Leveling blocks for a DP

[Groover]

I am thinking of getting some leveling blocks for my new DP but all of the hollow plastic ones I have found have some comments in the reviews that heavier motorhomes crushed them. Does anyone have some they would like to recommend?

The only blocks that I have found I am sure are sturdy enough sound like they are made from tire rubber and are solid so they are probably heavy and are fairly expensive. If that is the route I need to go I am thinking of buying are 4' X 6' X 1" thick horse mat from Tractor supply and cutting it up with a Skill saw to make my own.

[gatorcq]

We purchase the yellow ones from CW at a special $ of $17. Got 3 packs. So far we have been very pleased. I got rid of my 2"x12"x24" ramps, with a 2x12x12 on top, which I made. Too much weight, big and they dried out. Rig weight in arund 32Klbs.
For the levelers, 12x12x3/4 inch plywood. 3 sections screw together. I keep an additional 12x12x3/4 which goes over 2x4x12 either on side or end (cross configuration). This way, my wheels are always on solid material, and my jacks will not sink.

[2gypsies1]

We enjoy the boondocks or forest service areas and many spots are very uneven. Quite often our jacks won't raise the 40' diesel MH high enough and we definitely will not raise the jacks high so that the tires will be off the ground. To us, that's unsafe and also not good for the frame and windshield. So we've been very lucky in using the orange/yellow plastic blocks to run our tires up on them to correct the uneven terrain. They haven't cracked yet.

[lanerd]

Bruce Brown wrote:
I made a few. I bought a sheet of 3/4" plywood and cut it up into (18) 16" x 16" squares. Next I used Liquid Nails and deck screws and laminated them together - some 2 pc, some 3 pcs. That gives me a nice varity of 1.50" and 2.25" thick pads.

I also put 1" holes in each of the corners so I can use my awning rod to pull them back out when I'm packing up.

I did this about 10 years ago and they're still as good today as they were the first day.

Exactly what I did.

Ron

[TripleE]

We tried the horse mat route and it didn't work. When you stack a few of them up the jack just sinks into them. They do work to keep the damp from the jacks. We used 2x8 and had them cut to size. If they get ruined we can just throw them away and get new ones.

I saw these at an RV show and they looked like they would work but are fairly expensive.

[Groover]

FIRE UP wrote:
Grover,
As you can see and read, many folks have different ideas on what to use and whether or not to make them or buy them. It's all a matter of opinion. As long as they're stable, strong, non-slip type blocks, anything will work. I carry a small lumber yard with me. I've got (4) 4x10x20 that are beveled at one end. Those are primarily for the rig to drive on in the rear if, the rear is low when we enter a campsite that may need that kind of augmentation.

I also carry some 2"x10"x20" that are sandwiched between two 5/8" Birch plywood for additional leveling (primarily for the front wheels). And finally I carry (4) 11"x9" solid lumber, also sandwiched between the same Birch plywood for the jacks. Yep, it takes up a bit of room but, it's there for a purpose and, almost all of it is used on a fairly regular basis. I'm one of those types that does the "primary leveling" with the tires and wheels and use the jacks for "fine tuning" type thing.

That little lumber yard has come in handy way more times than you'd think. I've installed "eye bolts/screws" on all of them so a little bent arm can retrieve them when it comes time to pack up and move on to another sight. Way easy that way.
Scott

Those are impressive and nice workmanship too. I have never seen wood thicker than a 2X for sale around here unless it is pressure treated or bought direct from the Menonite sawmill. I don't see the ramps on the blocks in the pictures, how do you get up on them?

From the responses it sounds like there could be market for a retired person making these as a hobby.

[JimM68]

Mine are like bruce did above, 16" x 16", made from a cut up sheet of 3/4' treated plywood. holes in the corners so i can hook them with an awning rod. Stacked 3 high, glued and screwed.

They are heavy. They work. They worked really good with the gasser we used to have. The knight kinda squashes them like a taco.

[FIRE_UP]

Grover,
As you can see and read, many folks have different ideas on what to use and whether or not to make them or buy them. It's all a matter of opinion. As long as they're stable, strong, non-slip type blocks, anything will work. I carry a small lumber yard with me. I've got (4) 4x10x20 that are beveled at one end. Those are primarily for the rig to drive on in the rear if, the rear is low when we enter a campsite that may need that kind of augmentation.

I also carry some 2"x10"x20" that are sandwiched between two 5/8" Birch plywood for additional leveling (primarily for the front wheels). And finally I carry (4) 11"x9" solid lumber, also sandwiched between the same Birch plywood for the jacks. Yep, it takes up a bit of room but, it's there for a purpose and, almost all of it is used on a fairly regular basis. I'm one of those types that does the "primary leveling" with the tires and wheels and use the jacks for "fine tuning" type thing.

That little lumber yard has come in handy way more times than you'd think. I've installed "eye bolts/screws" on all of them so a little bent arm can retrieve them when it comes time to pack up and move on to another sight. Way easy that way.
Scott

[Bruce_Brown]

I made a few. I bought a sheet of 3/4" plywood and cut it up into (18) 16" x 16" squares. Next I used Liquid Nails and deck screws and laminated them together - some 2 pc, some 3 pcs. That gives me a nice varity of 1.50" and 2.25" thick pads.

I also put 1" holes in each of the corners so I can use my awning rod to pull them back out when I'm packing up.

I did this about 10 years ago and they're still as good today as they were the first day.

[Groover]

Fishinghat wrote:
I made some using 6X12's. They are about 2 feet long and tapered on one end so I can drive up on them, like a ramp. The disadvantage is they are on the heavy side.

At one favorite camp site, I have to use two of them on the front right corner to level my coach. The leveling jacks just won't raise the corner far enough.

Did you mean 2 X 12's? Have you had any trouble with them splitting lengthwise?

[Fishinghat]

I made some using 6X12's. They are about 2 feet long and tapered on one end so I can drive up on them, like a ramp. The disadvantage is they are on the heavy side.

At one favorite camp site, I have to use two of them on the front right corner to level my coach. The leveling jacks just won't raise the corner far enough.

[grandpalarry]

I bought the 12" square yellow ones from Camping World during my spending spree after we bought the 40 footer, last I saw of them they were peeking out of a dumpster in northern Washington.
Last week I saw the camp hoste cutting up some old picnic tables with a chain saw, I talked him out of 6 of the longer pieces (16 to 18 inches).
We moved the next day to the beach and they work great on the sand, I'm guessing they will work better on the dirt. Can't beat the price.

[fourmat]

for use under jacks? I use the orange plastic ones under jacks no problem with crushing