Community Forums

GiddyupgoTX · 07-24-2015, 12:51 PM

Our new-to-us house has a driveway which unfortunately has a bit of a downward slope. When I parked the rig the other day, I wound up driving the front wheels up onto 3 of the yellow standard leveling blocks from our trailer days (3 blocks stacked to be 2-high), so that I wouldn't have to raise the front wheels off the ground to level the rig. We'll be living in it in the driveway about 2 months as our house is being remodeled.

Today I realized in looking at the front tires that not ALL of the tires are on the blocks; one side is in the air on each of the tires, as the tire is wider than the block. Since it will be parked for quite awhile, should I move it and put it on 6 blocks per tire (again, 2-high, but also 2-wide) so that ALL of the tread is on a block? I sure don't want to do anything to mess up the tires!

Thanks for your input: I'm still a novice at motorhomes.

530ktm · 07-24-2015, 01:16 PM

Personally, I would make sure the entire tread is on the block or what ever they are sitting on. If only for a few days then I would not worry about it but for the length of time you are saying I think it best to have the entire tread on a solid surface.

SarahW · 07-24-2015, 01:22 PM

Yes, you need to have the entire tread on a solid surface. Buy a 2x12 and cut it into pieces to fit under the tires.

mel s · 07-24-2015, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandN

Our new-to-us house has a driveway which unfortunately has a bit of a downward slope. When I parked the rig the other day, I wound up driving the front wheels up onto 3 of the yellow standard leveling blocks from our trailer days (3 blocks stacked to be 2-high), so that I wouldn't have to raise the front wheels off the ground to level the rig. We'll be living in it in the driveway about 2 months as our house is being remodeled.
Today I realized in looking at the front tires that not ALL of the tires are on the blocks; one side is in the air on each of the tires, as the tire is wider than the block. Since it will be parked for quite awhile, should I move it and put it on 6 blocks per tire (again, 2-high, but also 2-wide) so that ALL of the tread is on a block? I sure don't want to do anything to mess up the tires!
Thanks for your input: I'm still a novice at motorhomes.

LandN
Yes you should.
See: Keeping It On the Level
Mel
'96 Safari

Mr_D · 07-24-2015, 01:45 PM

Yep, that's one of the cautions that tire companies put in their RV tire brochures. In the Michelin brochure it's under "The use of blocks to level motorhomes/RV's equipped with radial Tires" on page 10 (at lest that's the page in the one I have open now).

Mr_D · 07-24-2015, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW

Yes, you need to have the entire tread on a solid surface. Buy a 2x12 and cut it into pieces to fit under the tires.

Our tires are 13+" wide at the tread so I have to use two 2 X 12 blocks side by side or three side by side for the drive wheels.

mel s · 07-24-2015, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Our tires are 13+" wide at the tread so I have to use two 2 X 12 blocks side by side or three side by side for the drive wheels.

Mr_D
IMO you should be using wider... and longer... blocks than 11-1/2" X 11-1/2"under "13+ inch wide" tires!
Mel
'96 Safari

wa8yxm · 07-24-2015, 03:44 PM

Short answer: Yes You should

Or use 2x12 under the tires if that is wide enough.

I have some 2x12s glued together as stairsteps (use glue) so that I can stop. Put the steps in front (or behind) tires and drive up as much as needed.. DO NOT OVER DRIVE that top step though.. Some day I'll work on that.

530ktm · 07-24-2015, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mel s

Mr_D
IMO you should be using wider... and longer... blocks than 11-1/2" X 11-1/2"under "13+ inch wide" tires!
Mel
'96 Safari

I believe he is saying he puts two of those down which is around 23 inches for the 13 inch tread up front and three of them for the back which is around 35 inches for the back.

SarahW · 07-24-2015, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Our tires are 13+" wide at the tread so I have to use two 2 X 12 blocks side by side or three side by side for the drive wheels.

So then the answer remains the same. Buy 2x12 and cut into pieces. Arrange the pieces however you like.

Davdeb1 · 07-24-2015, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW

Yes, you need to have the entire tread on a solid surface. Buy a 2x12 and cut it into pieces to fit under the tires.

Your can buy a pack of 4 plastic pads for the tires that cost about the same as a 2X12. I just but camco set of 4 pads for about $15.

mel s · 07-24-2015, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW

So then the answer remains the same. Buy 2x12 and cut into pieces. Arrange the pieces however you like.

SarahW
OR make 8-12 blocks large enough for the "ground contact size" of the tires on your coach out of 3/4' thick treated plywood and stack them loose, (or glue and screw 2 together to make 4-6 1-1/2" thick blocks and stack them whenever necessary.
Mel
'96 Safari

SarahW · 07-24-2015, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davdeb1

Your can buy a pack of 4 plastic pads for the tires that cost about the same as a 2X12. I just but camco set of 4 pads for about $15.

Since the OP said he is currently using plastic pads that are not big enough, I was simply offering an easy alternative.

SarahW · 07-24-2015, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mel s

SarahW
OR make 8-12 blocks large enough for the "ground contact size" of the tires on your coach out of 3/4' thick treated plywood and stack them loose, (or glue and screw 2 together to make 4-6 1-1/2" thick blocks and stack them whenever necessary.
Mel
'96 Safari

Yes, you certainly can do that. There are numerous methods to accomplish what the OP needs for his driveway. The 2x12 cut to size (and stacked if necessary) would be easy and fairly inexpensive.