Best material for jack supports?

[realter]

I store my TC inside, and currently have some Square wood jack supports made out of plywood. I'd like to have some more, so that I don't have far to lower the camper when removing it from the truck. I found a bunch of wood shelves made from sawdust?. Are these strong enough to support the camper legs? Anybody got any other ideas? The ones I have now are about a foot square, and originally used to support scaffolding. THANKS

[realter]

I guess I've been lucky so far, but probably better start using the jacks for what they were built for.

[mkirsch]

Even if it's not outside, the particle board shelving is going to wick up moisture from the floor of the building.

Even if you think your building is "dry," it will still wick up moisture.

But, you're not going to listen so go do whatever you feel is best. You came here wanting to be told what you wanted to hear, but that didn't happen. Sorry.

It really grinds my gears when people come here asking for help/opinions, only to summarily dismiss them.

[meatwagon]

Why don't you want to lower your jacks are they manual? If so you can use a hand drill to run them up and down. How much room do you have between the edge of jacks to the side of your truck? I have about 2" on each side of mine (meaning that I would have to set my jacks on the inside edge of those jack blocks your talking about). now take a look at a step ladder wider at the bottom than the top, why? it's more stable that way. climb that step ladder and climb up 2' then stand on the edge as apposed to the middle and lean out you'll soon see how unstable it gets out on the edge, or stand on a chair lean side to side stable while standing in the middle but becomes unstable when you stand on the edge. My advice would be to take the time to use the jacks as they were designed for.

[Led_67]

realter wrote:
I measured the distance from the bottom of the jack to the ground, and it is 22", when the camper is loaded onto the truck. So the height of whatever method I use--square boards, concrete blocks,etc. will be less than 2' high. I don't see any danger of squares of wood 12" square toppling over when piled less than 2' high, even with 700 lbs of pressure on each one. I have some pressed plywood shelving material I found, and I am going to cut them into square foot pieces and glue them together. They'll never get wet, they are inside.

That last sentence has been proven wrong many times but it is your choice so good luck

[woodhog]

Massive engineering skills needed!!

[AnEv942]

realter wrote:
THANKS, now a bunch of advice I didn't want to hear. BTW, what is cribbing? What do you mean by "there is major difference between stacking and cribbing"? Are you guys saying that a camper on one foot square pieces of wood stacked 3 feet high is dangerous???

Umm and obviously disregarding. But I realize your original question was about material-not the idea itself. Given your camper weight the material mentioned I'd think OK- just contact at foot might cause it to come apart so use something more solid (unbonded). I TRULY hope you have no issues. However at least for folks that may read this thread down the road-this is a really bad idea.

The 22" on 12"x12" base, since you are proceeding, will be better than the 36" you 1st mentioned as far as stability. Still, adding 2 pivot points under jacks...Im unclear as to why, verses same amount of effort could be used to build something that went under camper floor to stabilize at raised height? Adding to the stability and safety instead of subtracting. Either way you'll raise/lower camper a couple of inches?

Only secondary suggestion is on the top board is to make a slightly larger pocket, maybe an inch all around, to contain the jack foot so it cant get too far off center. Course as little as you'll be raising and lowering shouldn't be any walking. Make the top board out of the least compressible material your using.

Oh- Its NOT the downward pressure or weight, which actually would increase its stability, its any moment that would cause column to tilt. Ever stand on a kitchen stool? Ours will support twice my weight-but only resist half of it sideways.

Good luck

[woodhog]

As above, we just put 8 pallets under the camper every winter, takes about 5 minutes to put them under it and 5 minutes to pull them out.
You can get them for nothing and haul them home with your truck.
On top of the pallets I place two 4x4" pieces to slide back and forth under the camper. Works perfect, it cant fall down, the jacks end up with a small amount of weight on them to stablize the camper..

[Reddog1]

I personally would not stack 12" square boards 2' high to support my TC. I would use pallets first. I do wish you luck with your project.

[realter]

I measured the distance from the bottom of the jack to the ground, and it is 22", when the camper is loaded onto the truck. So the height of whatever method I use--square boards, concrete blocks,etc. will be less than 2' high. I don't see any danger of squares of wood 12" square toppling over when piled less than 2' high, even with 700 lbs of pressure on each one. I have some pressed plywood shelving material I found, and I am going to cut them into square foot pieces and glue them together. They'll never get wet, they are inside.

[Reddog1]

realter wrote:
... BTW, what is cribbing? What do you mean by "there is major difference between stacking and cribbing"? ...

A box crib or cribbing is a temporary wooden structure used to support heavy objects ...

Wayne

[camperpaul]

trail-explorer wrote:

realter wrote:
Are you guys saying that a camper on one foot square pieces of wood stacked 3 feet high is dangerous???

Yes. It's not stable.

A stack of Rail Road ties three feet high would be unstable.

[trail-explorer]

realter wrote:
Are you guys saying that a camper on one foot square pieces of wood stacked 3 feet high is dangerous???

Yes. It's not stable.

[realter]

THANKS, now a bunch of advice I didn't want to hear. BTW, what is cribbing? What do you mean by "there is major difference between stacking and cribbing"? Are you guys saying that a camper on one foot square pieces of wood stacked 3 feet high is dangerous???

[mkirsch]

realter wrote:
I would like to be able to just back in under the camper without having to jack the camper up more than a few inches. It is stored inside. So if I have boards that are stacked up maybe 3' high or so. Wondering what type of lumber would be best, 2x4, plywood, particle board, etc. The boards would be cut to approx. one foot square. Thanks

NONE OF THE ABOVE.

A stack of boards 3' high and only 12" square will be UNSTABLE as all get-out! Ever played Jenga?

There is nothing wrong with leaving the camper up on the extended jacks. Maybe with 6-12" of blocking under each foot, but NOT 3'!!!