Recreational vehicles or RVs are specially designed for drydocking or camping in a place without hookup facilities.
You can live in a remote place for months because these campers have a 12-volt power source for supplying power to the appliances, a freshwater tank, and a couple of holding tanks for collecting the waste materials.
But there could be situations when you need to install fixed hookups. How much does it cost to install RV hookups? You must be asking this question to yourself because most RV projects warrant a good sum of money. Well, the cost to install RV hookups on land could vary wildly from one project to another.
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Why Do You Need to Install RV Hookups?
Most people choose the RV lifestyle because it gives them the freedom to travel anywhere, anytime. So, this is kind of a nomadic life where you keep moving from one place to another.
But sometimes you may need to settle the home-on-wheels on a fixed place. For example, you may have a piece of land but don’t have enough money to build a house yet. Perhaps you want to use the camper in your backyard as your office or a guest house.
In each scenario, you need to install some fixed hookups to ensure the comfort of living. For example, you may want to have an unlimited water supply or adequate electricity to run the RV TV, AC, or heater as much as you want.
Many campsites offer partial or full hookups, but there won’t be any readymade facilities when you park on your own land or somewhere else that is not a campsite.
How Much Does It Cost to Install RV Hookups?
RV projects are expensive and the cost of installing RV hookups will also warrant a few thousand dollars. If you can choose the right products and have a good idea of the budget, it’s possible to set up budget-friendly facilities that will serve for years to come.
Installation of these hookups requires digging into the land. If it’s your yard, contact the utility company before starting the project to know about the locations of electricity, water, and gas lines.
Do you want to know how much does it cost to install RV hookups? Here’s a breakdown of the expenses:
Build a Gravel Parking Pad
Before setting up the hookups, you need to prepare the land for parking the camper. A gravel parking pad will be the best choice if you want to DIY. Such a pad will cost $1 to $3 per square foot.
A compact 8×12 pad will cost $100 to $300, while a 24×24 will cost $600 to $1,800. The final expenses may vary depending on various factors such as gravel type, size and depth of the pad, excavation, soil condition, and a few more.
Costs: from $300 to $2,000 depending on your RV size and a few other factors.
Install Some Wooden Posts
The posts will act as a support and installation surface for those utility features. You will need three posts for the electrical lines, water hookup, and sewer pipes.
A 4×4, eight feet pine timber at Home Depot costs around $14. The price could be more or less for other types of timbers.
Costs: Around $50 for three posts and digging them to the ground.
Set up the Water Line
How much does it cost to install RV hookups? After the preparation period, you will now install the utilities.
Setting up the water hookup is simple but involves some physical labor. From the water source to the post designated for the water line, dig a trench that has to be below the frost line. Then, place a top-quality CPVC pipe through the trench and attach it to the water supply.
If you live somewhere where the winter is freezing, use heat tape to mask the exposed line. Otherwise, it will freeze and get cracked. The next step is to secure the line to the post by using clamps. Fill up the trench with cement. Now, all you have to do is connect the RV faucet to the water line.
Costs: The RV hookup cost for the water line will be around $100 if you take the DIY route. Taking a professional service will require over $500.
Install the Electricity by a Professional
Electric hookup installation should be done by a professional unless you are a certified electrician.
The service you call for should appoint an experienced electrician for this job. Whoever does this needs to be careful about choosing the heads of the electric cables. Their prong layouts should match your RV plug, be it 50 or 30 amps.
Costs: The expenses will be around $1,200 since it requires a professional service.
Place the Sewer System
If the sewer line of your home is connected to a public sewer system, you don’t need to install anything in this step. Just hook up the rig’s sewer line to the cleanout in your yard (make sure that this is legal in your area). If the cleanout port is far from the parking pad, use a long RV sewer hose and a macerator pump.
Connecting to your house’s septic tank could be another option. In that case, you need to install a 4-inch pipe coming out of the septic tank, so that you can dump by connecting to this pipe.
You can also install a separate septic tank for the RV if these two options are not available. However, the cost to install RV hookups will definitely be a lot more if you bring an in-ground tank into the scenario.
A tank installation will require a professional service and plenty of money, so this should be your last resort. If you want to be eco-friendly and avoid these expenses, the best option would be to go for a composting toilet.
Costs: Less than $100 for connecting to the cleanout port or septic tank. However, an RV septic tank will require from $2,000 to $3,000.
Final Verdict
How much does it cost to install RV hookups? You must have had the answer. The expenses can vary by a great margin based on plenty of factors. So, figure out your requirements and calculate the costs by using this guide as a reference.