Plates or blocks for stabilizer jacks

Question

Being only several months in the Class A still finding lots of questions especially as I wind down from my first camping trip. All the years with my TT I kept blocks of wood to place under my scissor jacks to help on level ground and to provide support when on dirt or grass. Not a great deal of weight sat on them for the most part compared to a MH but now I'm wondering do I need to add plates or blocks for my MH to my arsenal of things to keep with it when traveling? Lot more weight as well as pressure and I would think wood unless really built up would break. Discussed it with my son, the mechanic and I was going to have him weld me some handles on aluminum plates similar to what we use our quint/ladder truck on the Fire Dept. I'm on, for the stabilizers when deployed but start wondering if it's really needed and if so how thick should the plates be...1/4', 3/8", etc.. My rig is the 31L5 Georgetown, weighs in probably around 9 1/2 - 10 tons loaded for camping though that's another step I need to take is get this weighed. Looking for inputs from the experts and more experience folks,
Thxs

bruce_brown · Answer

I got a sheet of 3/4" plywood then cut it into 18" squares. I then laminated them in 2 and 3 thickness pieces (1-1/2" & 2-1/4" thick plates) for use under the jacks as needed. For ease of removal I drilled 1" holes in each corner and use my awning rod to pull them out when the jacks come up.

I've been doing it this way for about 15 years now and it works well for us.

ncrowley · Answer

I use pads under my jacks whenever I am not on a solid surface such as concrete. They give a larger surface so the jacks do not dig into the surface. I use the Outdoors for Life pads and really like them. They come with a bag and handles that make it easier to place and remove the pads. There are other manufacturers of jack pads. Some folks make their own out of wood.

padre1944 · Answer

Don't need anything unless the ground is soft grass or very loose gravel.

2chiefsrus · Answer

Jack PadsThis is what we have been using for nearly 10 years now.  Work Great!

harley-dave · Answer

Some parks we have been to require some kind of pad no matter what their surface. We just got in the habit of placing some of the thick plastic jack pads under them no matter where we. We also use the yellow wheel chocks to prevent rolling in case the rear wheels come of the surface. Less to think about that way.

Dave

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Plates or blocks for stabilizer jacks

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