? Why Leveling Jack Pads?

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
I use them all the time...probably more out of habit than anything else but like others, no matter the ground material, it does give your Jack's a larger footprint.

Use all the time also, bigger footprint and keeps the base of the pad clean and so far rust free.

do NOT put them down when wally world blacktop boondocking unless you spread the weight out using larger pads. after a few holes are punched in the blacktop, the no rv parking signs will appear.
bumpy

I use them all the time...probably more out of habit than anything else but like others, no matter the ground material, it does give your Jack's a larger footprint.

Handles? Easier to carry and easier to place and pull out when leaving. Painting? I paint mine Red so I don't drive off and leave them. Also protects the wood. Why use them? Manual indicates it gives more leveling with more stability, better on soft ground, hot asphalt, and on frozen ground metal seems to stick and wood doesn't.

I put handles on my 4"x 6" blocks. For some reason, the handles make it real easy to carry. I will normally use the blocks since they give more support than the skinny 1.5"x 1.5" alone. AND, I normally put those 4"x 6" blocks on a 8"x 8" 3/4" plywood. Of course, I don't put handles on the plywood pieces - not enough room. I don't paint my blocks, I prefer the el-naturel color of graying.

I've put pads down on hard packed dirt in a mostly level spot. After an evening thunderstorm, they had sunk an inch or two. Would have been worse without the pads.

We use 3/4 inch plywood(12X12) to increase footprint. Only used on grass or soft sites. Once you experience a jack that has sunk in mud or such, you'll appreciate what has been stated here...

Pads increase the footprint / surface area of the jack's foot, reducing the chances it will a) sink into the substrate b) damage the substrate.

If I'm on hard pack / gravel, I don't bother with pads under my stabs (dont have levelers).

If I'm on dirt / sand, a pad is an absolute must. If I'm on asphalt and it's summer time, pads for sure to prevent the stab from sinking into the tar.

I don't decorate my pads, they're just slabs of 2x10 lumber, or Lynx Leveler blocks.

dcmac214 wrote:
Other than (1) having the jacks as even as possible so RV frame doesn't 'rack' or (2) soft ground...

Why bother with pads under leveling jacks? Makes no sense to me.

And if you insist on using pads, why all the work & whatever expense putting handles on them, painting them, &c? Again, makes no sense to me.

?

I use jack pads when the ground is soft but otherwise they stay in the storage bin. I haven't painted mine but can see why those who use them all the time would want to make them more weather-resistant. I haven't used handles on mine but I did drill a hole in one corner of each pad and through which I looped a length of nylon cord. makes retrieval of the pad much easier on my knees.