When not in use, stabilizer jacks up or down?

[Goneracin]

While driving home from our weekend camping trip yesterday, I always monitor everything and think about improvements or modifications I can do to make things safer, easier, better for both the trailer and the tow vehicle.

Once I got close to my house, I noticed a 50 / 50 split of the trailers parked at homes. Some had their jacks down, some didn't. So whats your opinion?

When your trailer is stored in between trips, do you put the stabilizing jacks down or leave them up? Whats your reason for your decision?

[DanFromGC]

I leave mine up, not in use during storage. My thought is they are not designed to bear weight but to help with comfort within the trailer (less movement/bounce). It's one less thing to mess with when heading out. Curious what others do as well, good topic!




Dan
2013 F150 4x4 Lariat Crew Cab Ecoboost
2013 Jayco Jayflight 28BHBE 28'

[Rocky1971]

I live them up. I had them down and got hit with lighting.
burn out a lot of things in my RV. It's a good thing I had
repair ins. I also put rubber on the bottom of my jacks.
good luck

[Goneracin]

Yeah, I know they aren't weight bearing, but I was thinking they would take some of it off the tires. But that would be a pain every time I leave to put them up again. I've always left them up

That's a good point about lightning, never really thought of it.

[slanted]

I leave mine up for 2 reasons.
1. I am lazy
2. I am afraid I will forget they are down and try to drive off...damaging them.

[L.C.Gray]

Down.

I park mine on a large level concrete slab beside the house when we're home. It doesn't take 5 minutes to level the tongue and run the jacks down with a socket on a drill motor. My main thought is that having the jacks down would make the TT more stable in a severe storm or high winds.

We're also in and out of it for several days after each trip unloading and cleaning and then again before leaving loading and prepping. Having the jacks set just makes things more comfortable climbing in and out and walking around inside.

[GaryWT]

Always up even with us in and out during the week. Was thinking though recently, if they were down would that make a difference to a thief? Either added time or more noise. Just a thought.

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by L.C.Gray

Down.

I park mine on a large level concrete slab beside the house when we're home. It doesn't take 5 minutes to level the tongue and run the jacks down with a socket on a drill motor. My main thought is that having the jacks down would make the TT more stable in a severe storm or high winds.

We're also in and out of it for several days after each trip unloading and cleaning and then again before leaving loading and prepping. Having the jacks set just makes things more comfortable climbing in and out and walking around inside.

x2, except for the storm stuff. Don't get much of that around here. Mine sits at my house and I'm always tinkering on some mod. The slide is run in and out enough that I like the solid feel better with the jacks down. Cordless and socket. All but a couple mins and they're down or up.

[Goneracin]

Interesting, I was thinking of it more to help with the tires, but I guess it doesnt take off enough weight.

[mavagrand]

Originally Posted by Rocky1971

I live them up. I had them down and got hit with lighting.
burn out a lot of things in my RV. It's a good thing I had
repair ins. I also put rubber on the bottom of my jacks.
good luck

Not sure how much benefit there is to leaving them up in the event of a lightning strike. I had a work car parked near a tree that was hit by lightning a few years ago. Every fuse, relay and most circuits in the car were fried, major expense for my agency. The only thing on the car touching the ground were the rubber tires.

[L.C.Gray]

I tend to think that being down, they'd be beneficial in a lightning strike as it would give a more direct path to ground than travelling through the tires.... and it will go through the tires I assure you.

I once made an accidental contact with a 14.4k 3 phase overhead power line with an aluminum end dump trailer and it blew out 10 of the 14 tires touching the ground. There were holes blown into the ground under the tires, the mudflaps touching the ground had streaks burnt into them and small steel balls were expelled through the tread where the stell belts arced and melted. No metal from the truck or trailer was was touching the ground.

Interestingly... not a single fuse or bulb was blown and the engine (computerized) was still running. Now if comercerial electricity can go right through the tires I have no doubt lightning can too.

[dagmandt]

Up, I like them out of the weather nice and safe. I don't see any reason to have them down. Every RV lot here in Washington has them up while on display.

[bluie5]

If it's in the driveway between trips I level the TT and the jacks are down. When stored for the winter the jacks are up.

[lynnmor]

If a tire goes flat there will be considerable weight on the jack nearest the flat.