Concrete Site or Sand and Grass

[RobWNY]

For those of you that have done an extended winter stay in the South, how much difference is there between having an all concrete site (Parking area and patio) or a Sand and Grass site with a concrete pad with picnic table? Other than the convenience of an all concrete site for not tracking stuff into the RV, is there anything else to be concerned with? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[doxiemom11]

In the south, along with fire ants you may also find a lot of sand burrs. If you have a pet, that could be a problem as well as you tracking them inside. They are even in some grass areas. There are also a couple of types of weeds other than burrs with thorns. After sitting on dirt with a cement pad in Yuma for a winter, I'd go for the concrete parking and pad.

[BarneyS]

We have wintered in central Florida and a couple of winters in Texas for the past 17 years. Most sites were gravel or grass with a concrete patio. There are fire ants and other creatures but we never had a problem with them inside the RV.

You did have to be careful, if you sat outside for any length of time in the grass area, for the fire ants. The no-seeums are also a problem at times also outside. None were ever a problem inside though.

Enjoy your winter! Bring along a good wide brimmed hat, some sunscreen, and a good pair of sunglasses. 🙂
Barney

[RobWNY]

We've narrowed down our search to three RV parks/Resorts for next winter. Two of them are grass/dirt with concrete pads and one is an all concrete parking and pad area with some grass between sites. We like all three places but as with anything, there's pros/cons with each of them. All are about the same money when all things are added in. My main concern is Fire Ants and other types of small critters that will find their way in if given half a chance. The fewer issues we have to deal with the better. Next winter will be our first as snowbirds so we are trying to think about as much as we can and hopefully avoid a lot of "you know what honey? We should have done this or that"

[C_B_]

Do not park on grass for long periods of time.

Grass holds moisture which over time will cause rust to your undercarriage.

C.B.

[STBRetired]

Where we snowbird, it's a hard packed gravel parking area and a concrete patio. The rest of the site is grass. Have never had an issue with leveling jacks or tires sinking even after heavy rains. MH steps extend over the patio edge so no need to walk on gravel to enter or exit the MH.

[BarbaraOK]

Best is compacted gravel that allows water to drain away from the tires. Sitting on concrete with water ponding around the tires can be a problem. If sitting for an extended time, put something between the concrete and the tires (wood or plastic).

[DutchmenSport]

We've been parked on all 3 types of surfaces. Not full timing, but sometimes for a week at a time. I'll take concrete any day over anything else. Anything other than concrete or asphalt, and there is always the chance that the tires will sink into the ground, sand will shift from under the stabilizer jacks and even sand can shift under the tires. I always used lumber under the tires when on anything but concrete or asphalt. Even then, at least once a day, the stabilizer jacks need to be tightened up. It's no problem parking on any of the three surfaces, it's just a matter of paying attention to things after you get parked. But, that's the beauty of traveling ... no two campsites are EVER the same.

[Jayco-noslide]

Depends. Either needs to be reasonably level. Sand/grass can be OK but if it's more dirt than sand then it might get muddy with rain; not good. Concrete can be bad if it's elevated a little causing a drop-off at the edges for ankle sprains. Really can't beat a nice level concrete if wide enough.

[MDKMDK]

Your rig won't sink into wet concrete. Leveling is more precise on concrete. Ants and other bugs typically don't live in concrete, so less chance for vermin intrusion, maybe? Concrete doesn't need to be mowed. If it gets windy, concrete doesn't blow all over your site and get into things, like sand.
I haven't done the snowbird thing.
There may be other pros/cons, but those are the ones that come to mind right now.

[Lwiddis]

With proper drainage, sand and grass.