We’ve been considering installing RV hookups at home for water, sewer, and electrical. We would like to do this so we have a place to store the RV but also so we can live in or service our RV right at home. But, there are steps we must take to ensure we do things the right way.
- Cost To Build Rv Pad
- Installing Rv Hookups On Land
- Cost To Install Rv Hookup
- Rv Hook Ups Near Me
- Rv Hook Up Fees
- Hook Up Rv To House
So how do you smoothly connect water, electric and sewer hookups to your RV at home?
1. Build a Gravel or Concrete Parking Pad
2. Run a Water Hookup to the RV
3. Run an Electrical Hookup to the RV
4. Install or Use Your Existing Permanent Sewer Hookup
In this article, we will run through some home RV parking hookup ideas so you can install your own RV hookups right at home. Please be aware that depending on where you live you may need permits to install permanent RV hookups at home. So, check with your local officials before you begin any work.
The costs to open an RV park business depend on what you are starting with. The typical costs you have to encounter when starting an RV park business, include: Table of Content show a. Purchase of Land: $1,000 – $100,000 per acre. Buying an Existing Campsite: $100,000 – $2million. Licensing and Permitting. This list of RV parks with amenities under $350 per month (Between $100 to $350) is for those of you on a very tight budget, needing to come off the road a while, or maybe even stay somewhere long-term to build back up savings. The reality of the RV/camping dream is that the term is overly hyped in order to sell a service, product, eBook,.
Build a Gravel or Concrete Parking Pad
If you want your RV hookups to go as seamlessly as possible, you will want to build a gravel or concrete pad. This setup allows your RV to rest on a flat surface outside of your home. Ultimately, it will keep the weight of your RV from settling into the ground. If you were to park your RV on grass sooner or later, the ground will settle, and your RV will no longer be level.
To build a gravel or concrete parking pad, you should first measure the length and width of your RV. You want to make the pad about 4 feet wider and 4 feet longer than your RV, so you have room to walk around the RV. You should also consider the height of your RV to make sure you don’t hit any overhead power, phone, or cable TV lines.
To build a gravel pad, you will need to start by leveling the area where you want to install the pad. You should plan to make the gravel pad 4-6 inches deep. The heavier the RV, the deeper the gravel. Once you dig out and level the area install a layer of filter cloth over the dirt BEFORE filling with gravel. Most people don’t know to install the filter cloth first. The filter cloth keeps the dirt under the gravel from eroding so you don’t end up with spots that sink.
I recommend using #57, or #2 washed gravel for your gravel pad. Do not use pea gravel because your rig will sink right into it. I also do not recommend using crush and run, which is gravel mixed with gravel dust. Crush and run is very dirty and you will track the stone dust into your RV, and maybe your house too. And lastly, I absolutely do not recommend using recycled concrete. Recycled concrete typically has wire mesh or rebar in it, which is metal used inside of concrete to add to its overall strength. Use recycled concrete, and I guarantee you will get a flat tire at some point.
To build a concrete pad, you will need to dig and deep enough to install 4 inches of gravel below the 4-6 inches of concrete you will then pour on top. You should still use filter cloth under the gravel, and I recommend using crush and run gravel and tamping it down under the concrete. When pouring the concrete, you will want to use 2 x 6’s to build a form, so your concrete pad has a clean edge all the way around. Also, you should install wire mesh in your concrete pad or buy concrete that has fiber mesh mixed into it for added strength.
Also, I do not recommend trenching under your parking pad for your water or electric lines. I realize that if you take a shorter path the cost of materials will be less expensive. But, if there is ever a problem with either of those lines you may have to dig up your parking pad to make a repair. And, the trench lines are likely to settle at some point which will cause the pad to sink in those spots.
If time, tools or know how aren’t on your side, you can always hire a contractor to do the dirty work for you.
Install Sturdy Posts for Your Water and Electrical Hookups
When the pad is complete, it’s time to install 4 x 4 posts for the RV hookups. You can use the leftover concrete if you installed a concrete pad to do this. Or, you can just buy a few bags of concrete and dry pack the posts if you installed a gravel pad.
Dig a hole for each post about 8 inches in diameter and about 30 inches deep. Install the posts as level and plumb as possible and then pack with leftover concrete or just pour the dry concrete right from the bag around the post. (This is called dry packing and the moisture from the ground will seep into the dry concrete mix and it will harden up. If you live in very dry climates this method will not work and you will have to mix with water before packing around the post.
Obviously, you will want the water and electrical posts to be on the correct side of the RV to make hooking up the electric line and water hose as easy as possible.
Install the Water Line Hookup First
First, dig a trench from the water source to the post for the water hookup. Why dig a trench? Well, you’ll need something that you can run the waterline through so it doesn’t get damaged or freeze. You’ll want to strategically position your post and trench. (Knowing this may affect where you choose to install your post in the first place)
Before you dig your trench, you should call Miss Utility. or whatever service is in your area, to come out and mark all of the existing utility lines on your property. In fact, in Maryland, where we live, it’s the law.
Calling a utility marking company can help prevent you from hitting an existing water, power, or gas line! And it is expensive to pay the repair bill if you hit one of these lines.
Digging the trench for the waterline is the hardest part of setting up the water line. It’s labor intensive because you have to dig down below the frost line. Or you can rent a trenching machine at Home Depot so you can get the waterline installed below the frost line for your area of the country. A frost line is how deep the ground freezes during winter. Once you know the frost line depth, be sure to dig below it or the water line could freeze.
CPVC pipe is easy to install and it is rated for installation both above and below ground. Just make sure you do not use purple primer on CPVC pipe and that you use the proper glue rated for CPVC. After running your water line through the trench, you’ll run the water line up the post. Before securing the water line to the post, wrap the water line with heat tape. This will keep the water line above the frost line from freezing. Then secure the line with pipe clamps and fill in the trench. So long as your line is secure, you shouldn’t run into any problems hooking up your RV at home. Add the faucet, and you are almost done.
While you still have to set up the electricity and sewer lines, you’ve got the first part under your belt! It’s a rewarding feeling, especially when you’ve done it all yourself. So go ahead and celebrate, but not for too long—there’s more work to be done.
Installing the RV Electrical Hookup at Home
Hooking up electric service to your RV means figuring out some details about your rig. In this case, you’ll want to figure out what number of amps your RV pulls. This will determine which breaker box and outlet you purchase for your electrical line. You should also decide if you want phone and cable TV service for the RV because the electrician can take care of those items too.
RVs typically pull two different amperage levels. So, figure out whether yours is 30 amp or 50 amp. Refer to the owner’s manual for this information. Another option is to look at your RV’s male electric plug since the two amp options look different. In our case, our RV can run on a 110 volt line so all we need to do is plug into an existing outside receptacle.
If you need 30 or 50 amps of electricity, it’s probably best left to an electrician do the work. I highly recommend hiring an electrician because the electrical line will need to be run from your breaker box, or a sub panel to the RV. A licensed electrician will be able to determine what size electric line you need run from your house to your RV. By having a dedicated 30 or 50 amp circuit installed for your RV, you will be able to run all of the appliances in your RV. I also recommend having a 110 outlet mounted on the electrical post, so you have somewhere to plug in your heat tape for the water line during the winter.
To save yourself some money you can install the trench for the electric line from the house to the RV. And since you will possibly have rented a trenching machine why not just get it done so, you aren’t paying an electrician top dollar to dig it for you. You’ll want to dig a trench from your house to the post. But first, have the electrician show you where and how deep to dig the trench. You can ask him to show you when he visits to give you an estimate for the work. This way, the trench will be ready when he arrives to do the job.
Do note that you’ll want the electric line to be a separate trench. Don’t share the trench with the water line. Just like the water line, secure the electrical wire to the post with u-shaped clamps.
Turn off all appliances and breakers before plugging in and install a good 30 amp surge protector or 50 amp surge protector before plugging the RV into the new electrical receptacle. A surge protector can help to ensure that the appliances in the RV don’t short out in case of an electrical surge. It’s incredibly expensive to replace the electrical appliances in your RV. So, whether at home or at a campground you should always use a 30 amp or 50 amp surge protector.
How to Install an RV Sewer Hookup at Home
There are a few ways to accomplish setting up an RV sewer hookup at home. They are hooking up to the existing public sewer system, hooking up to your private septic system, or installing a sewer tank.
Hooking up to your existing public sewer system is the easiest way to drain your black and gray water tanks, but it also may be illegal where you live. So, you will need to check with your local jurisdiction before attempting to hook up this way. But if it’s legal, it’s as simple as hooking up your sewer at a campground. Just look for the sewer cap in your yard, remove it and hook up your sewer line.
The process is similar if you have a septic system on your property, but you may need to install a 4-inch pipe from the septic holding tank, so you have something to connect to.
Adding an RV in-ground septic tank to your yard is the last solution to the sewer hookup problem because it can be very expensive to bury a holding tank. And then after it’s installed you will have to pay to have it pumped out when needed. You will also probably need to have a contractor install the septic tank for you and then you just hookup like at a campground.
Consider Using a Compost Toilet
There’s an alternative to septic tank setup. Compost toilets are eco-friendly and help you avoid having to install a tank on your property. In a self-composting toilet, the liquid and solid wastes are kept separate, but how?
Liquid waste goes in the front compartment and is tossed outside in a safe location when full. Meanwhile, solid waste finds its way into the back section. Natural ingredients like mulch or moss help it break down, and compost and a fan helps avoid any smells before they begin. You can then deliver compost build-up to your outdoor composting pile. Composting toilets aren’t cheap but they are certainly less expensive than installing a septic holding tank.
RV Hookup Installation Costs
The costs for water sewer and electrical hookups can vary quite a bit depending on how much work you can do yourself, what type of sewer system you need and if you need to pay for permits in your area.
Below are some cost ranges for RV hookups at home:
- RV Water Hookups – From $20 if you do it yourself to $750 if you hire a plumber
- RV Electrical Hookups – From $100 if you do it yourself to $1200 if you hire an electrician
- RV Sewer Hookups – From $0 if you can hook up to your existing sewer or septic system to $3500 or more if you have a sewer tank installed.
Conclusion
It can be really easy or pretty complicated and expensive to install RV hookups at Home. But it can be done! Just be sure to do your homework up front to know if this option will work for you. For some very good related information about parking an RV on at home check out these other articles we wrote.
Do you have any thoughts or ideas to share about installing RV hookups at home? Please share in the comments section below!
Everything costs.Even parking your RV. Whether it be in an RV storage facility until the new season arrives or at an RV park during the season. It seems you have to pay some sort of fee every time you turn around when owning an RV.
It is difficult to affix an average monthly RV park rate as the price disparity between the RV parks is quite large. Suffice it to say that an approx. monthly rate is between 300 and 400 dollars. Discounts can make your monthly payment lower if you stay for 6 months or more.
To learn more about RV parks and their monthly rates just continue to read our article. It tries t get you the best information possible so you know where you should stay when you travel to different warm southern states.
How to Check Monthly Campground rates Near Me
This is not as difficult of a task as it may sound. With the advent of the internet and personal computers, laptops, and tablets, finding an RV campground near you is simple as typing in the right words in the search box.
What can complicate finding a good RV park is the total number of them. Since snowbirds and the RV industry are large, there are a lot of RV parks to choose from. You just have to make a long list and then do some research to narrow that number down to a good selection.
When doing your search, you can check the electronic yellow pages. We found one YP web page that held about 30 RV parks for Orlando alone. Next, you can get on the different RV forums and talk to other RV owners and see which ones they recommend.
Just make sure you give them your location and the city or area you want to be in. You can also, just type in the words, RV Parks Florida, and the results should give you a variety of RV parks to choose from. You just have to have a list of criteria, including price, to narrow down your options.
Then if you are on the road and can’t use your computer, you can stop into Camping World or other RV businesses and ask them for recommendations. Dealers may be able to put you in the right direction as well. Just use their information with a grain of salt though.
What Influences Monthly Campground Rates
RV parks are not made the same and sadly neither are RV park owners. They come in all shapes and sizes and have different ideas about how much each space in their park is worth.
In other words, you are going to see some differences in prices when you shop around. There are other factors than owners that play a role in determining how much a night or a month may cost you when you want to park your RV in one of these RV Parks. Here are those factors:
- State Sales tax - some states do not have it and that may affect your overall cost to stay each month. If a state applies the tax to RV parking, then your costs will be a bit higher in those states than those that don’t.
- Campground amenities - Many RV parks throw in everything including the kitchen sink. You have a lot of amenities for the price you are paying. The only thing is they may not state their costs on their web pages. The owners do not want to scare away potential customers.
- In or out of season - in other words, the time of the year will raise or lower the price of monthly RV park fees. This is called the nature of supply and demand. The more demand there is for an RV park and the dwindling supply of empty ones will lift the price significantly. If the supply outdistances the demand, then expect to pay a lower fee and save some money.
- Location, location, location - This is the real estate motto, and it applies to RV parks as well. When the park is located in an expensive to live state, then expect to pay higher monthly and nightly fees. For example, one park in Maine charges about $1400 a month while one in Oregon charges about $350, give or take 10 dollars.
- Type of RV - you may think you are doing great with your Class A RV but its size and power demands may also bring you a heavier monthly fee.
- Stay duration - some RV parks charge higher rates if you are only planning on staying for a month or two. For example, one park in Florida will charge you about $300 per month for a short-term stay. The price drops t about $200 if you sign up for 6 months or longer.
- Extra guests - this will include your pet as well. Some parks will charge an extra fee if you have more than 2 people staying in your RV during the month. This charge varies and depends on the owners of the RV park you have stayed in.
To find out the different rates and influences on those rates, make sure to read the fine print on the RV park’s web site. They may not make these extra charges in bold or large print so be careful and look before you leap.
Nationwide RV Campground Monthly Rates
This too is very hard to figure as the rates differ so widely. Expensive states to live in will have very high rates while some other states may have parks that charge as little as $180 for a month. But you can pretty much figure on somewhere between $300 and $600 for a national average.
The rule of thumb to find a monthly rate is to multiply the nightly rate then divide the total by 55 to 60%. So the equation would look something like this— $50 x 30 = $1500 divided by 60% = $600.
One reason we are hesitant to provide a national average is that the monthly average may change from one year to the next and the figures may be out of date by the time the next season rolls around.
The best thing to do is figure out which state you want to go to and then check on the different parks in those states. Look at the monthly fees charged by the individual parks and see which ones fit in with your budget.
All national monthly averages do is give you an idea of what a month may cost in an RV park and will do little to prepare you if the actual cost is a lot higher than the stated national average.
Monthly Campground Rates in Florida
One RV park in Florida has 4 different nightly rates. One for each season of the year. If we take the above equation and apply it to the spring nightly fee of $90 to 120 then you are looking at $1000 to $1,400 a month approx.
But other resorts have lower fees and you can find them in the $600 a month or lower range. If you stay 6 months, you may be able to lower that fee a lot more. As we stated earlier, one park charged $300 approx. for one month and $200 per month for 6 months.
A lot of your monthly cost will be influenced by the type of RV park you pick to stay in, the amenities it offers, if it is close to Disney World or some other popular attraction and so on. Don’t forget about taxes either as Florida is not a state that doesn’t charge taxes.
Monthly Campground Rentals in Alabama
Alabama has a variety of RV parks for your use. The top ten in one list have a range of about $350 to $600 for monthly rental fees. There were about 2 or 3 that did not allow monthly renting at their facilities.
The majority of those ten also allowed pets which is good news for pet lovers the world over. Each one has its own set of amenities with a couple offering some fishing time for those hardcore fishermen who cannot spend a day away from the water.
Other prices in the state will vary of course and a little research will help you find one that offers a monthly fee that should fit in with your travel budget. There was no mention of the fee at those ten parks being discounted any further if you stayed for 6 months or more.
Monthly Campground Rates in California
Cost To Build Rv Pad
California is a little more expensive than the previous two states. The top ten RV campgrounds in that state offered monthly rentals between $400 and $800. We are sure that other parks will be a lot more expensive.
There were 4 campgrounds that did not offer any monthly rental fee. That means you have your work cut out for you if you are looking for long-term rentals. The amenities look good as pets are welcome and you can get both 30 and 50 amp hookups at all 10 parks.
There was no mention of any further discount if you signed up for 6 months or more. Plus, there seems to be plenty of spaces at these parks with one reaching almost 150 RV spots.
California is also a big state and you may find better deals if you take a little time to do some research on the areas you would like to visit.
Monthly Campground Rates in Colorado
Colorado may be a tougher sell because very few of the RV parks and campgrounds on their top 10 list offered monthly rentals. The ones that did, the range was between $450 and $600 making it a fairly consistent state for RV Park rental fees.
Only one of the entries did not allow pets or they just declined to say. This means it may be decided on a case by case situation. All of them did offer both 30 and 50 amp electrical hookups.
RV camping in Colorado may be a bit on the expensive side unless you can find an RV park that is more reasonable on its monthly renting fees. There are certainly a lot more RV parks available than just those on that top 10 list but the list gives you a little idea of how much you are going to pay each month if you stay in that state.
Installing Rv Hookups On Land
Monthly Campground Rates in North Carolina
Be prepared to take a little heart medication when you learn the monthly rental fees for the outer banks in North Carolina. Since it is such a hot spot, you better be ready for a shock.
The fees range from about a high $500 to over $1200 per month, not including electric. Most of the RV parks on the top 10 - list for outer banks said to call for current rates. This may mean you will pay through the nose if you want to stay near this popular state spot.
Myrtle Beach area may be a bit more realistic as one RV park has its rates at $400 and $600 depending on the season. Other spots in North Carolina should be a bit cheaper as well. Your stay and costs will depend on if you want to commute to those popular spots or actually pay the high fees to be near them.
Monthly Campgrounds in Oregon
In this state it may be easier to get 30 and 50 amp hookups and your pets in the park than it is to get a monthly rental fee. Only 1 RV park on the top 10 list gave a monthly figure and it was $700.
One more said to call for a rate but it doesn’t look good. The other 8 did not list a monthly fee although we did find outside of the list that there is a possibility of paying around $350 to $450 a month at other RV parks in the state.
Each park has a nice setting and you can relax with all the beautiful scenery surrounding them. Your only question is if the scenery is worth the extra expense as Oregon doesn’t have a theme or amusement parks to draw in the crowds.
How to Save on Monthly Campsite Rentals
There are ways to save even on monthly campsite rentals. We discussed one already, and that is where you sign up to stay put for 6 months or more. These agreements can save you an additional 33% off or more of your rental fees if you can live in one spot long enough.
Another way to save is to talk to experienced RV owners who stay in RV parks full time. They will know some of the best ones and those at the most affordable price. You may not get the amenities other RV owners have but you save a lot more money. Why pay $1400 for Main and Mass. when you can stay in South Carolina for between $250 and $350.
Paying less monthly rent is a very legitimate way to save on monthly expenses. Then there are those RV camping memberships. These memberships can save you a ton of money if you don’t mind being off the beaten track a little bit.
There are a lot of memberships out there so you would have to do your research in order to get the most out of the cost of signing up. Also, you can always go out of season as well. The rates are generally lower and you should not have to put up with a lot of noisy or nosey neighbors that annoy you.
4 Tips for Buying an RV Camping Membership
Most assuredly, you will run into these offers once you buy an RV or rent one. There seems to be a lot of them in existence and many may not be as honest as you would like them to be.
Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from getting a bad RV camping membership:
1.Do your research - if you already know your travel route, make sure the membership has RV parks along your travel route. If they don’t, then you are just wasting your money.
2.Do not do non - refundable contracts - you may not like the parks that are part of the membership and you won’t get your money back. Make sure you know what you are getting into, know the small print, restrictions and other important details.Also know the cancellation details as well.
3.Buy it when you need it - you may have some term constraints on some memberships so do not buy too far in advance. You want to make sure you can get your money’s worth out of your membership.
4.Avoid auto-renewal - the simple reason for this is that you may not use the membership one year and you will be spending money for something you do not or cannot use. If you are not sure about the next year, cancel the membership then buy another if your plans change in a month or so.
To get a rundown on some of the memberships out there, simply click on this link to get an idea of what to expect when you sign up for an RV camping membership.
Some RV Park Resources to Help You Out
We have talked a lot in this article about monthly rental fees, their lows and their highs but to find the right RV park for you may take a little more work. That is why we are offering this resource section for you.
This resource section should get you started on the right foot and headed in the right direction when you want to find the best RV campground or park for you and your family.
1.Average prices - this is a website that gives you the average prices for 15 different locations around the nation. The prices are a bit old but it gives you an idea and names to search and contact. Click here
2.RV camping - this is a top resource that not only gives you state by state information but gives you links to RV associations and a lot more. It also gives you tips and other information as well. Just click this link
3.RV park for Canada and America - get the information for national and international RV traveling. There is an FAQ section to help answer your questions. Click on this spot
4. The ultimate source - this website provides lots of information on a full range of RV activities and resources. It may be wise to give it a look at. Find it here
Cost To Install Rv Hookup
5. RV campgrounds - if you want to see ratings, this resource has them. Just scroll down to see them. It also gives you additional links to explore. Push this button
Rv Hook Ups Near Me
6. Good Sam - this is found in one of the other resources but it is always best to have a direct link to a good resource. You never know when one of the others break. The Good Sam resource helps you plan your trip, lets you locate campgrounds and a lot more. Use this link
Some Final Words
Now that you got [past the sticker shock of monthly rental fees, you may take a deep breathe and relax for a bit. You have the information to get you started planning your next RV road trip or getaway.
Rv Hook Up Fees
Don’t let the high prices of some states or parks discourage you from visiting those geographical areas. Their prices may not be what other parks in the same area will charge. You can also find one not too far away and commute to those popular spots if you are so inclined.
Hook Up Rv To House
You now have the resources and the information you need to plan your next journey. The rest is up to you.