Concrete
RV concrete slab loads: wheel and outrigger input tables
A traceable RV wheel and support load register, contact-pressure calculations, ground and exposure inputs, and the design handoff checklist.
Direct answer
RV concrete slab design needs a load register for each wheel end and leveling foot, contact areas and positions, plus subgrade, frost and concrete exposure inputs. Record moving, tire-supported and leveled parking states separately, keeping measured reactions distinct from vehicle and jack ratings. Use those cases with the joint plan and ground report to select slab thickness, reinforcement, concrete performance and the strength required before loading.
On this page
What inputs determine an RV concrete slab design?Build the vehicle load register before choosing thicknessWhich wheel and outrigger load cases must the pad carry?How do you calculate tire contact area?How do you calculate outrigger and leveling-foot pressure?Worked example: published RV wheel weights and a jack envelopeSubgrade input table: what must the ground report establish?How do frost and water change RV slab support?Exposure classification: freezing, deicers and reinforcementPut wheels and jack feet on the joint and edge planWhen can an RV and its jacks load new concrete?What changes the estimate for an RV pad?Engineer design-input checklist and retained recordOpen the related tool for the calculation, checklist, or packet.
What inputs determine an RV concrete slab design?
The load path connects the vehicle register, ground report and slab design: the tire or foot presses on the concrete, the slab bends and distributes load, and the supporting layers react. Surface contact pressure describes the top interface; ground stiffness and settlement describe the support beneath it. DoD slab guide (2025)
ACI PRC-330-21 covers exterior parking and site paving, while ACI 360R-10 primarily addresses industrial slabs-on-ground. The March 2025 DoD guide supplies a technical benchmark for floor design. Establish the project’s exterior-paving design method and applicable requirements, then supply the load schedule it needs. ACI 360R-10 preview; ACI PRC-330-21 preview
Separate the load schedule from the slab section
The load schedule states forces, footprints and positions; the resulting slab section states thickness, materials and details.
ACI’s public scope explanation, citing ACI 318-19 §1.4.8, excludes ordinary soil-supported slabs unless they transfer vertical loads or lateral forces from other structural portions to the soil. Identify the adopted requirements and project specification before applying structural-concrete exposure provisions. ACI scope FAQ
Use the concrete hub for related field guidance, the driveway installation guide for the placement sequence and the slab-on-grade design guide for thickness methods.
Build the vehicle load register before choosing thickness
Weigh the RV loaded for its intended use, including people, cargo, fuel and water. Michelin’s May 2025 guide recommends individual wheel-position weights because an axle total conceals left-to-right imbalance. Retain gross and separate axle totals, then obtain wheel-end weights through a wheel-position weighing service or the scale operator’s approved procedure. Michelin RV guide (May 2025)
Keep the vehicle as level as possible during weighing, including when one side is off the scale. Where the procedure measures one side and the full axle, subtract that side from the axle total to obtain the opposite wheel end. Record tag axles separately; retain an axle-only ticket as an axle total until wheel-end distribution is established.
Compare wheel loads, axle sums and vehicle total with the completed coach’s tire/wheel limits, GAWR and GVWR.
Ford’s 2025 Motorhome Guide lists several chassis configurations; its F-53 specifications are labeled 2024. Those ratings belong to the identified Ford chassis, separate from Michelin’s wheel example below. Use the completed coach’s certification label for its matched ratings, and correct any overloaded vehicle condition in the loading plan. Ford Motorhome Guide (2025 release)
What to put beside every weight
Record model/year, scale date, tank/cargo state, tire designation, cold pressure and single/dual arrangement. Measure wheelbase, track, dual spacing and wheel/support coordinates against the proposed edges, joints, drains and trenches.
Give each entry a case ID, units, source/date, acceptance owner and service-load or factored-load status. Keep the designer’s factors and repetitions separate so a submitted reaction is factored once.
| Load ID/support | Case | Load, lb | Contact input | Geometry to retain | Evidence/status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-FL, single tire | Michelin published wheel example | 5,400 | 95 psi cold | Front axle end, actual wheel coordinates | Michelin (May 2025) p.15 published example input |
| W-FR, single tire | Same wheel example | 5,175 | 95 psi cold | Opposite front axle end | Michelin (May 2025) p.15 published example input |
| W-RL, dual assembly | Same wheel example | 8,500 per axle end | 85 psi cold | Two tire centers and actual spacing | Michelin (May 2025) p.15 published example input |
| W-RR, dual assembly | Same wheel example | 9,200 per axle end | 85 psi cold | Two tire centers and actual spacing | Michelin (May 2025) p.15 published example input |
| J-236560 | Separate legacy Lippert envelope | 14,000 rated capacity | 9 inch nominal foot; 12 inch option | Installed jack location and selected foot | Lippert (2017) p.6; capacity, not observed reaction |
| J-433458 | Alternative legacy component | 8,000 rated capacity | 9 inch nominal foot; 12 inch option | Alternative component geometry | Lippert (2017) p.6; not an additional support on the example RV |
| J-258550 | Alternative legacy component | 20,000 rated capacity | 9 inch nominal foot; 12 inch option | Alternative component geometry | Lippert (2017) p.6; not an additional support on the example RV |
Copy this register for the actual job, replacing the published example with dated project weights and installed component data. Record left and right from the driver’s forward-facing position, and use one plan origin for wheel centers, jack centers and slab boundaries.
Which wheel and outrigger load cases must the pad carry?
Schedule arrival, tire-supported storage, leveling operation and supported parking as separate complete states. The March 2025 DoD guide calls for wheel/axle loads, spacing, contact areas and anticipated traffic over the design life. Record owner-provided movements per year and storage duration alongside those inputs. DoD slab guide (2025)
As levelers engage, they unload some tire reactions. Check force and moment balance for each state, then establish the reaction split using OEM data, an accepted stiffness/contact model or suitable measurement. Equilibrium alone cannot determine the load split among multiple engaged tires and feet.
Keep operating equipment categories separate
Motorhome hydraulic levelers, fifth-wheel landing gear, tongue jacks, stabilizers and crane outriggers perform different jobs. Lippert’s Quick Drop Stabilizer manual CCD-0004456, revision 08.29.25, permits stabilization after leveling and limits extension to two seconds beyond initial ground contact. Its page 14 warning prohibits operating the tongue jack or fifth-wheel landing gear while the stabilizers are extended. Lippert Quick Drop manual (2025)
Lippert’s legacy motorized-leveling manual, revision 12.27.2017, page 10, prohibits lifting any wheel off the ground during automatic leveling; page 3 requires stands at both front and rear axles before under-coach work. Follow the installed equipment’s manual and retain its revision with the load case. Lippert legacy manual (2017)
Include delivery and service vehicles wherever they use the same approach or apron. Service stands introduce their own concentrated-load cases. DoD slab guide (2025)
| State | Supported loads | Duration/repetition record | Critical location | Evidence/action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive in or reverse out | All actual loaded wheel ends | Owner's annual movements and design life | Apron, turn, free edge, joint | Wheel geometry/traffic inputs per DoD slab guide (2025) §3-3 |
| Store on tires | Wheel ends in storage load state | Owner's storage period and tank/cargo state | Repeated parking position | Loaded weighing per Michelin (May 2025); record duration |
| Extend levelers | Changing tires plus engaged jack reactions | Installed OEM leveling sequence | Each temporary foot position | OEM instructions and accepted reactions, Lippert (2017)/Lippert Quick Drop manual (2025) |
| Park with levelers engaged | Remaining tire loads plus jack reactions | Owner's occupied/storage duration | Foot beside joint or slab edge | Balance complete support state; preserve coordinates |
| Uncouple a trailer | Trailer wheels plus tongue jack or landing gear | Coupled/uncoupled states | Landing-foot/tongue-foot location | Installed trailer/support data and load distribution |
| Stabilize a trailer | Wheels/landing support plus stabilizer reactions | Actual stabilized state | Stabilizer contact points | Quick Drop is stabilization only, Lippert Quick Drop manual (2025) rev.08.29.25 |
| Service or delivery | Actual visiting vehicle wheels/supports | Planned service access | Approach and same exterior slab | Separate load schedule, DoD slab guide (2025) |
Record coupled and uncoupled trailer states separately: hitch load shifts to landing gear or the tongue jack after uncoupling. Weigh the tow vehicle in its coupled travel configuration. Update occupied parking cases for water, waste, cargo and people; travel weights alone do not describe every stored or occupied state.
How do you calculate tire contact area?
Divide the tire’s supported load by inflation pressure to estimate its contact patch. The March 2025 DoD slab guide estimates a single tire’s contact area by dividing tire load in pounds by tire pressure in psi, giving area in square inches. It describes this as a conservative contact-area approximation. DoD slab guide (2025)
Contact-area method: A = P / p, where A is square inches, P is tire load in pounds and p is inflation pressure in psi.
Retain tire designation, pressure and use condition. Michelin’s May 2025 example uses 275/80R22.5 X LINE ENERGY Z LRG tires. Its dual-table entry is per axle end, meaning the two tires on one side; assigning the entire wheel-end weight to each tire doubles the assembly load. Michelin RV guide (May 2025)
Single, dual and tandem are different geometry
A single has one tire at an axle end; duals have two side-by-side tires at one end; tandem describes adjacent axles. Retain each footprint and its spacing even where a design method uses an equivalent dual contact area that includes the intervening gap.
Inflation pressure approximates contact pressure; tread stresses vary across the footprint. Michelin’s May 2025 guide selects one cold inflation pressure for all tires on an axle using the heavier wheel end and the matching load table, within vehicle, tire and wheel limits. Lowering inflation to enlarge a slab contact patch changes the tire’s operating condition and is not a slab-design adjustment.
What changes when tires sit on leveling blocks?
The tire bears on the block’s top and the slab receives load through its underside. Record underside ribs, voids, stiffness, supported area and product rating; the outer rectangle alone does not establish effective contact. Michelin’s May 2025 guide requires full tire support on blocks, including both tires in a dual assembly. Register the block case separately from direct tire contact. Michelin RV guide (May 2025)
How do you calculate outrigger and leveling-foot pressure?
Divide the reaction at one support by its effective bearing area to calculate average contact pressure. For a circular foot, calculate area from its diameter; for a rectangular footprint, multiply length by width.
Support-pressure method: q = R / A; circular area A = πd²/4; rectangular area A = length × width. Here R is one support reaction and d is the fully seated circular diameter.
Anvilfield estimates the pressures below from the nominal circular diameters and individual lifting ratings published in Lippert’s December 2017 manual, assuming full foot contact. Lippert legacy manual (2017)
Jack capacity is not the measured support reaction
The table identifies each legacy aluminum component and its nominal foot options. A lifting capacity is a component rating, distinct from an observed reaction or a guaranteed upper bound on every possible operating reaction. Obtain the installed system’s reactions for the coach and its permitted leveling states.
A usable reaction record identifies chassis/load state, slope, engaged supports, suspension condition, leveling sequence and the largest reaction in each permitted state. A measurement procedure needs suitable calibrated load cells or scales and must preserve or account for changes to contact geometry.
What qualifies a larger spreader pad?
Credit a larger footprint where the pad has adequate stiffness, strength, full seating and compatibility with the foot. Retain manufacturer, part number, rating, dimensions and the effective-area basis. A flexible board or overhanging spreader can transfer load over less than its outside area; a pad straddling a joint creates another load case.
| Component/case | Source | Load basis, lb | Footprint | Estimated area, in² | Estimated pressure, psi | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lippert 433458 | Lippert (2017), rev.12.27.2017 p.6 | 8,000 capacity envelope | 9 inch circle | 63.62 | 125.75 | Standard nominal foot, full contact assumed |
| Lippert 236560 | Lippert (2017), same revision | 14,000 capacity envelope | 9 inch circle | 63.62 | 220.07 | Standard nominal foot, full contact assumed |
| Lippert 236560 option 117238 | Lippert (2017), same revision | Same 14,000 envelope | 12 inch circle | 113.10 | 123.79 | Optional foot; 43.75% less pressure than 9 inch |
| Lippert 258550 | Lippert (2017), same revision | 20,000 capacity envelope | 9 inch circle | 63.62 | 314.38 | Same diameter does not imply same support reaction |
| Selected spreader geometry | Anvilfield calculation | 14,000 analysis input | 16 by 16 inch square | 256.00 | 54.69 | Effective full-area contact requires verified pad behavior |
| Half effective contact on same spreader | Anvilfield sensitivity | Same 14,000 input | 128 in² effective area | 128.00 | 109.38 | Halving area doubles nominal pressure |
| Lippert Quick Drop Stabilizer | Lippert Quick Drop manual (2025), rev.08.29.25 p.13 | Use system-specific reaction | Installed foot | Product-specific | Calculate after reaction/area identified | Stabilization only; operating limit in the load-case section |
Surface pressure enters the slab analysis alongside bending, local shear where applicable, support settlement and edge/joint position. Dividing concrete compressive strength by surface pressure does not produce a slab safety factor. DoD slab guide (2025)
Worked example: published RV wheel weights and a jack envelope
Using Michelin’s May 2025 example, Anvilfield estimates that a 5,400-pound front wheel at 95 psi has a 56.84-square-inch contact patch. Michelin RV guide (May 2025)
| Wheel end | Load, lb | Pressure, psi | Assembly contact estimate, in² | Per-tire estimate, in² | Source/method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front left single | 5,400 | 95 | 56.84 | 56.84 | Michelin (May 2025) p.15 input, DoD slab guide (2025) §3-3.3 method |
| Front right single | 5,175 | 95 | 54.47 | 54.47 | Same |
| Rear left dual | 8,500 | 85 | 100.00 | 50.00 | Per-tire result assumes equal dual sharing |
| Rear right dual | 9,200 | 85 | 108.24 | 54.12 | Per-tire result assumes equal dual sharing |
| Front axle total | 10,575 | 95 | 111.32 combined | Two single tires | Anvilfield sums; retain separate geometry |
| Rear axle total | 17,700 | 85 | 208.24 combined | Four tires | Anvilfield sums; retain dual spacing |
| Complete published wheel state | 28,275 | Two axle pressures | 319.55 combined | Six tires | Arithmetic sum only; not one design footprint |
Anvilfield estimates axle totals of 10,575 pounds front and 17,700 pounds rear, giving a 28,275-pound vehicle total.
Axle averaging loses load at the controlling end. Anvilfield estimates half the front axle at 5,287.50 pounds, understating the 5,400-pound end by 112.50 pounds or 2.08%; half the rear axle is 8,850 pounds, understating the 9,200-pound end by 350 pounds or 3.80%. Each percentage uses the heavier actual wheel-end load as its denominator.
Calculation method and sensitivity
Anvilfield estimates the contact areas and pressures by dividing the published loads by published pressures or nominal foot areas. Wheel loads and tire pressures come from Michelin’s May 2025 example; the separate jack envelope uses Lippert’s December 2017 capacity and dimensions. Calculations assume full foot contact and, for per-tire dual values, equal sharing within each dual assembly.
Totals use unrounded areas before final rounding. The wheel schedule is one complete tire-supported state; calculate leveled parking with its own remaining tire and foot reactions. Locate each footprint on the project plan so the designer receives spacing and edge distances with the loads.
Subgrade input table: what must the ground report establish?
Establish seasonal stiffness at the design elevation, soil variability, settlement, water and frost treatment. The subgrade is the supporting ground; the base or subbase above it needs its own material, thickness and acceptance record. DoD slab guide (2025); FHWA NHI-05-037, ch.3 (2006)
The March 2025 DoD guide defines modulus of subgrade reaction, k, as pressure divided by deflection, expressed in psi per inch or pci. Its linear-support model concerns small temporary deflections; long-term settlement requires a separate assessment.
Allowable bearing pressure in psf, CBR in percent and settlement in inches answer different ground questions. A presumed soil-bearing value does not establish k. Where a design uses a correlation, retain its soil, moisture, test and application basis rather than filling the stiffness cell from a generic soil-name chart.
Use seasonal support and address weak layers
Identify organics, soft fill and expansive, collapsible or compressible layers. Give the accepted k a specific elevation and seasonal condition, and describe how the granular layers and drainage enter that recommendation.
Earthwork acceptance needs a density test reference, target percentage, moisture window, lift thickness and material requirement. A bare “95% compacted” omits the reference and moisture basis. DoD slab guide (2025)
| Input | Unit/value or rule | Source/edition | Project evidence | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design support stiffness k | psi/inch = pci; selected at support elevation and relevant season | DoD slab guide (2025), 1 March 2025 §2-3 | Geotechnical recommendation with test/correlation basis | Use accepted k at top of subgrade/subbase |
| Allowable bearing pressure | psf, plus settlement criteria | DoD slab guide (2025) §2-3 | Geotechnical bearing and settlement recommendations | Separate from k and slab surface pressure |
| CBR | Percent; test/moisture condition stated | FHWA ch.3 (2006) | Laboratory/field record if method uses it | No unqualified universal conversion to k |
| Material classification | Soil group, gradation, organics, plasticity | FHWA ch.3 (2006)/FHWA ch.7 (2006) | Borings/test pits and lab description | Identify unsuitable or variable layers |
| Base construction | Compacted thickness, gradation, lift/density method and moisture window | DoD slab guide (2025) ch.2, FHWA ch.3 (2006) | Approved section and density results | Accept to project-specific requirements |
| Frost mechanism | Susceptible soil + freezing + water | FHWA ch.3 (2006)/FHWA ch.7 (2006) | Soil, climate and groundwater records | Select frost protection/support strategy |
| Water-table hazard screen | Within about 10 ft below pavement surface: high-hazard indicator for susceptible soil in frost zone; qualify by soil/frost depth | FHWA ch.7 (2006) §7.5.6 | Seasonal groundwater and seepage observations | Assess water supply, not a universal cutoff |
| Frost depth | Local design depth, inches/feet, with cited basis | FHWA ch.7 (2006) §7.5.6 | Local climate/design source and selected strategy | No national frost depth or fixed base thickness |
| Capillary break/outlet | Drained capillary break required to function as described | FHWA ch.7 (2006) §7.5.6 | Outlet level, route, material/filter detail | Prevent trapped water and soil migration |
| Sustained-load settlement | Calculated total/differential settlement in inches | DoD slab guide (2025) §2-3, FHWA ch.7 (2006) §7.5 | Soil profile and occupied support loads/duration | Address weak compressible layers |
How do frost and water change RV slab support?
FHWA’s 2006 Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements identifies frost-susceptible soil, freezing conditions and available water as the three conditions required for damaging frost action. Record all three and the weak support condition during spring thaw. FHWA NHI-05-037, ch.3 (2006); FHWA NHI-05-037, ch.7 (2006)
Ground frost heave and concrete scaling are different mechanisms. Air-entrained concrete addresses deterioration within the concrete; it does not eliminate soil ice lenses or thaw weakening beneath the pad. Use the groundwater screen in the subgrade table together with seasonal seepage and local frost evidence.
Select the frost strategy with a drainage outlet
FHWA describes three approaches: keep susceptible soil below the freezing zone, limit penetration to control heave, or design for reduced support during thaw. Record the selected strategy and its local frost-depth source. Isolated susceptible pockets, unsuitable fill and capillary water supply need defined treatment; FHWA’s capillary-break approach requires drainage. FHWA NHI-05-037, ch.7 (2006)
Document outlet elevation, discharge route and material/filter details. A granular layer trapped in a wet excavation does not provide the described drained break. Footing frost rules and pavement frost design have different scopes; select the support section for this pad’s climate, soils and service.
How do drainage slope and leveling travel fit together?
Set the runoff route, then survey elevations at every wheel and foot. Compare the elevation differences with installed jack stroke, seating limits and approved wheel blocks. Lippert’s December 2017 manual requires solid, level ground and relocation when slope exceeds leveling capability. Keep landing locations clear of debris and depressions so each foot seats fully. Coordinate grading with the driveway layout and keep runoff from concentrating at edges and utility-trench backfill. Lippert legacy manual (2017)
Exposure classification: freezing, deicers and reinforcement
Assign exposure through the project’s applicable code or specification, with its edition stated beside the mix requirements. NRMCA’s March 2026 specifications guide summarizes the ACI CODE-318-25 requirements below; that edition removed F3. In the table, w/cm means water-to-cementitious-materials ratio by mass. NRMCA 2PE004-26 (2026)
| Service condition | Authority/edition | Class/reference | Minimum strength, psi | Maximum w/cm | Air/action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze-thaw with limited exposure to water | ACI CODE-318-25 as summarized by NRMCA 2PE004-26, March 2026 pp.27, 39 | F1 | 3,500 | 0.55 | Specify exposure/aggregate-dependent air |
| Freeze-thaw with frequent exposure to water | Same, pp.27 to 28; classification p.39 | F2 | 4,500 | 0.45 | Specify exposure/aggregate-dependent air |
| Reinforced structural concrete exposed to moisture and external chlorides | Same, p.29 | C2, concurrent with applicable F class | 5,000 | 0.40 | F-class air still applies where freezing occurs |
| Residential exterior slab: continuously moist, freezing and deicer exposure | NRMCA CIP 2, 2014, referencing ACI 332 | Its residential exterior guidance | 4,000 | Not specified in this CIP recommendation | 6% total air for 3/4 or 1 inch aggregate |
| Earlier freeze-thaw/deicer framework | NRMCA CIP 44, 2021, summarizing earlier ACI 318 framework | F3, with plain/reinforced distinction | 4,500 plain; 5,000 reinforced | 0.45 plain; 0.40 reinforced | Do not relabel as ACI CODE-318-25 |
| No freeze exposure | NRMCA 2PE004-26 (2026), p.28 | Assign other applicable exposure categories | Set by design/other exposures | Set by other applicable exposures | No freeze-thaw air requirement from this guidance |
NRMCA’s 2026 guide places concrete contacting soil above design frost depth in its F2 examples; ponding and snow or ice accumulation also inform classification. Record tracked-in deicers as well as applied salts. Apply concurrent requirements where the specification assigns chloride exposure to reinforced concrete.
Specify air for the aggregate and exposure and retain fresh-air test records. Air entrainment, strength and water-to-cementitious ratio serve different performance needs.
Why older guidance uses F3 and 4,000 psi
NRMCA CIP 44 (2021) retains the older F3 framework; CIP 2 (2014) gives the residential exterior recommendation shown above. Preserve those scopes instead of blending their numbers with the 2025 framework. The March 2026 guide also reports removal of legacy F3-based supplementary-cementitious-material limits. NRMCA CIP 44 (2021); NRMCA 2PE004-26 (2026)
NRMCA CIP 2 (2014) advises avoiding deicing chemicals during the first winter and moderate use afterward. Give the owner that care instruction with the drainage and curing records, and use the exterior finishing guidance rather than hard steel troweling air-entrained concrete. NRMCA CIP 2 (2014)
Record soil or groundwater sulfate exposure and aggregate reactivity with the mix submittal. These are separate durability inputs even where freezing is absent; NRMCA CIP 44 (2021) identifies both mechanisms.
Put wheels and jack feet on the joint and edge plan
Draw tire patches and pad perimeters on a scaled plan. Dimension each contact perimeter to the nearest joint or free edge, and retain center coordinates for the analysis. The March 2025 DoD guide identifies position and joint transfer among concentrated-load inputs in §3-6 and addresses edge/corner response in §5-4. DoD slab guide (2025)
Check slab bending, edge/corner support, joint transfer, curling and local effects appropriate to the method. A lower-pressure load near an unsupported edge can create a different controlling case from a higher-pressure load in the interior.
NRMCA CIP 6 (2014) recommends contraction-joint spacing of 24 to 36 slab thicknesses, a 15 foot maximum and panel length no greater than 1.5 times width. NRMCA CIP 6 (2014)
Detail the joint for its actual load path
Identify whether the design relies on dowels, aggregate interlock or a free edge. CIP 6 recommends aligned dowels for heavy-load slabs and pavements; for conventional contraction grooves it recommends at least one-quarter slab depth and no less than 1 inch. Its typical sawing windows are 1 to 4 hours for early entry and 4 to 12 hours for conventional sawing after finishing. Set the cutting sequence around actual setting and raveling behavior so joints form before uncontrolled cracking. NRMCA CIP 6 (2014)
Put any required wheel or foot setback on the design drawing; contact pressure alone cannot establish a safe edge distance. Use the control-joint layout guide for construction details and the curling guide for loss of contact. Record the role credited to reinforcement or fiber reinforcement: shrinkage-control steel and microfibers differ from engineered structural reinforcement systems. A thickness reduction needs an analysis that credits the specified system’s behavior. DoD slab guide (2025), chapters 1 and 5. ACI 360R-10 preview
Can the existing driveway carry the RV and its jacks?
Establish field thickness, concrete condition/strength, support, joints and reinforcement wherever the analysis credits it. Retained drawings and tickets help; an exposed thickened edge alone does not establish field thickness.
NRMCA CIP 10 (2014) describes cores and appropriately correlated in-place tests for strength investigation. A rebound number alone does not rate an RV pad, and a core strength leaves thickness and joint support to be established separately. Select the diagnostic tests for the missing input. NRMCA CIP 10 (2014)
| Field finding | Evidence to retain | Design-input question | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface scaling, with no recorded displacement | Surface photos, exposure/deicer history, defect depth and extent | Is deterioration superficial or reducing the effective section? | Establish sound thickness and repair scope; retain the separate load/support check [NRMCA CIP 2 (2014), NRMCA CIP 10 (2014)] |
| Offset cracks, rocking edges, pumping or settled panels | Elevation survey, joint positions, water/void evidence and loaded locations | Has support or joint load transfer been lost? | Investigate ground/drainage and restore the accepted support/load path before assigning the affected wheel or foot location [DoD slab guide (2025), FHWA ch.7 (2006), NRMCA CIP 4 (2014)] |
| Sound-looking pad with unknown section | Drawings/tickets if available, measured thickness and selected strength investigation | What thickness, strength and support can the design actually use? | Establish the missing inputs and analyze the new wheel/jack cases [NRMCA CIP 10 (2014); Anvilfield workflow] |
This Anvilfield workflow separates surface deterioration, movement and missing design evidence. Crack width alone supplies no universal pass/fail limit for a new concentrated load; map the mechanism, sound section and support condition. NRMCA CIP 4 (2014)
When can an RV and its jacks load new concrete?
Release the pad at its specified opening strength with documented in-place strength evidence covering wheels and concentrated jack loads. NRMCA CIP 11 (2017) describes typical curing periods of 3 to 7 days; curing duration and heavy-load release are separate construction records. NRMCA CIP 11 (2017)
NRMCA CIP 39 (2019) describes a mixture-specific maturity relationship and temperature history for estimating in-place strength, including pavement opening decisions. Use the maturity guide with the specified release criterion. Monitor the critical slab locations; changes to the concrete mixture require checking the calibration’s validity. NRMCA CIP 39 (2019)
Keep design strength and test basis compatible. NRMCA CIP 16 (2016) reports third-point flexural results up to 15% lower than center-point results; record loading method and specimen size before comparing modulus-of-rupture values, the flexural bending-strength input. NRMCA CIP 16 (2016)
Retain curing/protection records and strength test records with the release authorization. After flooding, washout, unusual movement or a changed RV/support system, update the load and support record before reusing the parking assignment.
What changes the estimate for an RV pad?
Anvilfield estimates that each additional inch of slab over a selected 12 by 50 foot footprint adds 1.85 cubic yards of net concrete. Quantity follows the accepted thickness; excavation, frost treatment, drainage, access and testing determine the rest of the scope. Use the concrete takeoff guide to retain measurements.
| Quantity comparison | Net concrete, yd³ | Basis and use |
|---|---|---|
| 12 by 50 ft footprint at 6 inches | 11.11 | Selected quantity comparison |
| Same footprint at 8 inches | 14.81 | Selected quantity comparison |
| Additional 1 inch over 600 ft² | 1.85 | Marginal concrete quantity |
| Difference between the two sections | 3.70 | Two-inch quantity increase |
Quantity method: Anvilfield estimates net cubic yards by multiplying measured square feet by thickness in inches and dividing by 324. The table uses a selected 600-square-foot footprint and rounds calculated volumes to two decimals. Add thickened edges, separate support pads and the project ordering allowance to the applicable net quantity.
Define the scope that differs between sites
List excavation/export, unsuitable-soil replacement, frost treatment, drains and outlet, granular layers, reinforcement, joints, finish, curing, protection and testing separately. Measure compacted base quantities independently from slab concrete, and identify the conversion used for loose delivered material. Survey access width and truck routing before setting the placement sequence.
Define who handles concealed weak ground, utility trenches and disposal, and record the agreed response when excavation exposes different conditions. State the accepted concrete performance and load-release evidence in the scope; use the ordering and delivery guide for delivery planning.
Group site visits by service territory so the estimator can collect wheel positions, drainage elevations and existing-pad records together. A driveway contractor planning RV-pad outreach receives home and building lists in CSV or Excel within 48 hours through [PorchRocket Ground Control](/lists/driveways).
Engineer design-input checklist and retained record
Record evidence, date/revision, responsible party and acceptance against each item. Owner/weighing service supplies vehicle weights; OEM or model/measurement provider supplies support reactions; ground designer supplies frost, stiffness and settlement inputs. The slab designer accepts the cases and returns the section and details.
- Owner identifies every RV, trailer, tow vehicle and planned visiting service vehicle; retain the completed vehicle's ratings and intended future vehicle envelope.
- Loaded wheel-position weights include actual tank, fuel, cargo and occupancy conditions; attach the dated weighing record.
- Single/dual/tandem arrangement, tire designation, cold pressure and actual wheel spacing are recorded.
- Installed jack, landing gear or stabilizer model and manual revision are identified; distinguish capacity from reaction and permitted operating state.
- Tire-only, leveling and supported parking states each have a complete reaction schedule; document the OEM/model/measurement basis, necessary force/moment balance, and the stiffness/contact assumptions that determine load sharing. Mark service/factored status and apply the design method's factors once.
- Foot and spreader dimensions, effective area, stiffness, capacity and seating conditions are documented; record exact edge/joint positions.
- Scaled parking and approach plan shows wheels/supports, panel joints, free edges, drains, utility trenches and transitions.
- Surveyed wheel/foot elevations fit the installed leveling system and approved block/pad arrangement; record both block-to-tire support and effective block-to-slab footprint.
- Existing-pad use has verified thickness, condition, joint/support evidence and the selected strength investigation; record the action for displaced, unsupported or deteriorated areas.
- Ground report identifies soil layers, fill history, groundwater, seasonal support k and its basis/elevation; record bearing and settlement separately.
- Frost strategy addresses susceptible soil, water supply, local design frost depth and thaw support; provide a drain outlet where a drained layer is specified.
- Earthwork acceptance names material, compacted thickness/lifts, density test reference, target, moisture range and response to pumping/soft spots.
- Applicable code/specification and editions are stated; exposure classes, w/cm, strength, air and aggregate size match the intended service.
- Design record states trial/final thickness, flexural input and compatible test basis, local concentrated-load checks, joint load transfer, reinforcement and edge details.
- Construction plan defines cure/protection, joint cutting, concrete delivery/testing, and the strength-based release for both wheels and jacks.
- Estimator includes access, unsuitable-soil treatment, drainage and testing; retain measured net quantities, ordering allowances and scope exclusions.
- As-built record retains accepted loads, actual slab/base measurements, tickets/tests, joint/edge geometry and release evidence; update it when loads, pads or support conditions change.
Sources checked and update log: Anvilfield, reviewed 2026-11-05. 2026-11-05: Rechecked primary sources and calculations; clarified leveling restrictions, exposure assignment and load-release evidence, corrected the edge/corner reference, and revised the quantity worksheet.
How to cite this page: Anvilfield, RV concrete slab loads: wheel and outrigger input tables, 2026, https://anvilfield.com/field-guides/concrete/rv-slab-wheel-outrigger-design-inputs/
FAQ
What loads should I use for an RV concrete slab?
Use loaded wheel-end weights and separate support reactions, with footprints, spacing, edges, joints and ground support. Keep service measurements separate from vehicle and jack ratings in the vehicle load register.
How do I calculate RV pad point loads?
Record each wheel or foot reaction in pounds, then divide by supported contact area for average surface pressure. Tire contact area uses the load/inflation approximation; feet and spreaders need their effective bearing area.
How much outrigger slab bearing pressure is too much?
The accepted case must satisfy slab bending, local effects, joint/edge support, ground response and spreader performance. A calculated surface psi alone does not establish capacity; use the contact-pressure table as an input calculation.
How do frost and subgrade affect RV slab design?
Identify susceptible soil, freezing depth and available water, then establish heave control and thaw-season support. The subgrade schedule records those inputs separately from concrete freeze-thaw durability.
Is a 6 inch concrete slab enough for an RV?
Treat six inches as a trial section for the actual wheel and jack cases, joints and supporting ground. The estimating table compares quantities; the accepted design establishes thickness.
Can I divide RV weight by four leveling jacks?
Use equal shares only where an established support model supports that split. Installed-system geometry, suspension, chassis stiffness and leveling sequence determine reactions across engaged tires and feet.
Do rear dual tires halve the slab load?
Duals divide wheel-end load between two footprints while the slab receives the entire assembly load. Retain spacing and identify equal per-tire sharing as a calculation assumption.
Will bigger jack pads protect the concrete?
A larger effective footprint lowers contact pressure where the pad has adequate stiffness, strength and full seating. Include its perimeter-to-joint and edge distances in the accepted support case.
Should an RV slab be specified as F3 exposure?
Use the adopted or specified edition. NRMCA’s 2026 guide reports removal of F3 from ACI CODE-318-25; its older CIP 44 retains the earlier classification. The exposure crosswalk keeps those editions separate.
Can I lower the jacks seven days after pouring?
Use the specified strength-based release covering the jack case and its documented verification. Elapsed curing days alone do not provide that release evidence.
Can I use my existing cracked driveway for an RV?
Establish slab thickness, concrete condition, joints and supporting ground, then check the proposed loads. Map scaling, displacement and support loss separately using the existing-pad evidence table.
Does adding rebar or fiber let me pour a thinner RV pad?
A reduced section needs a design that credits the specified reinforcement system. Ordinary shrinkage-control reinforcement alone does not establish a thickness reduction for wheel or jack loading.
People also ask
Codes cited in this guide
This guide is written and reviewed against the published standards below. Always confirm the current adopted edition with the authority having jurisdiction.
Sources checked
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Design of Concrete Floor Slabs-on-Ground for DoD Facilities, 1 March 2025. 1 March 2025; §§2-3, 3-3, 3-6 and 5-4: support stiffness, wheel footprints, concentrated loads and edge behavior. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- ACI 360R-10, Guide to Design of Slabs-on-Ground, April 2010, publisher preview. April 2010 publisher preview; scope, soil support, loading and design approaches. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- ACI PRC-330-21, Commercial Concrete Parking Lots and Site Paving Design and Construction, May 2021, publisher preview. May 2021 publisher preview; exterior parking lots and site paving scope. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- ACI technical FAQ, Slabs-on-ground, explicitly citing ACI 318-19 §1.4.8 and 360R-10; live page, no revision date displayed. Undated ACI FAQ citing ACI 318-19 §1.4.8; scope of ordinary soil-supported slabs. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- Michelin RV Tires: Guide for Proper Use and Maintenance, May 2025 file edition. May 2025; pp.12 to 15: loaded wheel-position weighing, 275/80R22.5 example and tire support on blocks. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- Ford Motorhome Guide, 2025 release file; specifications section itself labels F-53 as 2024. 2025 release; F-53 specifications section labeled 2024; model-family rating ranges. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- Lippert LCI Motorized Leveling (2002 to 2008), Owner's Manual, revision 12.27.2017, discontinued system. Revision 12.27.2017; pp.3, 6 and 10 to 11: axle-stand and wheel-contact restrictions, legacy aluminum jack ratings, nominal feet and site selection. Page 10 prohibits lifting any wheel during automatic leveling. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- Lippert Quick Drop Stabilizer, CCD-0004456, revision 08.29.25. CCD-0004456, revision 08.29.25; pp.3 and 13 to 14: stabilization after leveling, extension limit and prohibition on tongue-jack or landing-gear operation with stabilizers extended. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- FHWA NHI-05-037, Geotechnical Aspects of Pavements, 2006, chapter 3. NHI-05-037, 2006, chapter 3; ground properties, water and frost mechanisms. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- FHWA NHI-05-037, 2006, chapter 7 continued, especially §7.5.6. NHI-05-037, 2006, chapter 7, especially §7.5.6; frost strategies and drained capillary breaks. Same publication as chapter 3. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 2, Scaling Concrete Surfaces, latest copyright revision 2014 in opened PDF. 2014; exterior residential strength/air recommendations, scaling prevention and first-winter care. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA Publication 2PE004-26, Guide to Improving Specifications for Ready Mixed Concrete, March 2026. Publication 2PE004-26, March 2026; pp.19, 27 to 29 and 39: ACI CODE-318-25 exposure framework and edition changes. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 44, Durability Requirements for Concrete, latest copyright revision 2021. 2021; earlier exposure framework including F3 and plain/reinforced distinctions. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 6, Joints in Concrete Slabs on Grade, latest copyright revision 2014. 2014; joint geometry, cuts, typical sawing windows and heavy-load dowels. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 11, Curing In-Place Concrete, latest copyright revision 2017. 2017; moisture/temperature control and typical curing duration. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 39, Maturity Methods to Estimate Concrete Strength, latest copyright revision 2019. 2019; mixture-specific maturity calibration and in-place strength for opening. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 16, Flexural Strength of Concrete, latest copyright revision 2016. 2016; flexural test methods and compatibility of results. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 10, Strength of In-Place Concrete, latest copyright revision 2014. 2014; cores and in-place strength investigation methods. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.
- NRMCA CIP 4, Cracking Concrete Surfaces, latest copyright revision 2014. 2014; cracking mechanisms, uniform support and drainage. Accessed for AF-AV review 2026-11-05.