Setting up a park model is straightforward once you know the sequence. Here is the whole process — from site prep and foundation through delivery day and final finishing — condensed from Zook Cabins’ Site Prep & Setup Guide.
1. Before delivery: permits, site & utilities
- Permits & zoning are your responsibility. Park models are legally considered RVs — built to the ANSI A119.5 standard with an RVIA seal — so confirm requirements with your local authority and make clear it is not a mobile, manufactured, or modular home. See the permits guide →
- Pick a good site. Choose ground that is level, firm, and graded for drainage, and consider sun exposure and the view you want to frame.
- Plan utilities early. Depending on the model you need a 50-amp or 100-amp electrical service, a standard garden-hose water connection, and a 3-inch sewer drain line (an RV sewer hose also works). You handle the hookups, not Zook Cabins. Winterize the lines to prevent freezing. (Park models are not offered in Alaska or Hawaii.)
2. Build the foundation
- Use a 4-to-5-inch compacted crushed-stone pad or a poured concrete pad.
- The home stays attached to its wheels; block it up and level it on wood or masonry blocks for stability. Never set it directly on the ground.
3. Clear a path for delivery
- Provide 16 feet of horizontal and vertical clearance on straight drive-through sections; corners need 16 feet plus the width of the park model.
- Clear low branches and wires and widen tight driveways — these are common causes of delivery damage.
- Mark all utility lines, and send your Zook Cabins contact photos of the site and a video of the transport path beforehand.
4. Delivery day
- You will be called when the truck is en route; meet the driver on site to guide placement.
- If the truck cannot reach the pad, a skid-loader rental can pull the home into place for an additional charge.
- With a ready site, delivery usually takes 1 to 2 hours. Finish with a walkthrough and sign the delivery work order.
5. Final setup
- Level: raise one side at a time with jacks and stack blocking no more than 8 feet apart, then shim to fine-tune.
- Anchor: install tie-down anchors about every 8 feet to prevent sliding and resist high winds.
- Connect electrical, water, and sewer.
- Add skirting (vinyl, wood, metal, or composite) to improve the look and keep animals out from underneath.
- Add a deck for extra living space and curb appeal — follow your local codes for framing and railings.
Prefer not to do this yourself? Zook Cabins offers a Set Package that handles the setup for you — ask your sales rep for a quote. (You can also hire a local contractor.)
How this affects financing
The home itself can be rolled into Zook Cabins Financing, and so can a Set Package — Zook Cabins’ done-for-you setup option, which is eligible for both Zook Cabins Financing and Chattel Lenders. Ask your sales rep for a Set Package quote. Other on-site work you arrange yourself (such as utility hookups and the foundation) is separate from the home price; many buyers cover those costs with a HELOC, personal line of credit, or personal loan. Compare your financing options →
