Jack pads - whats your choice?

[Rob&Sue]

I have a set of 4 of the 14x14x1/2 orange plastic ones from CW which are basically worthless unless you're trying to protect a finished concrete pad from rust stains.

I also made up some pressure treated 2x12x14 (front) and 2x12x18 (rear) lumber pads. They worked well until their last use when I was on a brand new sloping asphalt pad. The larger ones under the rear jacks partially sank into the asphalt and began to crack along the gain of the wood. They didn't fully crack so I'm considering gluing and screwing a 3/4 plywood skin to each side of the lumber. That will make each pad 3 1/4" thick.

Any thoughts as to the pads being too thick (I only carry the two sets) or different/better alternatives?

[Rick Long]

I have the large pads also... but I have the smaller ones that come either 4 or 10 to a pack, from CW.. I have two 10-packs for a total of 20... I can get level just about anywhere. They're much lighter than wood and stack perfectly, plus they have a carry case.

[jhughd]

Rick, are the ones you use from CW come in an orange carrying case? If so, how do they hold up to your coach weight? I used those under my 5th wheel to level and they cracked and even broke in half under the wieght. The 5th only weighed 13.5K.

JD

[stearn]

I made mine with 2x12 sandwiched in 1/4" plywood 2ea. I attached nylon rope to make easy removal. The other 2 are 14"x14" 3/8 plywood, also with rope. The different thickness has worked well when pads are sloped, or level.Your plan sounds close to what I did. I haven't had any problem with splitting or cracking.

[Rob&Sue]

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Long: I have the smaller ones that come either 4 or 10 to a pack, from CW

I've seen them and they are nice and lightweight. My concern with them is at only 12x12x1" they might be a little small to use on anything other than a hard or well compacted dry surface. They may make a good supplemental pad on top of a larger pad.

[Oh-one]

Check out DICA for a permanent solution to your pad problem. I too used wood and they also broke and were a repair item. DICA pads are usually used in commercial applications such as backhoes, cranes and large utility trucks and are strong enough to last. JMHO

[Rob&Sue]

I've looked at the DICA and Summit Products pads. They are very well made and nearly indestructible. However, they are expensive for a set of 4 (at least $200) and are usually only an 3/4-1" thick. I know they will make them to any measurement and thickness desired but then the cost and weight go way up.

They would work really well as the base with 12x12" plywood or the CW interlocking pads as supplementals.

[GaryKD]

I use the plastic and treated lumber in combination with each other. Two 12"X18" treated lumber screwed together with a rope attached for easy removal. On top of this is a plastic pad purchased at CW. For me, this has worked 100% of the time. The treated lumber has been with me for more years than I can remember.

[blacktie.shooter]

Reading quite a bit of knowledgeable discussion about pads here, let me ask a question: Why? What is the purpose? Are you trying to keep your tires off of blacktop during storage? Or just for a broader base on hot asphalt? I have a set of CW pads with long handles, and only use them for parking on grass or other soft surface. What am I missing?

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally posted by jhughd: Rick, are the ones you use from CW come in an orange carrying case?

Are you talking about the yellow levelers (I don't know what color carrying case they come in)?

If so, they're just about worthless for anything. The orange Lynx levelers are much, much better.

We had the orange Lynx levelers with our first fifth wheel. After 5 years when we sold it, we made the mistake of leaving the Lynx with the new owners and bought a set of the yellow ones from CW. Big mistake, because by the end of the first year, almost all of them had broken. We're now back to using the orange Lynx levelers...so far, after using them for 4+ years, we haven't lost a one.

Now, I must say that we haven't used them for the jacks on a motorhome, which undoubtedly weighs more than our fifth wheel, so I don't know how they would stand up...but they'd do much better than the yellow ones.

[Craig P.]

If I just want to leave a big "Footprint" because of soft soil or sand, I use 1/4" plastic kitchen cutting boards, like you can find at any Wal Mart. At $4, an inexpensive option to DICA pads, and they can withstand tons of pressure. A tip shared with me in this very forum. The hand carrying slot in the boards make it easy to reach them with your awning rod when breaking camp.

If I need more height, I use the plastic yellow leveling blocks squares from CW.

My MH is very heavy. Both of the above items have held under the weight without any damage.

Craig

[Jeff and Cheryl]

I've got both the larger orange pads from CW and the smaller yellow pads (4 boxes of them). I've had 1 of the yellow pads crack. It was an uneven gravel site with an additional left to right slope. On concrete, no pads are usually needed, with asphalt, I'll use the orange pads to spread the weight. With rock/dirt it is often a combination of both pad types. More slope, the more pads Ill use. Also the yellow pads can be used as a ramp if needed.

[GraciesMom]

I'm in the same boat . . . I used to use the pads under my leveling jacks with my 5th wheel, but I have never gotten down on my hands and knees to put pads under my leveling jacks on the motorhome. Is this necessary to do if you're on level ground? I guess I could understand it if you were on really soft sand or wet ground or something . . . but the jacks have big round flat feet . . .I'm with BlacktieShooter - what am I missing?

[GoneFishin]

Although we have the pretty yellow ones in the carry bag from CW, we faithfully use plywood. Rick screwed 2 12x12 pieces together, 3/4" each for a total thickness of 1.5". He drilled a small hole in them so he can use the awning rod to push and pull them into place and he tied a thin piece of rope to each one so he can retrieve them. We've been to some rallies that required plywood under the jacks. They've held up well and we don't worry about sinking into the earth.