Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > MH-General Discussions & Problems
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-24-2020, 10:54 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Dr. Den's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: La Porte, Texas
Posts: 192
Storage / Tire Jacks

Lately at my storage facility I have three neighbors who have started storing their rigs with their jacks down. Of course the reason they give is that they believe it extends the life of their tires. The reasoning sound practical, but I question the effects that prolonged extensions of the jacks with a load would have on the jacks. Any ideas on this subject. I know that for me if I had left my Jacks down for two, three months, they would never come back up, that's just my luck.
__________________
2019 Thor Quantum LF 31 (2005 Jeep Wrangler)
Enjoy The Ride
Dr. Den is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 04-24-2020, 12:25 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Phoenix, Oregon
Posts: 2,207
That is a question I've been pondering since we got the Monaco with it's airbag suspension. I've been leaving the jacks down to keep it from coming all the way down on the airbags. The other side is that the jacks on it are retracted with springs that it seems to me would become weaker the longer they are in the stretched position, but I don't know. This just seems logical to me. I have left the jacks down for longer than 2 or 3 months and they came back up, but it took a while for the lights and dinger to indicate they were all the way up. I'm thinking the only other option would be to put large jack stands under it.

Our spring supported vehicles didn't have jacks, but I don't believe I would have left them down for extended periods if they had, for the same reason as mentioned above.

I don't think having the tires support the MH weight all the time has caused any problems except for possibly as flat spot that goes away after driving a short distance.

Steve
__________________
1994 30' Monaco Dynasty, 5.9 230 HP Cummins, MD 3060, 1992 Geo Tracker.

1996 Dodge Cummins 2500 with 1996 Lance 945 camper
dix39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2020, 12:28 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
FIRE UP's Avatar


 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,900
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Den View Post
Lately at my storage facility I have three neighbors who have started storing their rigs with their jacks down. Of course the reason they give is that they believe it extends the life of their tires. The reasoning sound practical, but I question the effects that prolonged extensions of the jacks with a load would have on the jacks. Any ideas on this subject. I know that for me if I had left my Jacks down for two, three months, they would never come back up, that's just my luck.
Well Dr Den,
First off, when was the last time you EVER saw or was told that, an RV're actually WORE a set of his RV tires out? That's an almost NEVER situation. So, the fact that someone says: "It EXTENDS the life of my RV tires", is pretty much useless. Second, setting your coach on it's jacks for an extended period of time, is perfectly fine. I mean, exactly WHAT would you be hurting/degrading/wearing out/ over using, WHAT? Nothing is the answer. In the earth moving equipment industry, hydraulic rams are staged in many different phases for large periods of time.

That is, they're in, they're out, their half way, they're loaded, they're unloaded and more and, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES. The seals and hydraulic oil don't care if the jacks/rams are in/out/half way/load/no load.

Now, I've done it both ways. Our coach lives with us in an RV garage tied to the two car garage. I've stored it with the jacks down and, with them up. The tires really don't care one way or another. I get the same amount of TIME, NOT MILEAGE, either way it's stored. Your choice.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
FIRE UP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2020, 12:53 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
Class A DPs sit in RV resorts for months and month on jacks. Some for 6 months at a time.

Springs don't wear out fast from being stretched. Ever look at a garage door spring. Streched unless the door is open.
twinboat is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2020, 08:59 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northwestern Montana
Posts: 3,512
I reside in northwest Montana, our motorhome sits on its jacks from November thru April every winter. I deploy them for leveling the rig for winter storage. Never a problem in last eleven years, they retract very well each spring after being down all winter. The jacks are HWH brand.
__________________
Dieselclacker
dieselclacker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2020, 01:13 AM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,209
The average non commercial vehicle, cars, trucks, motorhome, etc probably sits 22 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Tires are made to support the vehicle the same when driving and not driving.
Just another old wives tale that it prolongs tire life on jacks. But if it makes you feel better, who cares. It's your RV.
awol50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2020, 01:25 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Skip426's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,311
My coach is on the jacks 355 days of the year , for 5+ months at a stretch , I do however clean the rams ; as per HWH instructions before retracting if they're extended more that a week , particularly if it's been dusty.
LR jack was slow to the point of having to be pried up when I bought the coach , cleaning has cured that , no new springs required.

And I second awol50's take on the saving tires thing .
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
Skip426 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2020, 08:24 AM   #8
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 62
Just another opinion, but I think when sitting for long periods tires should be at max cold PSI, you may be running less than max based on actual weight of RV, but in storage they should be at max to keep the side wall from flexing as much while sitting in one place.
Leonandlisa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2020, 08:58 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Cat320's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,759
My manual says to use the jacks when stored....that's what they are for.
__________________
2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
Cat320 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2020, 09:55 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Gulf Streamers Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 4,308
yup, ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS A SMALL BIT OF RUST to blow a hydraulic seal :-(
__________________
(TerryH.) 2000-GS Conquest Limited 6266 Class-C 99-E450SD V10
THenne1713 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2020, 10:23 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
Good chrome piston shafts shouldn't rust.
twinboat is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2020, 05:28 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
veraken's Avatar


 
Monaco Owners Club
Vintage RV Owners Club
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 2,810
Here is a suggestion that I found on a previous thread. I checked with Paul Maddox (AZPETE on this forum) who works for HWH and he said it was OK.

"Put wood blocking under each jack, up to within an inch of each retracted jack. Dump the air, and the coach will settle onto the blocking.

Jacks are retracted, so their cylinders are protected from the elements. Jacks are built to support the weight.

The heavy load is taken off of the tires, just the suspension weight remains on the tires"
__________________
Vera & Ken
1998 Holiday Rambler Imperial, RR8S Chassis
Cummins 6C8.3 mechanical engine, 325HP, 3060 Allison
Towing 2014 Ford Explorer
veraken is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2020, 05:40 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Winemaker2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western NY
Posts: 6,142
Quote:
Originally Posted by veraken View Post
Here is a suggestion that I found on a previous thread. I checked with Paul Maddox (AZPETE on this forum) who works for HWH and he said it was OK.

"Put wood blocking under each jack, up to within an inch of each retracted jack. Dump the air, and the coach will settle onto the blocking.

Jacks are retracted, so their cylinders are protected from the elements. Jacks are built to support the weight.

The heavy load is taken off of the tires, just the suspension weight remains on the tires"
That's exactly what I do.

Checked w HWH and was told OK either up or down but I figured blocking better IMO. HWH does recommend periodicly "exercising" the jacks when stored or deployed for extended times.

I also air the tires up to / close to max P.

I disagree with others that say no problem storing tires in one orientation but they are certainly entitled to believe and do as they please. It's not about "wearing them out" it's about damaging belts that result in premature failures and potential MH damage or personal injury due to premature tire failures.

Here's what Michelin says about tire storage - I tend to value their input more than other random iNet forum speak. [Highlighting Mine]

Storing your tires:
  • Store your tires indoors in a clean, cool and dark location away from direct sunlight, sources of heat and ozone such as hot pipes or electric generators.
  • If you are storing outdoors (recommended for a short time only), raise tires off the ground and use waterproof covering with holes to prevent moisture build-up.
  • Be sure the surfaces on which tires are stored are clean and free from grease, gasoline, solvents, oils or other substances that could deteriorate the rubber.
  • If tires are on a vehicle parked for a long period, the weight of the vehicle needs to be taken off the tires by jacking it up or removing the tires. Failure to do this may cause irreversible damage.
__________________
Don & Marge
'13 Newmar Ventana 3433 - '14 CR-V TOAD
'03 Winnebago Adventurer 31Y - SOLD
Winemaker2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2020, 08:47 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,431
Quote:
Originally Posted by FIRE UP View Post
Well Dr Den,
First off, when was the last time you EVER saw or was told that, an RV're actually WORE a set of his RV tires out?
I don't mean to be "picky" but we have had to replace tires on our RV due to wear. We are not full timers but we travel much further in our RV in any year than in our car, so tire wear is an issue for us.

Having said that, we do not prop our RV up so as to relieve pressure on our tires. We pretty much go on short trips every 3 weeks and so that seems pointless in any case.
AJMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
jacks, storage



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Do you measure tire pressure while coach leveled on jacks or off of jacks and resting HavingABlast Newmar Owner's Forum 18 04-24-2016 08:44 PM
Jacks down then slides or slides then jacks down? Yolo72 Entegra Owner's Forum 10 01-29-2013 08:13 PM
jacks or no jacks hit the road Class A Motorhome Discussions 6 06-20-2012 11:38 AM
Jacks down alarm when Jacks are all up Help Janet&Sid Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 10 09-01-2011 11:30 AM
Replace Electric Jacks with Hydraulic Jacks? sidewinder2 5th Wheel Discussion 10 01-04-2011 08:25 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.