Wondering what goes into preparing a site for a park model home?
Read our resources below to have your questions answered and your site ready when your cabin arrives!
Prepare Site & Driveway
You should begin preparing your driveway, site, pad, and utilities immediately after placing your order.
These preparations usually take longer than you expect and must be completed well in advance of your scheduled delivery date.We are unable to delay delivery or store your cabin if your site is not ready on the scheduled date.
Prepare a pad for your cabin to rest on:
- The pad must be at least 1 to 2 feet longer and 1 to 2 feet wider than the cabin.
- It can be made of gravel or concrete. If using gravel, remove the topsoil first and pack the gravel using a plate compactor or a vibrating roller to prevent settling. Gravel pads and concrete pads must be at least 6” thick.
Ensure your driveway meets the minimum requirements:
- Clearance: A minimum of 18 to 20 feet in width and 15 feet of height is required along the entire driveway. Additional width is required on turns. Be sure to trim back any trees or branches that may interfere with the cabin. Even small branches can damage the metal roof during delivery.
- Driveway surface must be at least 14 feet wide. A good “Rule of Thumb” is that two cars should be able to easily travel side by side. The surface of the driveway should be firm, well-packed gravel or pavement. Cabins are delivered with a 2-wheel-drive semi-truck. If the truck becomes stuck, the driver will unhook the cabin and leave it in that location. You will become responsible for moving the cabin to its final location and for any costs incurred if a towing company is needed to recover the semi-truck.
Prepare Your Utility Connections
Electrical connections:
Your cabin will come with one of the three options below. Contact your salesperson if you are uncertain which option you have selected.
- 100 Amp 220 Volt Service. This option requires a hardwired connection into the panel.
- 50 Amp 220 Volt Service. This option requires a hardwired connection to the panel by default. However, you can select to have your cabin equipped with a cord to connect to a 50 Amp RV receptacle.
- 30 Amp 110 Volt Service. This option also requires a hardwired connection by default. You can select to have your cabin equipped with a cord to connect to a 30 Amp RV receptacle.
- The electrical connection is located on the end of the cabin opposite the porch and/or the bathroom end of the cabin.
Sewer Connection:
- The park model is equipped with a 3-inch PVC sewer outlet, located underneath the kitchen or bathroom. This can be connected to municipal sewer, a septic system, or a holding tank. Whichever option you choose, your site’s connection should be kept as near to the ground as possible to ease cabin placement.
Water connection
- The cabin water connection is 3/4” PEX with a female garden hose fitting, located underneath the kitchen or bathroom.
- Water pressure must be regulated to 40 - 60 PSI.
- Heat tape must be installed if you are not planning to winterize your cabin.
- Your site’s water connection should be kept as near to the ground as possible to ease cabin placement.
- If using a well - consider burying a pressure tank in a pit with the well pump.
Setting Up Your Cabin
Level Cabin:
- Cabin must be leveled to within 1/8” throughout the entire cabin. We recommend using a laser level or having it professionally leveled. A standard 4’ or 6’ level will not work - you must be able to level across the entire length and width of the cabin.
- Cabin must be supported every 8’ to 10’. Most people use 8” x 8” x 16” concrete blocks stacked under the trailer frame. Treated boards and treated or rubber shims will be needed between top block and frame in order to level the cabin by each support.
Connect your utilities:
- Important! - Water must be connected and all air purged from hot and cold water lines before water heater is supplied with power. Failure to do so will cause your water heater to fail.
- Also Important - Supply your cabin with power and run the HVAC as soon as possible to avoid excess moisture inside the cabin, especially during the summer.
Other Recommendations:
- If cabin will be connected to water during the winter, heat tape must be installed on all water lines under the cabin. If you selected an LP water heater, those water lines also require heat tape. There is an electrical outlet for heat tape located underneath the cabin near the water connection.
- Register the HVAC and appliances with their manufacturer. It is especially important to register the HVAC. Any extended warranty offered by the HVAC manufacturer is not valid unless you promptly register your system.
- Build exterior stairs or deck as needed.
- Add gutters. (Highly Recommended)
- We recommend detaching the hitch by removing the bolts holding it to the frame. You may also remove the wheels if you wish, but we do not recommend it.
- We recommend installing skirting to enclose the space beneath the cabin.
- Recommended skirting materials include treated lumber, composite deck boards, faux stone panels, metal or aluminum skirting, etc.
- Try to make the skirting wind proof and pest proof. Do not leave any gaps between the skirting boards or panels. For colder climates, we recommend installing 2” Styrofoam insulation inside the skirting.