Leveling Jacks for the Old Folks

lakebum wrote:
Instead of asking a question from a NEWBIE, thought I would just change it around a little...

Been camping all my life, from tent, popup, travel trailer, fifth wheel and taking delivery finally on Class A tomorrow.

I am fortunate enough to be able to store our new to us unit in an enclosed building I rent, and got to thinking about the leveling jacks and full wall side.

I have never had or used the auto leveling jacks and wondered if it would hurt to keep them extended and slide out while parked?

Our fifth wheel stayed parked there as well and we just always kept it with all three slides out and no jacks.

But I had read that the slide full wall slide should not be extended (or couldn't) without the jack stands down.

Any advice would be appreciated. Don't want to tear up anything before we even get started....

Unless you have a reason to have slides out I personally would leave slides in jacks up No stress and jacks wont rust

One thing to keep in mind - the rams in most cases are chrome plated and will pit if exposed to the wrong thing. I left St Louis in a snowstorm a few years ago driving through salt/calcium chloride covered roads along the way. When I got to my destination in lower Florida, I had the jacks extended for over a month. Some of the salt must have gotten on the extended rams and pitted a couple of them. I should have wiped them down before I retracted them because I would have noticed the pits and could have sanded/filed them down beforehand. The pits ended up tearing up the seals and I developed leaks. The jacks I had (Kwikee) were not serviceable and after talking to a local hydraulic shop, I cut them open with a grinder before taking them in. They replaced the seals and welded them back together. Cost about $300 to do it that way but replacement jacks would have been over twice that much. If you're leaving your jacks down outdoors in the elements, be sure to check them before retracing so you won't end up with the mess I had.

Check whether your builder says to have the jacks down before slides down or not. A post on here about Full Wall Slides said that in some cases the slides need to be out or the slide will bind.

Stored mine for 6 months each winter in FL with jacks down - slides in (storage area wouldn't accommodate slides out).

If slides are out jacks are essential. The slides like to be level; probably won't be if extended without jacks. Jacks also take a bit of weight off the tires. Concrete will pull chemicals from, and degrade, the tires if in direct contact. Wood or plastic should be under the tires.

With the coach parked on a level surface you should be OK. The slide may shift the center of gravity enough to lean the coach slightly on the suspension. Enough to compromise the slide? Probably not but wouldn't hurt to have the jacks down. I would put the jacks down if the slide needs to move, in or out. In storage away from home though I would keep the slides in and the jacks up. Tire should be OK without anything under them being parked on dry concrete but again wouldn't hurt to have something under them.

I now park my MH inside. I leave the slides out but don't bother with the jacks. RVs only have to be level if the fridge is running.

Um.... Fulltimers obviously have the jacks down and the slides out essentially 100% of the time. Outside, in the rain, cold, heat, and occasional snow.
I think you doing the same inside an enclosed building will be fine.

I to spray for bugs,but I also use cab fresh, and dryer sheets.never had a problem in 13 years.

I store my coach next to my house.

I do not leave the jacks down as it provides four more paths for the ants, etc to enter my RV.

I spray around the tires and power cord with ant and termite killer on a regular schedule along with the refrigerator and water heater bays. I've been successful so far keeping insects out.

happy-2 wrote:
I park my rv next to my home,and I keep it plugged into power,jacks down, and all 3 slides out. don't forget to roll up on rubber or wood under the tires.

It will be on cement in a climate controlled building, still rubber or wood?