Community Forums

glennschau · 01-07-2012, 04:07 PM

I have a Forest River 30' with the KVH jack system. The MH is stored covered next to the house on a concrete pad. Is is best to put the jacks down for the 2-3 months or let it sit on the tires with some plywood flats under them?

frankdamp · 01-07-2012, 09:28 PM

Glenn:

This is the second winter we've owned our Georgetown. Last winter, I put it up on the levellers and followed the manufacturer's recommendations for a rig stored "near saltwater". I went under once a week and wiped the piston rods down with a rag soaked in hydraulic fluid.

Towards the end of winter, there were rust patches on all four piston rods, but they were shallow enough to buff out. That was whn I discovered that "near" meant within 60 miles. We're within 60 yards!

Due to medical issues just before Christmas, I'm a bit behind schedule this year. I still think that relieving the tires of a significant portion of their normal load is a good idea if they're going to sit for 5 months.

I just got some 2 x 4's and plywood and am going to make four 12' x 12" pads, double thickness of the lumber in the 2" direction and with a covering of 1/2" plywood top and bottom. One will go under each jack, with a lawn & leaf plastic bag under the jasck foot. After lowering the jacks to a point where the RV is level and most of the load is off the tires, I'll wipe down the piston rods and then roll the plastic bags up to the base of the jacks, tieing them off with Tyraps.

I thnk I'll be keeping the jack pads on board for possible future stays at places with soft pads.

glennschau · 01-08-2012, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the reply Frank. Although I don't live close to the ocean my concern was still the effect the OK wind and dirt and other airborne crap that could effect the deployed struts. I was also concerned about the "stress" on the tires when not using the jacks. I like your idea about the trash bags, think I'll give it a try.

Best Regards

ksg5000 · 01-09-2012, 02:32 PM

For what it's worth using the jacks for winterizing doesn't make much sense to me - tires are designed for the weight of the rig and people level the rig for their comfort and to make the fridge work properly (neither apply when your put the rig away for winter).

RickO · 01-09-2012, 03:40 PM

Welcome to the forum! There are many opinions on this but I choose to use the jacks to relieve much/most of the weight from the tires. Yes the tires are designed for the weight but they're also designed to be driven and my logic (flawed though it may be

) is that it is better for them to not have all of that weight in one spot for an extended period of time.

Storage in Phoenix eliminates the sea breeze concern but we still have dust to contend with.

Good luck...

Rick

rough road · 01-11-2012, 06:40 AM

putting the jacks in bags would be the kiss of death-will the system lift the wheels off the ground? if so raise the vehicle then block the frame and retract the jacking system-safe secure and no rust worries.