Community Forums

Wayne M · 02-01-2010, 09:14 AM

Consider that when leveling on uneven ground that there may be more force on one pad than the other by virtue of the weight on that corner. I would "assume" that a square pad would leave an indentation in asphalt (soft - as in some parking lots) I believe the manufacturer opted for a "better" design with the rounded edge. Even so, on asphalt (soft) the weight on one corner could leave a dimple. In some climes, even a piece of wood under a pad could leave an indentation.

JMHO

Chuck 1935 · 02-01-2010, 10:08 AM

Good thought Wayne, but my jacks have a swivel base so that they conform to an uneven surface. If the surface of the asphalt is that hot or that thin it sure would leave a mark. My jacks have a large footprint in their original form. One other thing, if the asphalt is soft because of the heat, I won't be there !!! If one were so inclined, they could attach the pad of their choice to the bottom of their jack to eliminate placing them by hand, rod, pulley system, robot, wife or any other method that someone could dream up. Just food for thought

deadeye916 · 02-01-2010, 11:55 AM

I use these.

DICA, When Only The Best Will Do

I have thought about mounting them permanently to the existing pads. I agree, it would be nice if the jack manufacturers would make the pads larger.

Chuck 1935 · 02-01-2010, 12:36 PM

WOW! Those are serious pads. The method to my madness is I hate carrying so much stuff in my bins. Anything I can do to eliminate STUFF I do. Hence the bolted pads.
Great to be retired and traveling ain't it.

dieselclacker · 02-01-2010, 12:39 PM

I use these.

DICA, When Only The Best Will Do

And money is no object!!!!

Wayne M · 02-01-2010, 01:04 PM

Wow! The price on those DICA sure make a 3/4 inch piece of plywood look better!

steelheadbluesman · 02-01-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck 1935

Steelheadbluesman, The pads I made are 14 inches square, a bit larger than those yellow plastic . I put them on about two years ago because we camp alot at the beach and the front jacks are on asphalt and the rears are in the dirt. I didn't want them sinking in and It made me feel bad having my dear wife crawling around like a lizard placing those plastic pads on the ground. She was dragging mud and debris back into the MH after doing so and became rather cranky when I tried to hose her off. The plates were a better solution than sensitvity training classes or a marriage counciler. This is all part of my new excellant behavior !!!!!

You ARE doing good!

deadeye916 · 02-01-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M

Wow! The price on those DICA sure make a 3/4 inch piece of plywood look better!

True. I tried using wood, 2x8x14" squares, but they rotted out fairly quickly and split under the weight and uneven ground. I decided I didn't want to have to replace them every couple years. The DICA pads are guaranteed...if you ever break one they will replace it. They have rope handles and come in their own storage bag. I find them easier to manage, deploy, and store compared to the wood pads I was using.

Wayne M · 02-01-2010, 05:23 PM

Dan,
What you have is good - no doubt about it. It works for you and that is all that counts.

I use 2 x10 x 16, and place two side by side. I also put a 5/8 or 1/2 inch plywood on one side. That is until I can get a 3/4" piece of plywood and cut it to 12 or 14 inches. The plywood on top of the lumber keeps it together if the 2x10 splits. Plywood is durable and will take the stress and not crack like 2 by's.

I have also heard of those who will buy cutting boards made out of polyethylene and cut them to size. They seem to work well and do not crack. There are probably many other materials that could be used.

DICA looks like a very good solution.

CorsairIIAT · 02-02-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadeye916

I use these.

DICA, When Only The Best Will Do

I have thought about mounting them permanently to the existing pads. I agree, it would be nice if the jack manufacturers would make the pads larger.

My last Job we used a 26 ft furniture delivery truck as a mobile lab. It weighted at 30K lbs. And these are what we used for it. They worked really well for the 7 years I used that truck. We even used the jacks for changing out the tires when needed. I just wish they would have evened out the load. When it was made they put most weight on drivers side. so going around corners you felt it would flip over.

Always-RVing · 02-03-2010, 02:26 PM

There must be a reason why jack pads are not larger. Maybe weight, maybe cost, underside area size restrictions on various applications, etc.. How big should you go?

Chuck 1935 · 02-03-2010, 03:11 PM

They were designed by a person that has never camped in a Motorhome !!
Simple as that.

steelheadbluesman · 02-05-2010, 10:57 AM

Right on, Chuck. I've said many times, they should send their designers out on the road to live in these units for awhile. Then we'd see some stuff that really makes sense.

So, I'm thinking of an octagonal shaped pad, 12 inch circumference. Just cut off the four sharp corners. Make sense?

Chuck 1935 · 02-05-2010, 11:19 AM

steelheadbluesman, I think it would look better but you would lose square inches and that would require more cutting and more cutting is more work and I gave that up five years ago and it's been hammer down since then. As a matter of fact, the only reason I have been on this thing so much is due to all the rain down here in So Cal. Tuesday it's off to the beach for a week. I'm getting shacknasty, it's time to get out and burn up some natural resources. SPREAD THE SMOG. (sorry fat Al)