Forum Discussion

cannesdo's avatar
cannesdo
Explorer
Jun 22, 2017

Stabilizing jacks...and tire protection for 2+ year stay

I have a heavy 36' fifth-wheel (15K lbs). I removed my stabilizing jacks a while back because one side was bent and they were rusty and I just wanted to lighten my load but I'm going to stay put on the Oregon coast for a few years and would like to stabilize the back end. What do I need to look for that would do the job for the lowest cost? I also sold the steel jack stands I had bought for repairs before I went mobile again last year. grr...Are jack stands an acceptable way to stabilize long term? It's just me in the rig. 120 lbs.

And what about tire care? I'm on gravel, the tires were put on as a new set a year ago. The two that get hit with sunlight (the others are under the slide and concealed by very close bushes) have covers. Do I need to cover the others also? Is it best for the tires to be off the gravel? On wood? Should I take a little weight off them with the jacks in back or just lift it enough to stabilize it? I don't want to do any damage to them as I stay put. Is there anything else I can do to protect them? I know people have differing views on tire protectants.

Thanks...
  • larry_barnhart's avatar
    larry_barnhart
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    I would let the tires sit on wood or a plastic pad to keep on the ground dirt or what ever. Our alpenlite sits on plywood both at home and during the winter in Az. I do this because I feel it is better and because I can. Keep the tires to max pressure. Sitting for 2 years isn't good for rv tires . The answer to this is ya gotta do what ya gotta do. be safe

    chevman
  • cannesdo's avatar
    cannesdo
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    GordonThree wrote:
    15000 lb trailer, and ditching the jacks lightened the load?? by how much percentage wise?

    A set of six or eight cheapo stands from Harbor Freight should support that beast, grab a cheapo trolley jack while you're at it.

    Protect the tires? How about take the wheels off and slide them under the rig where the sun don't shine. If it's 2+ years, you won't be needing them anytime soon, right?


    Thanks for the response. I was not really inquiring about whether or not you feel it was a good move to remove the stabilizing jacks on the back of my rig and I'm not really up for going into it here. There are many factors that led to that decision. And it's not only about percentage of weight but where that weight is located. My rig felt so much better on the road with out that weight and several hundred other pounds that I pulled from various other areas of the rig at the same time.

    I think it would be easier to to cover the tires then remove them completely and I'm not interested in living in an RV that isn't sitting on its wheels. I may decide to leave for a bit at some point for a few months and I don't like the idea of not having the tires under me in general. If there were some kind of emergency in the park I surely wouldn't be wanting to try to put tires on my rig in a hurry.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Jun 23, 2017
    15000 lb trailer, and ditching the jacks lightened the load?? by how much percentage wise?

    A set of six or eight cheapo stands from Harbor Freight should support that beast, grab a cheapo trolley jack while you're at it.

    Protect the tires? How about take the wheels off and slide them under the rig where the sun don't shine. If it's 2+ years, you won't be needing them anytime soon, right?

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