Proper setup of the 5th Wheel on asphalt?

I replaced our "synthetic/composite deck a few years ago and used some of the old decking to make blocks/pads...

I have seen sites where the jacks went right thru the asphalt. We put blocks under our Big Foot jacks each time we park. Just something we have always done.

Almost always a good idea to put blocks under the feet, especially asphalt in warm weather. You spread the weight over a wider area & reduce the risk of damaging the surface for future users of the site.

Hate coming into a site only to find that some thoughtless previous occupier with buttons has leveled up his unit, put dimples in the surface or, worse, gone right through it.

Getting out & putting some lumber under the pads could make all the difference between leaving without a trace & destroying the site.

I've never understood tires on any surface either. Don't we all park our cars and trucks on asphalt all the time?

OP: I suggest you use something under the jacks (and even tires if possible) on your 5er. In hot weather, the weight of the camper will leave dimples in the asphalt. Remember the #1 rule of camping (any method).... always leave the campsite better than when you arrived! (and if it's your property, you most definitely want to leave it better than when arrived!)

I've always used lumber under my jacks, even my pop-up. I don't think my jacks on any camper I've owned has ever actually touched the ground or asphalt. I use to drive a motorcycle, and it was very common for the kick-stand to sink in the asphalt and leave a hole and if it sinks enough, could cause the motorcycle to fall over. That was more than 40 years ago I learned that. I adapted the same thing to any trailer I owned wherever metal touched the ground.

Always be a good camper and use something under the jacks to protect someone else's asphalt too, that they put down not only for your pleasure, but to keep it a pleasure for the next person following after you.

I have seen undercompacted AC pavement give a bit with heavier point loads. Most of the time I will distribute the weight a bit on all campin' surfaces - except concrete.

I have never quite understood about the problem with tires on any surface. They seem to come out just fine.

This is when we would park at the house when it is not in use so it could be parked for 3-4-5 months...
And I thought after the main post that I should have asked about the tires. But never thought about the oils, etc and the effect on the tread. Thanks for mentioning that.

I would think it depends on how long you're parking, and how hot it gets. I don't put anything under when on asphalt or concrete, but I do when on grass or gravel. But we don't park long, two and a half to three weeks at a time.

Mark

I think it's more of a preference but without pads, the asphalt could give a little. I know you didn't ask, but your tires should be on some sort of pad when sitting on asphalt for a long time. The oils and chemicals can affect the tires.