"to level or not to level"

[Ona_Whim]

'95 Fleetwood Southwind 37ft with 230hp Cummins New tires in 2012
Question: when left sitting for weeks,sometimes months, is it best to use jacks or let sit on the tires? I have 3/4" plywood which I park on but is it best to take some/all weight off the tires? Then I worry about the jacks rusting exposed to the elements.
Any suggestions or comments appreciated.
Thanks

[J-Rooster]

I have all my tires sitting on 2"x10"x2' wood planks, I have all of the tire tread sitting on the wood planks (this is to protect from inner side wall damage), I also have my tires covered from the sun and all my tires are blocked so the coach can't roll forward or aft. Then I level my coach and put the slides out. I've always have most of weight taken off the tires by the HWH Jacks. This practice has been working for me for a long time!

[Lobstah]

JimM68 wrote:
WOW, so many old wives tales in one post!

A box on sticks will not roll anywhere.

Tires are made to contact the ground.

It's been decades since bias ply dacron tires were known to flatspot.

Parking on steel rather than wood or gravel or asphalt, really?

Park the damn bus.
Level her out with your jacks
Cover the tires if you have covers.
Whipe the jack cylinders with ATF before you pull em up, if it makes you feel better.

And just dont sweat it.

X100...

Ever look at heavy equipment/construction equipment? Ever notice anyone out in the rental yard or equipment yard going rig to rig wiping the cylinders? Every see them park with the wheels off the ground? Ever go past any of the tractor trailer storage yards, where hundreds of trailers are parked for extended time?...do they park them with the wheels on steel, or wood?
Should I park my other vehicles on wood or plastic? They sit for extended periods of time...months sometimes.

Relax...enjoy your rig.

Jim

[Dachristianman]

I leave my tires on the ground all winter long....I don't have leveling jacks on my rig. 🙂

I dug a few holes in the dirt and put cinderblocks in the holes and park my tires on those. I figured it was the closest thing to a concrete driveway.

[Canadian_Rainbi]

JimM68 wrote:
WOW, so many old wives tales in one post!

A box on sticks will not roll anywhere.

Tires are made to contact the ground.

It's been decades since bias ply dacron tires were known to flatspot.

Parking on steel rather than wood or gravel or asphalt, really?

Park the damn bus.
Level her out with your jacks
Cover the tires if you have covers.
Whipe the jack cylinders with ATF before you pull em up, if it makes you feel better.

And just dont sweat it.

I'll have to agree with the above sentiments, except that my HWH manual says to use a silicone spray, not an oil based fluid such as ATF because of dust sticking to it.

We are parked jacks down 3 months + a few weeks every winter in Mexico.

[JimM68]

WOW, so many old wives tales in one post!

A box on sticks will not roll anywhere.

Tires are made to contact the ground.

It's been decades since bias ply dacron tires were known to flatspot.

Parking on steel rather than wood or gravel or asphalt, really?

Park the damn bus.
Level her out with your jacks
Cover the tires if you have covers.
Whipe the jack cylinders with ATF before you pull em up, if it makes you feel better.

And just dont sweat it.

[2oldman]

What is the concern about leveling?

[JC2]

Thousands of snowbirds have their rigs sitting for months and you can bet their jacks are down. Go to wally world and buy some cheapy plastic cutting boards and put under the tires. Use the jacks to raise/level the unit, which will take some of the pressure off the ires/frame. Pryor to leaving, wipe the shafts down with hydraulic oil as recommended by most jack manufactures.

[VinCee]

When I store my rig for the winter months outside in Western New York I park the rig on wood planks. I read somewhere that you want to get the tires off of the ground. Also read that the best material to park on is steel! Like you find that laying around. Wood will dry out faster than ground moisture though and I do like the idea as posted to paint it. To the OP's question about using the jacks, I always use mine to take a little pressure off of the tires. In addition, I will raise the front jacks a bit more to create a rear slope for water and later (yuk!) snow run off.

[Effy]

Wouldn't leaving them down/supporting the MH cause undue stress on the seals and valves in the Hydro pump and rams? Maybe not but it seems like it would after a long time. I think the valves and sweepers should be excercised peridically. Maybe not.

[Nomadac]

When stored for more than 30 days I use exterior grade plywood painted under the tires to for prevent moisture and use my jacks to level my MH. If I am concerned with jacks I spray silicone or wipe the jacks with hydraulic fluid to prevent corrosion, which I have never experienced. Has worked for me for the past 10 years.

[Dale_Traveling]

Leave the jacks up. It will take bit longer than what you described to cause the tires to flat spot. If you really want to get the tires off the ground jack stands are a better option but you always have to have a backup plan other than the installed jacks to get the coach off the stands if there is a problem.

Plywood is probably OK to get the tires out of the dirt but what might work would be to cover the wood with OTR trailer mud flaps. Usually made from recycled tires and not very expensive. Three will work. Cut one in half from the front wheels.

The off level area you described shouldn't be a problem for the coach. I would alternate which side is on the down slope. Your drive axle wheel bearings could be lubricated by the differential oil and if it sits long enough and slope is great enough one side could dry out and rust given the right conditions and time. A monthly drive and generator exercise would reduce the potential problems sitting could cause.

[Ona_Whim]

Good ideal!!! haven't thought of that, I could level and not have to use the jacks. I will give it a try. Thanks Effy. That's a prime example of "you don't know unless you ask"

[Effy]

How about plastic leveling blocks? I have used those in the past with success. Just make sure both rear wheels on the side you are bringing up are on them.

[Ona_Whim]

Thanks Effy, that was my first thought, but my parking space is unlevel side to side and almost level front to back so the weight is probably greater on one side?? Also what if I use plastic sheet over wood?