Sizing an RV pad or boat pad
Start from the rig, not from a round number. Measure from the rear bumper to the end of the hitch or tongue, then add space to walk around it and to put the slide-outs, steps and stabilizer jacks down on concrete. A boat pad needs the trailer's full length plus room at the tongue to hook up.
| Use | Pad size | Area | At projectcosted's Tampa rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass or flats boat on trailer | 10x24 | 240 sq ft | $1,332 to $2,662 (computed) |
| Pop-up or small travel trailer | 12x30 | 360 sq ft | $1,998 to $3,992 (computed) |
| Travel trailer or fifth wheel | 12x40 | 480 sq ft | $2,664 to $5,323 (computed) |
| Class A motorhome with slides | 16x45 | 720 sq ft | $3,996 to $7,985 (computed) |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →
Sizes are planning examples. Computed at $5.55 to $11.09 per sq ft (projectcosted, August 2026); thicker slabs and long access runs cost more.
Thickness and steel for a parked rig
Florida's 3.5 inch floor-slab minimum is not written for a motorhome. HomeBlue's Tampa page puts residential slabs at 4 to 6 inches, and a heavy rig belongs at the top of that range with reinforcement held up in the slab. Pay attention to where the jacks and stabilizers land: those are point loads, and a pad that is thick enough there won't crack under them.
Getting the rig onto it
- Plan the approach so the rig can back straight on without dropping a wheel off the edge
- Match the pad height to the driveway or add a gentle transition
- Keep the turning path clear of the septic tank, irrigation heads and trees
- Leave room to open the doors on the house side
- Run conduit for a shore-power pedestal before the pour
Drainage on Tampa sand
Grass over Tampa sand looks firm until a week of afternoon storms soaks it. Then tires rut and leveling jacks sink. A concrete pad sloped to shed water, with its top a little above the yard, solves both. Within 10 feet of the house, Florida's code wants hard surfaces sloped at least 2 percent away from the foundation, which also keeps a big pad from sending water at the wall.
Run your own size in the slab calculator, check steel and thickness in the thickness and rebar guide, and see the permit guide for flatwork questions. Want a roof over it? Carport slabs.