Do You Lower Your Jacks When Parked

[sonuvabug]

Recently we saw a TC camped out in an RV campground with its jack posts lowered ... I suppose for additional stability when parked. We have never done this and if fact, never thought of doing it until we saw it for ourselves.

Do you lower your jack posts for stability when parked?

[AnEv942]

Don't feed the Troll..
though I thought it was a simple choice-apparently a silly one- fine-don't give a R/A, some folks cant' get past what works for them isn't applicable to all.

[fpoole]

Vinsil wrote:
So using stab jacks on travel trailers, 5'ers and motorhomes is silly to stabilize too? Are you serious?

Not to say those who don't are wrong but to say it is silly and your TC is as stable or more so than without the jacks down....well I don't have words for that.

Yah, what he said...
Good show Vinsil...

I was thinking the same thing... and leveling?? those lego ramps are only good for about 4"I consider Jacks very helpful and, oh, Useful too...
Geesh... what a comment..

[Vinsil]

So using stab jacks on travel trailers, 5'ers and motorhomes is silly to stabilize too? Are you serious?

Not to say those who don't are wrong but to say it is silly and your TC is as stable or more so than without the jacks down....well I don't have words for that.

[Paradox123]

Usually it's silly to lower the jacks. I can get level with the plastci wedges from Camping World. The exception is when the campsite is so unlevel that I need more than four inches to level up. I've seen some say they lower the jacks because the camper seems unstable unless supported on the corners. That's double silly.

[mkirsch]

I don't, but that's probably because I have such a light camper on such a heavy-duty truck that the suspension is adequate to prevent any "rocking and rolling."

Not only a function of personal preference but also of how heavily loaded the truck is with the camper on board. If you're at or over GVWR, the suspension is pretty soft. 3000lbs under like I am, and it still rides like a buckboard.

[jefe_4x4]

Jacks? Hmm? Never lowered them for stability while out in the boonies: don't normally carry them attached to the camper. Yes..i do lower the jacks when parked.....against the shed out of the weather once the camper is loaded on the truck. In many conditions we find ourselves, those 4 outriggers are ready and able to snag on a passing boulder. Bro John's jackless OUTFITTER! and '99 F250 in the jack killing field.

jefe on the rear jack killing granite waterfall in Death Valley: Jacks are still leaning against the shed back at the ranch.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I'm really sensitive to motion (would never leave the awning on our Class C out because it might rock the RV) - but our TC doesn't feel like it moves while we sleep. Besides, I'm WAY too lazy to crank the jacks down by hand.....LOL!

[sonuvabug]

After reading your responses, it appears as if lowering your jack posts when parked in camping mode is a personal preference. We never have. However, our TC sits on our Sumo Springs (jounce stops) so movement is minimized anyway.

Having said that, I think we'll try it next time to see if it makes an appreciable difference. Thanks to all for responding.

[AnEv942]

Always.

Though I would & do because I don't like movement underfoot, primarily because our campers manual states the jacks should be extended before deploying the slide. As all its weight is transferred to outside of counter-levered 10' wall that has 8' hole in it kinda makes sense to me, so do. Other than that just a personal comfort choice.

After leveling truck, deploy jacks then the slide before turning off engine. If more than snugging the jacks I release tie-downs. If need to use jacks to lift camper I remove the tie-downs- I find its just to easy to bump a bit more.

[wnjj]

stevenal wrote:
Way too time consuming even with powered jacks. My beverage is waiting.

Not with HJ4600's with quick release. Flip the lever, step on the jack and its down in 3 seconds.

[2BLAZERS]

sonuvabug wrote:
Recently we saw a TC camped out in an RV campground with its jack posts lowered ... I suppose for additional stability when parked. We have never done this and if fact, never thought of doing it until we saw it for ourselves.

Do you lower your jack posts for stability when parked?

Only if she is with me. She doesn't like the movement of me walking in it. If I'm camped by myself I don't lower them, even if I'm there for days.

[Grit_dog]

burningman wrote:
Heck I put caster wheels on mine and lower 'em while driving, more axles, more capacity!

Great idea! Heck if I did that, I could put my camper on a half ton!

[Grit_dog]

Mine moves around quite a bit when inside it if jacks aren't down.
in and out for lunch or to use the chitter or late overnight stop I leave the jacks up.
Typical overnight or longer, if I'm leaving it on the truck, rough level with some boards under the wheels, lower the rear jacks taking up very little weight just to stabilize, or use the jacks to level it a bit more.
Sometimes I'll run down all 4 if I need to level a little more side to side.
As long as you have a sense of how much you can level before you start picking up the truck too then no need to undo the tiedowns. If one can't visualize that then I'd suggest loosening the tiedowns.

[Clarryhill]

Vinsil wrote:
Yes always do. I don't stealth camp in walmarts but if I did...I might not there.

This

[Tizi]

Never needed to after I upgraded my shocks to Rancho 9000XL and 19.5 rims and tires. The truck is super stable without the jacks down with those upgrades. I level using airbags/legos.