I currently park my airstream at my house but would like to install regular RV pad hookups - 30 amp, water, sewer. What considerations should I be thinking about? Does the sewer line need a trap? Do RV stores have the parts for the sewer? I assume my electrician can handle the 30 amp box.
If you can do it, a real good deal. Ypu will have a place to go to when you are looking for "peace and quiet", a guest house, savings from parking in a storage facility, and a better resale for uour home - another RVer will want to buy. I sure wish I could do this - but I am in a condo.
I don't see how the city could stop you. You are just adding an additional electrical outlet and water spigot. That sewer connection? Dang, sewer line got clogged and the contractor had to add that. They needed a "clean out" to provide better access in case that happens again.
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CP 9 miles off Exit 399, I75.
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce! Air # 283
First off, welcome to the Forums; we're glad to have you with us.
We have done home hook-ups for Lucy (our 25FB) twice now. Once at our house in Santa Rosa Beach, and again at SuEllyn's Dad's house in Jacksonville. In both instances, we had a professional electrician add an RV 30 amp dedicated circuit in the garage reachable from Lucy's parking space. The cable TV connection was easily accomplished with 100' of coax to the outside cable television box. Water from a nearby hose bibb was also easy.
The sewer drop connection was a little more challenging. At first we used the standard slinky connection in Jacksonville to the sewer clean-out behind the house. The run from Lucy to the clean-out is about 50 feet and slightly upgrade. This worked OK, but the final clearing of the slinky provided the much needed exercise of having to lift the slinky all the way down the line many times.
Then we found the Sewer Solution, and tried it after it was recommended by one of the guys at Camping World. He told us that this system can easily handle a reasonable upgrade draining situation. It was a little pricey, but not too bad (about $100 for the basic unit and $20 for 10' hose sections) especially considering that most slinkies have a relatively short life expectancy. We first tried the Sewer Solution in Jacksonville using 4 hose sections supplemented with a 10' section of 1' pvc. Boy, did this work great, even with the 2 foot upgrade to the sewer clean-out.
This draining system worked so well that we now use it exclusively everywhere we go. We also have a Sewer Solution set up at our house in Santa Rosa Beach. This is a 70' run to the clean-out. We use 40' of Sewer Solution flex hose coupled with a 30' run of pvc. We always used to arrive home with empty grey and black tanks. Now it doesn't matter.
We have used this system for almost 2 years now, and it has worked flawlessly for hundreds of tank drains.
Brian
__________________ SuEllyn & Brian McCabe WBCCI #3628 --- AIR #14872 2005 25' Safari FB (Lucy) with HAHA 2005 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Olivia) & 2004 Suburban 2500 Quadrasteer (Daisy)
I currently park my airstream at my house but would like to install regular RV pad hookups - 30 amp, water, sewer. What considerations should I be thinking about? Does the sewer line need a trap? Do RV stores have the parts for the sewer? I assume my electrician can handle the 30 amp box.
Thanks for the help.
Great idea, I have always refered to our Airstream as the Aluminum Mother in Law Suite. The electric part is easier that I thought, the hard part was buring the cable in conduit. I purchased the receptable at Camping World, installed it where I wanted to plug in and started from there. I went to Home Depot and they had a mock up of the breaker box. Installing the breaker was pretty anti-climactic. Main off, install breaker, Main on.
Having the 30 amp service is pretty cool. Have not added sewer yet, that would be awesome. Good luck.
John
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Aunt Gladys, 28FT, Intl' "Man, it's hot here, is the heat on?"
I have a full hook-up beside my house. When I had the pad constructed I decided to put a dump station in before my concrete man poured the concrete. I broke a hole in the foundation at the proper height and tapped into the sewer pipe under my center bathroom (which is on the outside wall adjacent to the RV pad). I did all the work myself. With the plastic pipe it wasn't rocket science. If you do it yourself you'll want to be sure of the proper slope on the entire run of pipe. This means not having too much slope as well as too little. If memory serves me, I think I have about 1/8" per foot of drop. My run is approximately 25 ft. Also, I had the concrete man "dish" the sewer inlet so I wouldn't have spillage problems. I use a screw-in 3" plastic plug with some holes drilled in it so rainwater will drain through it. This works pretty well except when leaves or other debris collect in the dish.
I opted to have the dedicated electrical outlets installed by a pro. I have both 30 amp and conventional 20 amp weather resistant outlets. As a precaution I built a little aluminum "shed" to cover both outlets. It just drops into a groove above the outlets and gives a bit of added weather protection.
I have two close-by water outlets but I usually use the on board water and place a pitcher of drinking water in the trailer when we have guests.
I've never used my TV cable in the trailer at home but the feed to my house is only about 15 feet from the trailer cable fitting.
Since the installation in 1999, I've had no problems at all. It is a wonderful guest house!
My wife and I joke that in our South Austin neighborhood, a trailer in the front yard is not a violation of the HOA ordinance. It is a room addition. In our neighborhood, it is often the nicest room of the house. I know that ours will be the costliest by price per sqft.
Hi, need to consider city building codes; May not be permitted?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pick
I don't see how the city could stop you. ...
Depending on your locale, the city might think you are attempting to add another residence to your single-family lot. I ran into problems when I wanted to build a shop in the backyard with a sink to wash my hands.
I "forgot" to chat with the City Inspector when Mount Airstream was constructed... :
I don't see how the city could stop you. You are just adding an additional electrical outlet and water spigot. That sewer connection? Dang, sewer line got clogged and the contractor had to add that. They needed a "clean out" to provide better access in case that happens again.
it's not necessarily the city that would have any say.. depending on where you live, like a sub-division or the like, it could be against regulations of the lot. although i think it's a great idea.
My wife and I joke that in our South Austin neighborhood, a trailer in the front yard is not a violation of the HOA ordinance. It is a room addition. In our neighborhood, it is often the nicest room of the house. I know that ours will be the costliest by price per sqft.
HA
I live in south Austin too !
You will love having your Airstream so close to home.
After losing my spot at Shady Grove RV Park, [sniff] one of the main search criteria for my new place was to have enough room to park my buggy too. Works perfectly as guest room, cabana and getaway at home. Ran a dedicated 30 amp electrical service, plus an extra 110 outlet for party lights and pathway lighting. Researched tapping into the house sewer line; way too costly for my needs. I just keep a Texas State Parks Pass and dump at McKinney Falls as needed. I would recommend oversizing your pad. When I set up a ladder for maintenance, I always wish I had widened the pad two extra feet.
Good luck !
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Hi, need to consider city building codes; May not be permitted?
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