use hydraulic lifts down or up in winter for storeing

I'm with Effy on this one. I don't get it, but jacks up or down, whatever makes you feel better. If you store your motorhome with jacks down and 'it's what I've always done and I've never had a problem', that doesn't mean that if I don't do what you do that I WILL have a problem.

I don't think someone in Texas or Arizona or Florida can tell me that my HWH jacks won't rust if I extend them while in storage. I live in the Pacific Northwest on the side of a mountian in a rain forest: my house, garage, shop and vehicles are surrounded by trees with average height of about 140 feet. I don't see sun even in the summer and this time of year the sun doesn't get far above the horizon: a sunny day means I can see sunlight hitting the tops of the trees 140 feet up.

I never worry about things like sun exposure on my tires, or whether I should take the weight off during storage. What I DO worry about is water: if it's not falling from the sky it's dripping off the trees or coming out of the ground. Everything is wet all the time, everything turns green after a short time. I get moss on anything rubber: windshield wipers, tires, window seals. I get rust on any exposed metal, including shiny chromed hydraulic jack cylinders.

As for flat spots on tires: I do remember the old bias-ply tires getting a flat spot in cold weather just from sitting for a few hours. For the first 100 yards tires would 'thump, thump, thump' with every rotation, but quickly smooth out. So what. I've never felt a flat spot on modern radial tires. I can see a flat spot on the bottom of every tire that I own, but again: so what.

I checked out the Michelin link on tire storage: sounds like standard CYA legal-speak that gives them an 'out' if they ever get sued.

Do what works for you based on where you live, but don't assume that if it works for you that it'll work for everybody in every location.

Effy wrote:

rgatijnet1 wrote:

Effy wrote:
According my manual - Note it says jack stands not leveling jacks.

"Block up motorhome with wooden blocks or manufactured jackstands
on a hard level surface to relieve the constant pressure on
one area of the tires. Partially deflate the tires. Cover to protect
against sunlight with burlap, plywood or specially designed tire
covers which are available at RV dealerships."

But what has me scraching myhead is why? Again the flat spots? ANd I was always told wood is bad to rest tires on becuase it draws moisture. And why partially deflate the tires? Does anyone do this? None of this makes good sense to me.

Michelin has very specific recommendations for their tires:Tire storage

Easy enough, I will simply tuck my RV into the corner of my garage on blocks with the raised letters facing one another. I also plan on leaving a radio on for soothing music. I hear the tires relax to this and helps them rest.

Tune your radio to SiriusXM channel 66 for some smoooooth Jazz......my DP loves smooth Jazz......keeps the tires from flat spotting.

rgatijnet1 wrote:

Effy wrote:
According my manual - Note it says jack stands not leveling jacks.

"Block up motorhome with wooden blocks or manufactured jackstands
on a hard level surface to relieve the constant pressure on
one area of the tires. Partially deflate the tires. Cover to protect
against sunlight with burlap, plywood or specially designed tire
covers which are available at RV dealerships."

But what has me scraching myhead is why? Again the flat spots? ANd I was always told wood is bad to rest tires on becuase it draws moisture. And why partially deflate the tires? Does anyone do this? None of this makes good sense to me.

Michelin has very specific recommendations for their tires:Tire storage

Easy enough, I will simply tuck my RV into the corner of my garage on blocks with the raised letters facing one another. I also plan on leaving a radio on for soothing music. I hear the tires relax to this and helps them rest.

Effy wrote:
According my manual - Note it says jack stands not leveling jacks.

"Block up motorhome with wooden blocks or manufactured jackstands
on a hard level surface to relieve the constant pressure on
one area of the tires. Partially deflate the tires. Cover to protect
against sunlight with burlap, plywood or specially designed tire
covers which are available at RV dealerships."

But what has me scraching myhead is why? Again the flat spots? ANd I was always told wood is bad to rest tires on becuase it draws moisture. And why partially deflate the tires? Does anyone do this? None of this makes good sense to me.

Michelin has very specific recommendations for their tires:Tire storage

According my manual - Note it says jack stands not leveling jacks.

"Block up motorhome with wooden blocks or manufactured jackstands
on a hard level surface to relieve the constant pressure on
one area of the tires. Partially deflate the tires. Cover to protect
against sunlight with burlap, plywood or specially designed tire
covers which are available at RV dealerships."

But what has me scraching myhead is why? Again the flat spots? ANd I was always told wood is bad to rest tires on becuase it draws moisture. And why partially deflate the tires? Does anyone do this? None of this makes good sense to me.

azpete wrote:
hwh jack cylinder shafts do not rust. american made stainless steel does not rust.
chrome plated steel like some other manufacturers will. even the newer hwh jacks with nickel impregnated steel shafts do not rust. 100 hours of hot salt water spray showed no corrosion.
as far as storing with the jacks down, its is recommended but not required. its your coach. do as you wish. just dont read the service or operators manual. you may find the right answer.
this is an item debated every year and the same arguments from both sides.
anybody that has worked on coaches as long as doug or i have, know what is recommended. but dont take our word for it, read your manual
and yes if you dont have jacks dont do that

RVA jack cylinders also do not suffer from rusted cylinders. In fact RVA tells you that their cadmium plated cylinders can be scratched and it still will not affect the operation or the seal. RVA cylinders are 1/4" smaller than the bore and the seal is at the top of the cylinder and not affected by pitting, corrosion, or scratches on the cylinders. As you said, all it takes is to read your owners manual, or go to their website.

hwh jack cylinder shafts do not rust. american made stainless steel does not rust.
the outer tube and the housing are steel, and will rust. even on hwh.
chrome plated steel like some other manufacturers use will rust.
the newer hwh jacks with nickel impregnated steel shafts do not rust.
impregnated means molecules of nickel combine with the steel molecules in a way that they are intertwines with each other. not just adhering to the surface. the standard test for corrosion is 100 hours of hot salt water spray. the newer shaft showed no corrosion.
as far as storing jacks down or up, its your money. your operators manual should tell you what they think. or call the manufacturer.
in the end, its your coach so its your choice.

Blaster Man wrote:
Read your manual...jacks down while in storage.

My manual doesn't say that.

Blaster Man wrote:
Read your manual...jacks down while in storage.

Mine doesn't say that. Maybe it's an airbag/dp thing.

mtrumpet:

Oh, yes they do. Our house is about 60 yards across the street from a salt-water marina waterfront (the houses across are about a half mil more than ours!). The first season we owned our rig, I decided to put the jacks down for storage. Within about 3 weeks, the piston rods were showing signs of corrosion. I polished it off and retracted the jacks.

When I queried the system manufacturer, they said it was OK to leave the jacks down if you weren't "close" to salt water. When I asked them to define "close" their reply was "within 60 miles". We're within 60 yards. Now, I'm even reluctant to put the jacks out when were close to the ocean on an overnight!

What I decided to do was to go out once a month and jack up one end until the tires are off the ground. I then rotate the wheels about 2/3 of a turn. The following month, I do the same at the other end. After our typical off-season, the tires have been rotated at least 2/3 of a turn, and maybe a full turn. I reckon that's enough to prevent flat-spotting. The tires were new three years ago, and I don't see any evidence of damage. We've only put 5000 miles on them so far.