Tips for Pulling a Camper Up a Steep Driveway (DIY RV Ramps)
Keeping it on the level is going to be something you may find hard to do with some driveways. Private property comes in all angles and backing your trailer up a driveway may give you trouble. It's a good thing there are top solutions to help you when you come across these situations.
One tip would be doing it the old-fashioned way. All you have to do is build your own ramp out of 2 by 12s or 2 by 6s or something in between and you should be good to go. Homebuilders and landscapers do not consider trailers when they do their work.
To learn more tips, just continue to read our article. It has the information to help you out when you face this back up problem. Backing up a trailer or a Class A RV is not a lot of fun when you have a steep incline to go up.
Pulling a Camper Up a Steep Driveway
There are many good suggestions found at the different RV forums. The good thing about these forums is that they let you know one main thing. You are not alone when facing this problem. Many RV and trailer owners face this problem.
One of the suggestions that has helped many RV owners is to approach the driveway on an angle. That way you can avoid the problems like bottoming out or scraping your jacks, etc., on the curb or other difficult spots.
Another suggestion was to pick a landmark to help guide your backing up. Some owners have difficult turns to navigate and they need a landmark to help them know when they have to make a turn.
Then someone said to buy a front receiver hitch. This turns your vehicle around and gives you great visibility. The front hitch is perfect for when you cannot see backing up. The key is to have great visibility when you back up or you can damage something expensive.
Then another option would be to either put chalk lines or tape on the concrete. Those two items can help guide you safely to a secure parking spot. You may have to replace the tape of chalk from time to time but it is a minor inconvenience when you have a very tight spot to fit your trailer.
Out of all these options backing up at an angle was the st popular solution at the different RV forums we checked. If you need more help, contact the members at those forums as they have been through this problem as well.
RV Ramps For Steep Driveway Options
There are a variety of commercial ramps available to help you get up your steep driveway and over your curb. The biggest problem you will have is finding ones that have the weight capacity to hold up your trailer or RV.
Here are some options that are available but you will have to decide if your trailer or RV is light enough to use them:
1. Portable Lightweight Plastic Curb Ramps- See it here
The weight capacity of each one of these curb ramps is 6600 pounds. Whether they will work for you or not depends on the weight of your RV or trailer. They are lightweight and made from Polypropylene (PP).
Plus, they come in good colors so no one’s house value will drop if you place them curbside. They can stay outside even when you do not need them, you just have to find a way to secure them in place so they do not get stolen.
Their textured surface gives you plenty of traction in wet weather.
2. Vestil MRR-2310 Rubber Multi-Purpose Ramp- see it here
While not as strong as number 1 these ramps still can hold a lot of weight. Their capacity of 2 1/2 tons or 5000 pounds each will work for many RVs and trailers.
Also, they are high-impact ramps with a non-slip surface. You can use a little speed without worrying about damaging the ramps. The drawback to using these ramps for your smaller vehicles is that you cannot secure them to the road.
You have to bring them inside and back out again every time you use them. But for small trailers, they can come in handy.
3. Electriduct 4.3" Heavy Duty Rubber Curb Ramp- see it here
This model is for the big rigs, class A and the large 5th wheel trailers. Each ramp is designed to hold 20,000 pounds making getting over your curb and up your steep driveway a lot easier.
The dimensions are 4” by 16 by 19 inches approx giving you enough room and a good lift to navigate your steep driveway. Curbs have a chance of damaging low-lying objects and this curb ramp gets you over those curbs without worry. There are pre-drilled holes for permanent installation.
Made from recycled rubber you get a lot of traction when you need it.
4. Happybuy Car Driveway Rubber- see it here
When you need to get over hoses or let the water run without obstacles, this curb ramp is for you. It is designed to handle unique situations and can hold up to 22,000 pounds. That should cover your Class A or larger trailer.
The main drawback to this design is that it only lifts your RV or trailer up 2 1/2 inches. While the weight capacity is good, the height relief may not be. its dimensions are 48 by 16 by 2 1/2 inches approx. but it should work in some situations where you do not have steep curbs to climb.
5. Rage Powersports Heavy Duty Curb Ramp- see it here
When your RV is not that heavy you can get away with using this curb ramp to help you get up over those steep inclines in your driveway. Each one holds up to 5 tons or 10,000 pounds which should help many RV owners out of a tight spot.
Made from thermoplastic rubber, you get good traction as you back up. The dimensions are 23 by 10 by 4 inches approx. wide enough for most tires. of course, you will need more than 2 if your RV has dual wheels on the axles.
Permanent installation may not be an option But then you may not need that convenience if you do not back up your trailer that often.
These are just 5 options you can consider. There are plenty more on sale at different outlets that may fit your driveway needs and weight issues better. Take some time to look at what is available so you get a good solution for your situation.
Making a Ramp For RV Steep Driveway
Besides backing up at an angle, making your own ramp was the next popular suggestion found at the different RV forums. The designs will be different depending on the look of your driveway and curb.
Some people have put together up to 3 2 by 12s overlapping them so that the greatest height was at the curb and the lesser heights were at the start and end points. Then they bound those 3 pieces of planks together with strong lag bolts.
Since they needed no obstruction to block water flow, the owner placed a small 2 by 6 under one ramp to let the water move unimpeded. Other people have suggested using 2 by 6s or you can use 2 by 8s and 2 by 10s if you want.
The key to the width of the wood will be the number of tires on the back of your trailer or RV. Their individual size will also be a factor. These types of ramps are not hard to build. You are pre-stacking them to find where you need to drill the holes for the lag bolts and nuts that hold them in place.
Then drilling those holes and lining up the boards when the drilling is done. Flipping the boards on their sides will allow you to place the bolts in the holes and then tighten the nuts up. Once that is done, you simply place the boards at the spots on your driveway where they will do the most good.
The key will be measuring the length of the boards so that they will fit the steep incline without adding to your problems. Accurate measuring will solve that issue for you. Then it is up to you if you want to permanently secure them in place or not.
Parking a Trailer on a Sloped Driveway
The first issue you will face is if the driveway is long enough to accommodate the trailer or if the trailer is short enough to fit the driveway. Some cities and housing associations have regulations governing parking trailers in driveways. You need to be aware of those regulations before you do this.
You also have to measure both the trailer and the driveway to make sure the former will fit in the latter. Keep in mind that you need to include your hitch in that measurement as well as the bumper.
If it is allowed by the city, etc., the best way to park your trailer in a sloped driveway is to chock the wheels. The chocks have to be strong enough to hold the trailer or it may not work.
You can build your own chocks using stout 2 by 8s or above and these can do a good job if you build them strong enough. Or you can buy some from the different outlets. The ones from the stores may only be made of rubber but they should be strong enough if they are rated for your trailer’s size and weight.
The other issue will be leveling the trailer. That is done using your leveling jacks but you also have to put the hitch weight onto something solid. Most people have used solid blocks of wood and placed them under their hitch.
The key is to make sure the weight is evenly distributed and that those blocks are solid and won’t move on you.
Can You Store an RV On a Sloped Driveway?
The real issue is not whether you can or not, it can be done. The real issue is if your city, town, or housing authority will allow it to be done. Before you attempt this storage option, you need to check the rules first.
See what is allowed in your neighborhood before making the neighbors angry. Then, you have to see if your RV or trailer will fit. Smaller trailers and Class B RVs usually have no trouble fitting in a driveway, sloped or not.
It will be your Class C and A, 5th wheels, or larger travel trailers that may be too long. Some people have extended their driveway just to accommodate their RV, etc. Once you figure out the length issue you have another problem to work on.
Is your driveway strong enough to handle the weight? Some driveways are built to only withstand 8,000 pounds, as an example only, and many RVs and trailers, etc., weigh a great deal more than that.
That weight capacity is present in sloped driveways as well. If your driveway can handle the extra weight you should be good to go...except... The final hurdle will be your neighbors. You know then so you will also know if this is a good idea or not.
Some Final Words
Getting your trailer or RV up an inclined driveway is something you have to do slowly. The slower you go the better it is for you. You will cause less damage as you can stop faster and it is easier to navigate at lower speeds.
The more you practice the easier it will become. Then using the right equipment will make things nice and easy for you as well.
