Community Forums

RTinVa · 10-26-2013, 09:25 AM

Here is a picture of my home made jack pads. After pricing them online, and there are very nice ones available that cost a lot of money, I spent 28 dollars for a 2x12x12 pressure treated board. I cut them into 12x12 inch blocks. Attached them with the crown of grain on the boards to the inside and rotated then 45 degrees. I have a stall mat and cut enough for the tops (or bottom if you need to protect the parking pad. I had an old dog training lead that I cut for handles and used heavy staples usually used for horse wire fencing to attach the handles. Total cost of wood was 28.00. The rest I found around the house. In considering what to use I wanted a hard surface on one side and a good reliable rubber surface on the other. This gives me the option depending on the surface I am parked.

Wayne M · 10-26-2013, 09:41 AM

And 12 x 12 x 3/4" treated plywood will work as well. Plywood is laminated and has less tendency to crack in unusual layouts.

Good job, and anything is better than nothing for those occasions when they are needed.

Jim_HiTek · 10-26-2013, 09:42 AM

Nice. I like the kind that are made with plywood too. Less chance of the wood curling. Good job though. Like the rubber on one side idea.

vsheetz · 10-26-2013, 09:44 AM

I like! Good job!

manitou · 10-26-2013, 02:19 PM

great idea

Modela · 10-26-2013, 04:33 PM

Very Good job. I like the rubber idea.

Bigd9 · 10-26-2013, 04:42 PM

Another idea is to drill a small hole in one corner slightly bigger diameter than the awning hook. That way you can use the awning hook to slide the blocks into position or pull them out when breaking camp.

virginiamtns · 10-26-2013, 05:45 PM

Very nice! They look great.

FRR2EYW · 10-26-2013, 05:48 PM

Looks great. Now I have another project.

RTinVa · 10-26-2013, 07:35 PM

Thank you all for your comments on my project. If I find the 2x12s crack after time I will try the treated plywood next. I built these the day before our first trip and only had the stackable yellow plastic ones from the 5th wheel. Figured they would crush very quickly under the coach.

Thanks again all for feedback.

Drive safe!

Wayne M · 10-27-2013, 08:06 AM

Rich,
One of the items that I have read and use is to use plywood as a top for the blocks. In my case I use 5/8" plywood on top of 2 x 12 as ramps for the MH. I used sheet rock screws to attach the plywod to the top of the 2 x 12's. I have 6 that I carry in the MH and then I have some longer ones here at the stick house for leveling. I use the ones in the MH for leveling or for the jacks in sandy/grassy situations.

I have cracks in the 2 x 12's but the plywood does not crack and keeps the integrity of the wood it is attached to. The recommended plywood is 3/4" but all I had on hand at the time was 5/8 and it is working well also.

Happy trails.

Edited: One thing that each owner needs to know, and my manual states how much, is what distance the coach squats when the air bag system is deflated. In my specific case the mfg recommends 3" or less of pad, else when the coach inflates it may not lift the jacks off the pad. Using a taller pad could lead to a road assistance call and some embarrassment.

jauguston · 10-27-2013, 10:07 AM

I felt my jacks were mounted higher than they needed to be and so I made these. They are two layers of 1 1/8" form plywood. The suspension is down in this picture. They do not drag the ground when the suspension is at travel height. Form plywood is very strong and waterproof. The stock HWH pads are so small they were sinking into the ground at times. These are 14" in diameter the HWH pads are only 8". They are bolted to the HWH pads.

Jim

spritz · 10-27-2013, 10:25 AM

I wish I had the jacks to level my MH

I am thinking about the plywood to make ramps out of to level the MH, I think that I would need 2x4's under the plywood so the plywood won't worp, I am thinking ea one a 2x16 for the rears Do you think that will work. I don't have the $4000.00 to have jacks installed.

Steve N Sal · 10-27-2013, 10:42 AM

The first ones I made were out of 2x12's but they didn't last long as they did crack. So I went to the big box store and purchased two pieces of 2' x 2' 3/4" wolmanized plywood and had them cut into 12" x 12" pieces, used some gorilla glue and screws and attached 2 pieces each together for 4 pads. Have been using them now for 4 years and they are still like the day I made them. All's good!