should I be using a stand when not in use

Mine rests on cinder blocks when its not on the truck.
I don't have a good reason why other than I don't like it being stored on the jacks alone.

My TC has been unsupported almost all of the time it's off the truck for the past 16 years. However, I did support it on my property while we were having some remodeling done. It was easy enough to do it. I used jacks like these with a board on top. for each end. It did help the stability.

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I think the more likely problem is the jacks sinking if not on asphalt or concrete. Do make sure you put something under the jacks to increase the surface area of the feet. I usually use 1 ft squares of a stall mat although plywood would work as well.

BurbMan wrote:
I always stored ours on a pair of 2x8 planks on top of cement blocks, so it sat like it did in the truck. Yes, the jacks are designed to support the camper, and we camped in it several times off the truck with it sitting on the jacks.

However, if you look at the length of the jacks they apply a LOT of leverage to the mounting points, and every time you wiggle something it works to make it looser. I depend on my jacks when I need them, why stress them when I don't?

There is certianly nothing wrong with how you are storing the camper, but in my mind putting on solid footing is better.

I agree and All great points! We have camped off the truck at least 300 times and we have never had a single issue. Of course a few years we had the stable-lift and that was even nicer. I do agree with your points though.

“ Our 2013 AF811 has spent all its 5-6 month winters on it’s jacks. On asphalt. No issues, and no other supports.”

Sorry for being overly cautious with a high dollar purchase, Slymer.

midnightsadie wrote:
seems to me it would take the stress off nuts an bolts if it was sitting on blocks.jack used for loading unloading.

You're correct, and any questionable setup (old camper, potential rot, poor quality, etc), I'd agree 100%.
I started out supporting our AF camper the first year, thought it was needed. Then as I noticed more campers, either being stored or in use off the truck, without supports, my means and methods get less involved, and the second one we bought was an 03 model (wood frame), sitting on jacks only for who knows how long, and continued to including being used to camp, off the truck just on jacks (lowered down) for another half dozen years.
I can recommend it being ok for AF camper in good condition, but qualify it with at your own risk for other campers/conditions/scenarios.

JimK-NY wrote:
I have never heard of a jack failing or any major issue....

Then you haven't read this thread.

I always stored ours on a pair of 2x8 planks on top of cement blocks, so it sat like it did in the truck. Yes, the jacks are designed to support the camper, and we camped in it several times off the truck with it sitting on the jacks.

However, if you look at the length of the jacks they apply a LOT of leverage to the mounting points, and every time you wiggle something it works to make it looser. I depend on my jacks when I need them, why stress them when I don't?

There is certianly nothing wrong with how you are storing the camper, but in my mind putting on solid footing is better.

I have never heard of a jack failing or any major issue, but I do support the camper with a small stack of pallets. I would want to avoid a lot of swaying due to heavy winds. I suppose being only a foot or so off the ground would stop that, even so.....

My Lance 1181 was meant to be stored on all four jacks when off the truck. It said this in the manual and per Eric Dye in a thread many years ago that I was part of on Lance Of America. Eric is the owner of LOA or at least he was at the time. I haven't been over there in a while. Artic Fox I don't know.

seems to me it would take the stress off nuts an bolts if it was sitting on blocks.jack used for loading unloading.