even shower on board without worrying about using up your fresh water supply. However, when you go to connect your hose, there are a few things you should know.
First off, if you’re planning on drinking your tap water (ensure it’s from a potable source first!), or even just brushing your teeth with it, it’s wise to invest in a certified potable water hose, which won’t impart any funky odors or flavors to your H2O. The good news is, a drinking water hose is easy to spot — it’s always pure white in color!
Other accessories that’ll protect your RV’s plumbing and improve the quality of your water include a water pressure regulator and a filter system.
RV Sewer Hookup
When you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go — and the same is true for your RV!
While some campgrounds offer RV sewer hookups at each site, many opt instead for a centralized dump station, which is both easier for the park to manage and honestly more sensible for the camper, too. You never want to leave your holding tank valves open, so you’d still only be dumping your tank about once a week or so — which is about how often most campers pick up and move anyway!
No matter which options your campground offers, just be sure to invest in a high-quality RV sewer hose. That’s one piece of equipment you don’t want to run into any trouble with. 😉
Hookup Sites
As we discussed above, not all campgrounds have hookups. And campsites with full RV hookups are sometimes pretty darn expensive — like up to $75 per night or more, depending on when and where you’re traveling.
That’s why we recommend all campers pick up a Passport America membership, which gets you 50% off your campsite accommodation fees at almost 1900 RV parks across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Many of those parks offer luxurious amenities as well as full hookups, and at less than $50 for your whole year’s membership, it’ll easily pay for itself the very first time you use it.
So there you have it, campers: everything you didn’t know you needed to know about RV hookups! Now you’re ready to go… so what are you waiting for?
This post may contain affiliate links.
Looking for more helpful tips? Check out How to Set Up Your RV at a Campground the First Time
RV ownership is on the rise. There are almost 10 million RVs on the road today. This has opened opportunities for people interested in opening their own RV park. Whether it’s a campground around a tourist destination or a long-term snowbird park, now is the time to think about developing your own campground.
There are many different things that are involved with building and maintaining your own campground. One of the first things you want to consider when trying to find the right piece of land is how many acres are needed for an RV park.
How Many Acres Are Needed for an RV Park?
The required acreage needed for an RV park depends on a few different things. The first thing you have to consider is how many campsites will make you profitable. You have to assume that you may not become the number one campground in the country. What is the minimum you need to be filled regularly to keep you financially solvent?
Another issue is the municipality’s permit requirements. They may have a minimum requirement that must be met. Cañon City, a town in rural Colorado, requires a minimum of 3 acres of land for RV parks within their city limits.
Nye County in Nevada has a maximum requirement that an RV park cannot be more than 15 acres in size. There is legislation they are considering to reduce the size to 12 acres. You must be very aware of the municipality’s requirements and the possible changes they may be making.
If you plan on franchising with a major brand, their requirements can be higher. To franchise with KOA, the minimum acreage is at least 10 acres of land. Usually, you will find those franchise requirements exceed municipal permit requirements.
Private Versus Franchise
There are advantages and disadvantages on whether to go the franchise route or keep your park private. The advantage of franchising is that you are affiliated with a recognizable brand name. Part of the deal with them is that they will direct their customers to your campground.
Franchising also offers advantages like training managers, software, and other benefits that you do not have to figure out for yourself.
What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Store
The disadvantage is that they have a fee schedule you must adhere to. Also, you may have to do things their way. They may have rules that require a bigger investment than you are prepared for. The brand may also have requirements that conflict with the municipality’s permit regulations.
For example, KOA requires their franchise owners to have a minimum of 70 to 90 campsites. That may be a problem if you do not have the necessary acreage to handle this requirement.
The Steele Family, who rebuilt a closed RV park decided to do it on their own. They had to learn the business on their own. After years of hard work, they have become one of the best campgrounds in Pennsylvania. For them, staying private gave them the freedom to develop their own way. Yet their journey to success was different than if they were to have franchised their RV park.
The Cost of Opening an RV Park
The average cost of a campsite can be anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 a piece. This venture can add up into the $1-3 million range depending on your acreage size. This cost includes purchasing the land, municipal permits, improving the land with utilities, and other points of concern.
Belinda Lopez owns multiple RV parks in the State of Texas. Her advice to those who are looking to own their own park is to get friendly with the local lenders. Her perspective behind this has to do with the idea that the lender knows the area.
Local lenders want to promote business in their area. Besides lending, they can also connect you with groups in the area that can help promote your campground. Other lenders may offer a better rate, but the tradeoff could be increased business and marketing opportunities.
Municipal Permits for an RV Park
One of the biggest hurdles of opening an RV park is getting the proper permits from the city or county governing board. Getting in touch with the zoning board or township supervisor should be one of your first priorities. Their departments are the ones that issue the permits.
You will need to become familiar with all of their regulations concerning how your park is developed. They can have a very detailed list of requirements that must be met. Your building plans may have to go through the approval process with the municipality before your break ground.
Generally, if your RV park is near an urban area, you will run into a more strict development requirement than a rural area. With a developed business plan that covers all of their regulations, crossing the permit hurdle can be easier.
Many municipal regulations cover all types of issues. Here are some things to consider, not only to pass the permit requirements, but also to make your campground more appealing.
What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Sites
#1 – Number of Campsites per Acre
A general rule of thumb is to have 10 sites per acre. Some municipalities will limit the number of sites between 10-15. Many permit requirements give minimum measurements of how wide and how long each site should be.
When you decide how many sites to create, think about larger motorhomes and fifth wheels. They can be as long as 40 feet and have multiple slide-outs. You want to make sure there is enough room between the campsites to accommodate the length and widths of these coaches.
Your guests want to have enough space for their RV to enjoy the experience without feeling they are on top of each other. To add to the appeal, landscaping options or the ability to add fire pits could benefit your RV park.
#2 – Campsite Ground Conditions
You may have to provide proper parking surfaces on each lot. This could include having stones, asphalt, or cement pads that the RVs sit on. There are also requirements out there that say up to 80% of the campsite must be improved like this.
RVers always prefer flat, stable surfaces to park their coaches on. It helps with leveling the jacks. Many enjoy having a cement porch area that keeps the mud out of their camper as well.
#3 – Sewer
Sewer requirements could include connecting to the city sewer system or installing a big enough septic tank to handle a defined amount of waste. They could require one central dumping station, or allow sewer hook up on each site.
If you are given the option, RVers are willing to pay extra for a full hookup site that has water, electric and sewer. The extra effort to lay the sewer line could pay off.
#4 – Freshwater
Freshwater pipes will have requirements to handle proper pressure and follow health requirements.
#5 – Electric
Electric wiring must meet certain amperage, volt, and watt standards. Permit regulations may require you to have both 30 and 50 amp service. To install this properly, you will want to consult a professional service to construct your electric grid.
Placement of the electric boxes is also a common discussion point in municipal regulations. They must be placed within certain areas of the campsite, have the proper breakers, and other details. RVers will have a big demand for electricity. Even though they are on vacation, they will want their mobile devices, TVs, and computers. You will want to make sure your electric service can handle all of this electrical usage.
#6 – Cable TV
If you decide to offer Cable TV, permitted requirements may be applied. Certain cabling and ports must be used.
There are companies you can contact to set up your cable throughout the RV park. They have the experience to make sure that you are in compliance with the municipal rules.
Over-the-air HD antennas still receive the signals of broadcast stations, but your guests would be happy to pay a little extra to receive the clear picture of cable. Your local cable company can work with you to design an affordable basic cable situation your guests will enjoy.
#7 – WiFi
Many campers are “cutting the cord” with traditional TV and internet connections. If they are not using a satellite dish, they are relying on cellular technology to access streaming services and the internet.
Like cable setups, there are companies that can create your WiFi network. They can make sure that your park is fully covered with enough bandwidth to handle the data from multiple users. Permit requirements may discuss hub placement and other details. Having WiFi may also benefit your business as well. Your guests are going to be taking pictures of their vacation and posting them on their social media pages. When your guests do this, they are promoting your campground as well.
What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Near Me
#8 – Software and Accounting
There are many software packages out there that are designed specifically for all of your RV park needs. Programs like Civicrec can manage your reservations, rental contracts, facility rental, and accounting. Some of these programs can offer an e-commerce option where your guests can go online and reserve their campsite through your website. Having this convenience could make your operation that much easier.
What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Will
#9 – Convenience Store and Other Permanent Structures
Permanent structures must follow both the permit and building codes. Some requirements can limit the number of structures based on their purpose. For example, one municipality allows for only one convenience store type facility. This could be your front office having a store in it for camping supplies.
Other structures like public restrooms and showers will need to meet certain health requirements. For additional appeal, you may want to pay attention to the interior design. Clean restrooms that look comfortable are a benefit that your guests will enjoy.
Finding the Right Land
What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Site Will
Finding the right piece of property has become easier to find. Many sellers post their land and developed RV parks on a number of websites. Some include Loop Net, RV Park Store, and Parks and Places. On these websites, you can find costs, the number of campsites, and other amenities of the location.
When looking for your perfect property, look at the access roads to the land. You want to make sure that your guests can easily access your RV park. Full paved roads that are close to the highway or main streets are more appealing.
Marketing
In this age of the internet, social media has become the best way to promote your RV Park. Some owners have worked with companies that can make literature to hand out at RV shows and other events.
If you go the franchise route, the company will do a lot of the marketing for you.
What Size Pad Full Hookup Rv Sites Near Me
Another thing to consider is if your campground is not near a tourist attraction, have space to hold your own special events. Family reunions, holiday festivities, and appealing to various groups like the Boy Scouts can build your appeal for potential campers.