Community Forums

Bruce-G · 05-31-2011, 09:06 AM

I have been putting wooden boards under the hydraulic jacks before leveling. Is there any advantage of putting four 8 inch plastic blocks on each board so the jacks don't have to come down so far?

GaryKD · 05-31-2011, 09:20 AM

Hi Bruce-G,
Will the plastic blocks hold the weight placed on the jack? If so, other than the work involved in deploying, retrieving and storing them there is no disadvantage.

JJH3rd · 05-31-2011, 09:42 AM

I use a 2"X8"X2' piece of wood under each foot to spread the weight of the 6" circular hydraulic pad and they seem to work very well. JJ

RickO · 05-31-2011, 09:49 AM

I suspect you're speaking of those interlocking jack pads like the ones sold at CW. I use them when I'm on an asphalt pad so the jacks don't make a dent in the pad or if I'm in a very unlevel site and need to get more jack travel but I don't think there is an advantage to using them just to keep your jacks from having to extend a bit farther. JMHO

Rick

Jerry J · 05-31-2011, 10:14 AM

Would plastic blocks prevent a grounding path during a lightning storm?

melvonnar · 05-31-2011, 12:43 PM

It may be looked at this way:

Take an 12 inch wooden ruler; see how much pressue it takes to bend it; same ruler grab it in the middle see how much pressure it takes to bend it.
The longer a jack is extended the more pressure it will have on the piston; and the more it can twist.
Instead of extending my jacks all the way down to level; I'll place blocks under them. I just feel better doing that.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-31-2011, 02:01 PM

I see no value in doing that. My jacks have 11" diameter pads on the bottom anyway, so I seldom use anything under them unless parked on thin pavement or other soft surface.

Your mileage may vary.

RJay · 05-31-2011, 02:17 PM

Limiting the travel of the jacks also limits the extension of the return springs. When the jacks are extended to their limits or close to for an extended period the springs tend to lose their memory and stretch out resulting in complaints that the jacks retract slow or not at all. You are extending the life of your return springs limiting the extension of the jacks and springs.

96 Wideglide · 05-31-2011, 02:40 PM

I use wood blocks under the pads to keep dirt / sand out of the pads.

Always-RVing · 05-31-2011, 03:04 PM

Does someone have a video to show the proper use of leveling blocks or pads? Plastic or wood? I'm afraid of twisting the coach frame and possibly damaging something like the windshield. The Freightliner book says never use to jacks to suspend the MH in the air.

In an uneven pavement, there should be a proper and safe way to get the MH level using pads, etc.

Refrigerators can have problems running if the MH is not level. Drains may not work correctly, etc.

Wayne M · 05-31-2011, 05:40 PM

I don't know what the OP year and model # is, but for my 2008 Winnebago the book states to not use a block that is higher than 3 inches. Reason is that the airbags dump when the levelers are activated and it is possible to bottom out the jacks and not be able to get the blocks out. That's their story and I'm sticking to it. Now I have used higher than 3 inches, but it was after, in a very non-level spot, I drove up on blocks to get fairly level.

If all else fails, check the manual.