Put jacks down to stabilize camper in winds?

Thank you for the replies.

I take pieces of wood so I don't have to fully extend my back jacks down.

I tend to get up in the morning 1 to 2 hours before SWMBO. As I quietly walk around the TC floor, it will wake her by the camper rocking. I put the front jacks down to just contact the ground.

No more nighttime wind rocking either.

When we had our Lance camper, if we were not staying more than a night or 2, we would not put the jacks down. We were in a provincial park when at 6 am a severe storm came through, close to a tornado. It was later deemed to be a wind shear. Hundred of trees were downed, including one across the back corner of our camper. Luckily for us, the suspension of the truck let the weight of the tree lower the camper and then it came back up. It was difficult to get out the back door, but we managed and got saws to cut the tree (diameter about 12 inches). Ropes were used to suspend the weight of the tree and swing it away from the camper. The top of the ladder was all that was damaged. If the jacks had of been down and the camper somewhat rigid, we think the back corner would have been crushed. It was one of those lucky situations.

PS - no severe storm had been forecast and there are pictures in the park office of the destruction

Put them down with enough pressure to stabilize, not lift. Everything will be fine. If you don't do this as a normal course of action, I'd put something on the steering wheel to remind you they're down - a piece of red flagging tape.

Bill

Yes- in fact it pays to put them down whenever you will be at the same location for the night or more.

I did it a number of times. I would deploy them far enough to stabilize but nit lift and they worked great. Never loosened the tie downs as it was not lifting the camper, next day raise and go..... don't forget the raise part :S

I don't think the wind would bend the jacks, but you should unhook your tiedowns or be very careful not to put pressure on the camper frame.