We purchased ABS plastic jack pads (20,000 lb. weight capacity each) for typical usage, but we know we will need additional jack pads if we are on unlevel ground. I had Home Depot cut some 3/4 plywood into 12x12 pieces for me, that we can use to assist with leveling. However, I am not sure how many pieces it makes sense to carry with us. A 18 gallon roughneck tub will easily hold the 4 ABS jack pads and 14 of the plywood 12x12s, but I think that is overkill--and I am sure we could use the weight/space otherwise. I would be interested to know what the maximum number of jack pads that others have used.

Thanks,
Lynn

I rarely have had to put anything under the jacks but fairly often have had to put something under the tires to get them high enough for the jacks to level the chassis without lifting them off the ground. I have carried four sets of ten of the Leggo type leveling blocks and once or twice have used them all. i don't have the space for a lot of wood blocks and don't want the weight either.

Now I am older and a lot more grouchy and will move to another site or another RV park if I can't level with the jacks alone.

-- Edited by Clay L on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 12:41:28 PM

-- Edited by Clay L on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 12:43:31 PM

Mike and Clay, thank you for your responses!

Based upon what you carry Mike, it sounds like we should carry 12 of the plywood 3/4" 12x12s, since the ABS plastic jack pads are also 3/4" high. It lights the load in the basement slightly ... by eliminating two of the 12x12s . Overtime, we will see how comfortable/how frequently we choose to stay on unlevel sites/locations and can potentially eliminate some more of the 12x12s.

Lynn and Ed wrote:

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We purchased ABS plastic jack pads (20,000 lb. weight capacity each) for typical usage, but we know we will need additional jack pads if we are on unlevel ground. I had Home Depot cut some 3/4 plywood into 12x12 pieces for me, that we can use to assist with leveling. However, I am not sure how many pieces it makes sense to carry with us. A 18 gallon roughneck tub will easily hold the 4 ABS jack pads and 14 of the plywood 12x12s, but I think that is overkill--and I am sure we could use the weight/space otherwise. I would be interested to know what the maximum number of jack pads that others have used.

Thanks,
Lynn

-- Edited by Lynn and Ed on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 11:36:31 AM

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Lynn and Ed:

You may need additional jack pads if the NH is really unlevel left to right.  No problem using pads if you want to.  However, the Big Foots, in our experience, will auto extend to the correct length required before they try to level the rig.  That is they will come down, you can do it manually in the front as you unhitch, and they will “find” and actually verify they are individually solid on the ground before they try to pick up the rig. 

I always extended the ones in front to the ground, unhitched, and then hit the auto button and watched the blinking lights.  All four make sure they are solid to the ground, individually, before they attempt to level the rig. They “bump” the hydraulic pumps (one on each leg) and look for back pressure so to speak to make that “I'm solid” determination.

That’s the way ours worked for years and I seldom needed any pads except when the ground was muddy and I didn’t want that mud getting on the hydraulic shafts.  Naturally, using pads or building up the pads vertically can't hurt a thing.  But the Big Foot system is designed to level the rig under some pretty adverse conditions and you don't need to "pre-level the ground" as some other systems might require.

YMMV

Bill

Larry and Bill, thank you both for your responses!

Bill, I did realize that the Big Foot system would address some of the leveling but also thought there would be times when the system might needs some help--although it would be nice if that was not the case. As I further figure out what will go where in the basement (and in what tubs), I will likely further reduce the number of plywood 12x12s we bring with us ... thanks .

Lynn and Ed,

Something to consider with regards to plywood.  Since they are made up of multiple layers of thinner pieces of wood, those layers could begin to separate once they start getting wet.  For that reason, I always use solid wood, regardless of the thickness.  However, it should also be mentioned that thinner wood may split easier when pressure is put on them when they are on somewhat uneven ground.

Personally, I use two systems, but have not really tested the second one very well.  I use 2-inch blocks of wood that are at least 12"x12" for the first system.  The second system is a bunch of pieces cut from a barn stall mat that I picked up at Tractor's Supply.  I have about 4 pieces that are 8" wide and 5-feet long and the rest are 8" wide and about a foot long that make up the second system.  Why I'm saying that isn't tested is because I've not used them much.  I am currently using one of the 5-foot ones under the wheels on one side of the coach to make it more level before extending the leveling legs.  I've noticed that when I back up on that strip when it is on concrete, it tends to want to "squish" to one side.

I found the idea for the rubber mats at this location:  RV Leveling Blocks Built for Indestructibility

In that article above, he used a hacksaw to cut that barn stall mat.  I used one of the utility knives that uses angled razor blades.  I had to make multiple cuts to get all the way through, but it makes a cleaner cut than what a hacksaw would.

Once we get moved to Colorado, our wheels won't be on concrete, so I may have to rethink what I do up there.

Terry

Alie & Jims, Bill and Terry, thanks!

Terry, I thought about solid wood jack pads, but decided on the plywood since ideally we will not regularly need them for leveling. Additionally, when the plywood is used they will be placed on top the ABS plastic jack pads, so they should have minimal contact with the ground (although they will be exposed to weather conditions) and benefit from the underlying strength of the ABS plastic. Over time, depending upon how often we need to use the wood jack pads, we might upgrade our wood choice. If it is of interest to you (or others reading the thread) -- the ABS jack pads we purchased are on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TPEP7C/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1), but they can also be found otherwise at a better price. I assume these ABS jack pads will provide us with many years of use.

Lynn

I don't know how many we have, but I do know it's too many. All of our blocks were used when we had to level on our old driveway before we sold the house. I keep saying we need to get rid of some of them, I never want to have to level on that steep of a slope again!! One purging battle I have not yet won, but I will

NWescapee wrote:

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I don't know how many we have, but I do know it's too many. All of our blocks were used when we had to level on our old driveway before we sold the house. I keep saying we need to get rid of some of them, I never want to have to level on that steep of a slope again!! One purging battle I have not yet won, but I will

 

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 Hey, Ruth!!!

How close are you to the lake?????

Just sayin'.

Terry

I got a 12 foot 2x8 and had the Home Depot guys cut it into 6 sections. We always use one under each jack unless we're sitting on concrete and usually even then I put them in. I've had to put the another one on top of the standard ones exactly once…we had a site that was really low on one rear corner and the Big Foot didn't have enough trail to level. Never used the sixth one. Ours live in the bed of the truck when towing.

You'll definitely need something with a NH…the weight makes the jackpots sink into the ground on grass sites and on asphalt ones when the weather is hot. Gravel they usually won't sink nor on concrete…but we always use them even on concrete. Depending on how much surface area the ones you got have…you might need the wood ones anyway on grass sites to keep you from sinking…particularly if it's rained recently.

Lynn and Ed wrote:

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Alie & Jims, Bill and Terry, thanks!

Terry, I thought about solid wood jack pads, but decided on the plywood since ideally we will not regularly need them for leveling. Additionally, when the plywood is used they will be placed on top the ABS plastic jack pads, so they should have minimal contact with the ground (although they will be exposed to weather conditions) and benefit from the underlying strength of the ABS plastic. Over time, depending upon how often we need to use the wood jack pads, we might upgrade our wood choice. If it is of interest to you (or others reading the thread) -- the ABS jack pads we purchased are on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TPEP7C/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1), but they can also be found otherwise at a better price. I assume these ABS jack pads will provide us with many years of use.

Lynn

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We carry a set of similar pads that we got at a rally many years ago.  They are still good.  Black ABS is supposed to have UV (sun) protection.  I destroyed some of the yellow Camco blocks after 3 months in the sun, they discolored and distorted.   But those pads are not very thick.  Close to the cutting saw at home improvement stores there is often a scrap bin, you can often find nice lumber at a discount there.