Community Forums

JoeLui · 10-07-2013, 10:54 AM

My question is, while we have are RV parked at the house should we keep it on the jacks?

Joe

HD4Mark · 10-07-2013, 10:57 AM

I am also interested in this. We never have but now I read it may be better for the tires to take some weight off and to "exercise" the jacks.

Steve N Sal · 10-07-2013, 11:01 AM

I don't see anything wrong in doing that. I put our jacks on the curb side down when we have ours at the house. Of course I have to do that for the steps to clear the curb.

Mr_D · 10-07-2013, 11:16 AM

Our storage area is slightly downhill, enough that to level the rig I have to have the front wheels off the ground. Been storing the present rig for 11 years that way now with no troubles.

SarahW · 10-07-2013, 12:40 PM

Our storage facility is level and we do not store the RV with jacks down.

vsheetz · 10-07-2013, 12:52 PM

I do jacks down. Keep the weight off the suspension. Level to walk around inside. Able to put the slides out.

njs42 · 10-07-2013, 01:47 PM

Some do some don't, suit yourself seems to be the prevailing thought unless your manufacturer says not to do it then it is your call. Being down by itself does no harm and I have had mine down as long a three months when using the RV.

I suppose if they are down they could lose pressure and retract w/o you noticing.

I do not leave them down in storage. I like them tucked up with the shafts protected from weather. No particular reason, I just have no reason to put them down either.

wa8yxm · 10-07-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsheetz

I do jacks down. Keep the weight off the suspension. Level to walk around inside. Able to put the slides out.

When I took my RV safety class... This was the recommendation of the instructor, and the reason.

I will add.. Read our jack's owner's manual.. Some of them recommend lubricating by wiping down with a specified lubricant from time to time

Two very good times are

1: When putting it in storage
2: When getting ready to "hit the road" come spring.

EDALLSAILS · 10-07-2013, 02:07 PM

At the Freightliner Camp (school) Mike Cody recommended always camping and storing with Jacks down. 1. It takes weight off the airbags. 2. It stabilizes the rig as well as levels the rig. 3. with bags deflated and jacks UP you run risk of possibly pinching a air bag causing a leak. Unless we're Wal docking I always drop air and extend Jacks. safe travels.... ed

HicksRA · 10-07-2013, 02:26 PM

I don't know what kind of RV you have, but my Spartan chassis manual recommends storing my Newmar with the jacks down, so that's what I do. Probably not the end of the world either way.

bradnailer · 10-07-2013, 03:30 PM

I store with my stabilizers down because our manual says not to put out the slides unless the stabilizers are down. We normally have the slides in but when we are preparing for a trip or using the trailer as a spare bedroom, all we have to do is put the slides out.

George Lewis · 10-07-2013, 03:44 PM

I store "Hoppie" in my barn with a concrete floor. I never put the jacks down. Why? I just never thought about it one way or the other. I might have thought it could crack the concrete or something like that. Hey, I should exercise the jack system and will put them down tomorrow....leave them a few days and retract them....may do this ever month or so when not in use. Thanks for the idea and will also read my jack book before I do....

Dfreiberger · 10-07-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

When I took my RV safety class... This was the recommendation of the instructor, and the reason. I will add.. Read our jack's owner's manual.. Some of them recommend lubricating by wiping down with a specified lubricant from time to time Two very good times are 1: When putting it in storage 2: When getting ready to "hit the road" come spring.

I have work hydraulic systems for many years. What is best is to wipe with oil to clean and then wipe oil off. You do not want to leave oil on the pistons because they will collect dust and debris. This dirt and debris will wear on inner seals and cause leaks. Just a thought.

dieselclacker · 10-08-2013, 05:58 AM

Our motorhome is parked outside throughout the winter months. I do not extend the jacks, as I do not wish to expose the shafts to the severe weather for this length of time. I also agree with the above post, regarding wiping the oil from the shafts so as to prevent dust, dirt and other debris from collecting on them, which could score the seals within the jacks. YMMV.