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Parking on grass
Does anyone have any good advice about parking on grass? We are going to an event where we will try to keep all 8 wheels on pavement, but there may be some grass parking. The only advice I’ve ever gotten about parking 50,000 lbs supports on 8 tires has been just don’t do it. I get the common sense parts of needing a level transition to the grass, making sure the ground is very firm, etc. But, how much will one of our vehicles sink into even solid ground. Is it just a bad idea to go off pavement?
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16 Replies
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I have been on grass a number of times. I am not saying that is OK, just that I have done so and at least so far I haven’t needed a tow truck.
Some venues are going to be parking on grass only such as at races, large rallies or conventions, etc. But the risk you take is if the ground is soft or if you experience heavy rains you could be in trouble. So far the only time I was on grass and came close to having an issue was one night I woke up about 2 or 3 in the morning due to heavy rains beating on the roof. I realized I could be in trouble so I unhooked and drove onto the road. I later learned I was lucky because by morning everyone else was stuck and needed a tow.
FWIW I wouldn’t land my last plane on grass no matter how glowing the recommendation. You have no assurance there will be no risk associated with going off a hard surface.
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I’ve had to park on grass fairly often. Agree with Jon. As long as it stays fairly dry, the worst of it is an accumulation of grass/dirt on your entry rug. I’ve been pulled out one time at a race venue by the track’s backhoe. However, if you’re parking where none have gone before, it’s a good idea to walk it first and attempt the high ground spot.
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We too have been parked on Grass numerous times… like everyone says make sure the ground is solid.
We almost had a big problem as I was running the aquahot for hot water and the aquahot exhaust vents straight down to the ground on our Vantare and the grass was badly burned under the ehaust pipe…glad I noticed and turned it off promptly… check your genset exhaust too… most people parking on grass are running their generators !! Be careful.
Diane
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We were at the Perry, GA FMCA Rally in March and the first few days rained enough that we had to wade through about 2 inches of water to get out of the door. The road in front of us turned in to a mudsling before the week was over. The last of the week was nice and the ground dried up but the road was still a mess. On the day to depart I waited until those around me and behind me had left and suprisingly the grass area was in good shape. I was able to lift the tag axle and turn around and find a solid path to the paved road, but would have had a problem using the road in front of the coach.
We also stay at Palmetto Cove in South Carolina. It has paved roads but all grass parking and we have never had a problem even in rain.
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Drove my bosses new 82 Prevost to south Texas in 1983 to a Pigeon Shoot. He was supposed to come down the next day. Raining when I got there parked on the grass with a few other class A motorhomes. It rained straight down all night and next morning that puppy had sunk about 4 inches into ground. Needless to say I was there a few days waiting on it to dry out enough to move her out. One of the Class A’s was with me “stuck”. There was a dozer there to pull us out and Boss said no way. After second day the Winnie went for it with dozer. Like to have pulled the front end off. Never again if it’s raining with mine.
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parking on grass is fine but if it rains make sure you are not on any incline and I mean zero.
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One other thing about parking on grass….and it only involves parking for any length of time……grass weeps moisture and will cause premature rust.
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As a general rule of thumb it is not a good idea.
One year, in Hutchison Kansas FMCA had a rally and 4-5 inches of rain. Farmers cleaned up
by coming to town and pulling everyone out with chains. They even sold T-Shirts that read:
“I survived Hutchison.”
It doesn’t take much to put you in the foot-patrol.
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2006 at FMCA Rally Charlotte Motor Speedway.. Me in the red Marathon, never again!
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FMCA, Hutchison Ks, 2002. Level grass, baseball diamond left field, five inches of rain in 2 1/2 days, 50,000 lbs of Country Coach XL 2 slide sunk into the earth 2 inches, without moving. Sunk another 3, trying to move. John Deere 8 tire articulated tractor chained to our hitch ball pulled us backwards with me steering coach, light throttle in reverse to allow bus fluid movement, dragged to dry ground. Not ever, nowhere, regardless what any say, NEVER again purposely parking a Prevost on grass. Photo to follow when we get to the office
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I’ve parked on grass dozens of times. Walk the site before you drive it. Watch for settlement an hour or so after parking. Then be aware of any rain event. In the past decade, I’ve gotten stuck only once and was able to get out with some 2x12s under the drive wheels. Once at Bonaroo I left a day early due to rain.
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Becaful even if it does not rain ,if you let gray water go on grass, if it comes out in front of drive tires you could get stuck
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Just about 3 weeks ago I sunk my lawnmower on wet grass. While mowing. Really.
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The late Charlie Raymond who introduced me to Prevost’s told me a story about attending a “rally” during a NASCAR weekend at Michigan International Speedway in the late 80’s. He was fine getting out. A bunch of them had to be pulled out with a bull dozer. He said another time he was afraid he was stuck at a rally until Frank, Jr. took over and told him to look the other way until he had the coach was on solid ground.
We don’t have much experience yet; only two trips with our Liberty.
#1-Jeff Rowe’s to the Indy 500. No parking available at Speedway when I called. Found campgroup adjacent to Indianapolis Raceway Park (oval, road course, and famous drag strip). I’ve been attending the Indy 500 since 1968 and know what happens when it rains in Indianapols. I pressed the owner about sinking. She said that rarely does anyone have to be towed if ever, she wasn’t full, and would make sure I got a high ground spot. No rain, no problems. Probably next year will park on 16th Street across from the main gate … or back at IRP and out the $200 difference in my Jeff Rowe fund.
#2-Back to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the vintage event. Lots of poor communication from SVRA. Can’t have “camper” with trailer and race car paddock “no room”. So I paid for $300 parking in the “motor coach lot”. But I had to get the trailer and race car into the paddock. We arrived on Wed night in a driving rain storm. They put us in the staging area which was crushed rock. More poor communication. After lots of sittting around and wondering when to go in, it looked like the Oklahoma land rush as everything headed for the gate. As we got into the Speedway I could see the paved paddock was full already. When the blacktop made a hard left we were directed straight ahead to “the grass” … which I knew was well disgussed Indiana top soil. I avoided the ruts and ran along the high spot looking for a knoll to park on. Finally found it, pulled in between a big Freightliner Truck Conversion and 1 ton dually (both with trailers). Started to unload.
My co-driver showed up with his motorhome so I moved the Prevost to the paved motorhome lot. When I walked back to the trailer I could see they had closed the road we just went through. Dozens of “late arrivals” were diverted t the paved parking lot east of the Museum.
It rained again while we were there. Come Sunday I was able to get the Prevost back to the trailer without too much trouble, get back to the hard surface and headed out without incident.
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Beware of packed sand pads like they have in some places in Florida. We pulled into what felt like a firm sand/grass pad and put the front wheel into a soft spot. That was all it took to start the drive wheels spinning. A call to Good Sam resulted in a truck recovery wrecker coming to our rescue. It took 1 1/2 hours to get out. When we looked at the ruts, there was water seeping into the hole. Our Country Coach conversion does not have any plumbing below the frame so no damage. We supplied the afternoon entertainment for the RV park!. The only good news was that we did get some free drinks that night.
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