Community Forums

bamaspiveys · 10-24-2016, 07:14 PM

Do you use pads of some type under your leveling jacks? If so what do you use?

Tall Tex · 10-24-2016, 07:26 PM

If on solid surface and level enough, nothing. If too far out I carry wood blocks. Thinking about getting 4 rubber insulator type pads for lightening protection.

royals1212 · 10-24-2016, 07:30 PM

I use jack pads very seldom. Our last stop was a asphalt parking pad and I used them there. A very few campgrounds will require them. When parking on grass I will use boards and pads to ensure the jacks won't sink. BTW, Mt Juliet rules

Herb & Tanya

Gary.Jones · 10-24-2016, 07:34 PM

I have four 2 x 12 pads (double layered) which I have for special purposes. Mine are two 2 x 12 pressure treated boards screwed together so their grain is rotated 90 degrees ( to minimize splitting) one for each jack. Need them maybe 3-5% of the time I put jacks down, usually very soft ground underneath.

Sweetbriar · 10-24-2016, 07:35 PM

I'll use pads when parked on asphalt, earth or other soft surfaces to help spread the weight out to not leave marks and prevent the jacks from sinking. I use 2" X 12" lumber cut from a 8' length. Cheap and easy. Cut into 12" lengths and for around $12 you have two sets or screw two together alternating the grain for added strength and a bit of a lift to reduce the length of jack deployed.

Kerry Buchen · 10-24-2016, 08:55 PM

Now, I ALWAYS use plastic / hard rubber pads on top of wood. I leveled the MH one time in my shop on concrete, but had a slight slope to the floor drain. 1 week later I raised the jacks and a leveling foot was left on the floor looking at me. The bolt had snapped just below the head. Called CS and was referred to the manufacturer, Equalizer. Manufacturer said due to the slight slope of the concrete, the bolt head snapped. Not that I agree, but that what I was told.THEN, it cost me a case of beer for a buddy to slide under the coach and carefully weld a washer and nut onto the broken stud so we could wrench it out. Moral of the story for me - ALWAYS used pads on a hard surface!!!

brobox · 10-25-2016, 08:29 AM

I use 16x16 plywood squares at home so the jack pads don't put rust marks on the driveway as they do when I wash the MH. With the Equalizer big foot jack pads I find very little need for any pads under them. I do carry 4 2x6 one foot PT boards if I run into a soft spots, but that's very rare I need them. I am one that is not over board on jack pads as I found I don't use them.

flynia · 10-25-2016, 08:34 AM

I use 4" x 12" solid oak under mine.

RovinOn · 10-25-2016, 08:41 AM

If I'm on good solid ground I don't bother. I do carry those heavy duty plastic ones and so far after all our years with a Motorhome (2004) they are still new in the bag!

MisterT · 10-25-2016, 08:51 AM

for most of our 55,000 miles in the last two years I've not used anything - but, a while back I happened to find several of the large HEAVY RUBBER thick mats behind an old vacant truck stop. I cut one up into 6 - 18" and 2 - 24" squares.
Since we now have the coach parked on dirt/gravel next to the house for the winter, I put the 18" pieces under the Levelers and the front Wheels, and the 24" under the rear tires.

These thick rubber 'mats' are nice since they can be cut down to any size you need, are easy to handle and store, have some 'give' if needed, and don't care if they get wet.

I believe you can find new ones at farm/tractor supply stores, semi-truck shops, and maybe a Home Depot in some areas.

Cruzer · 10-25-2016, 10:47 AM

Yep, that stuff is called Cow Matting and I bought a bunch of it from Fleet Farm in our area. It's heavy stuff and is textured on one side. I have a few 12" square pads for beneath the jacks but also made up some blocks with 2x12s sandwiched between plywood with the cow matting on the two outer edges. Added handles on to make them easier to carry or to pull out from beneath the coach with my hook that I made from a 1/2" steel rod.