Jack shims

[Wharfcat]

Since I've had to put 4" of pink foam in the pickup bed to accommodate the higher cab on my Ford, I'm nearing the maximum travel on my jacks. An inch or two would really help. What to you use, if anything?

[Wharfcat]

Wharfcat wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
Carefull, carefull.
What is your camper weight?
I've been using campers with 4000 + lb dry weight and when I bought them, both of them had extender plates bent. I estimate when I am lifting my loaded camper, front jacks carry over 2000 lb EACH and it doesn't take much for the thing to star going.
Extensions will only magnify the problem, so I would rather carry some wide wood planks, what will also give you option for easy shimming on uneven pad.

Yes, that's what I was thinking too. 1" Plywood or 1"X 10" or 1" X 12". I have done that in the past not so much to give extra clearance but if I was unloading on firm dirt/grass to spread the weight. Sometimes low tech is best. Just thought I'd ask.

I meant 2X10 or 2X12.

[Kayteg1]

Homeless by Choice wrote:


I tried doing that also BUT the inside of the jack legs had to be on the very edge of the blocks so that the blocks cleared the tires. It was VERY easy to slightly bump the block while moving the truck and having the jack slide off the block. That is when I bought the bolt on extensions. The bottom plate of the original leg and the top of the extension are oval shaped approximately 2.5" X 3.5" and rub on my tires as I move the truck back and forth but because they are bolted on (two 5/16 bolts), nothing moves, nothing falls.

LeRoy

Yes, dually driving over jacks feet is a concern.
I am lucky one, who doesn't need extension and only on couple of occasions I needed shimming due to pad slope, but seeing lack of stability on lifted camper, I can't shake the vision of my tire pressing jack foot down and breaking the last straw for camper collapse.
Don't remember if that was the exact case, but we have pictures of camper who collapsed on truck partly under it and did significant damages to both.
so now, I shim camper feet solid.
And again, the issue is probably non-existing on 2500 lb campers

[Wharfcat]

NRALIFR wrote:
How do you feel about making your extender plates over again, except about 4” longer? Then move the jacks down on them.

:):)

Unloaded the camper today. Easy peasey.

[Wharfcat]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Carefull, carefull.
What is your camper weight?
I've been using campers with 4000 + lb dry weight and when I bought them, both of them had extender plates bent. I estimate when I am lifting my loaded camper, front jacks carry over 2000 lb EACH and it doesn't take much for the thing to star going.
Extensions will only magnify the problem, so I would rather carry some wide wood planks, what will also give you option for easy shimming on uneven pad.

Yes, that's what I was thinking too. 1" Plywood or 1"X 10" or 1" X 12". I have done that in the past not so much to give extra clearance but if I was unloading on firm dirt/grass to spread the weight. Sometimes low tech is best. Just thought I'd ask.

[Homeless_by_Cho]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Carefull, carefull.
What is your camper weight?
I've been using campers with 4000 + lb dry weight and when I bought them, both of them had extender plates bent. I estimate when I am lifting my loaded camper, front jacks carry over 2000 lb EACH and it doesn't take much for the thing to star going.
Extensions will only magnify the problem, so I would rather carry some wide wood planks, what will also give you option for easy shimming on uneven pad.

I tried doing that also BUT the inside of the jack legs had to be on the very edge of the blocks so that the blocks cleared the tires. It was VERY easy to slightly bump the block while moving the truck and having the jack slide off the block. That is when I bought the bolt on extensions. The bottom plate of the original leg and the top of the extension are oval shaped approximately 2.5" X 3.5" and rub on my tires as I move the truck back and forth but because they are bolted on (two 5/16 bolts), nothing moves, nothing falls.

LeRoy

[Kayteg1]

Carefull, carefull.
What is your camper weight?
I've been using campers with 4000 + lb dry weight and when I bought them, both of them had extender plates bent. I estimate when I am lifting my loaded camper, front jacks carry over 2000 lb EACH and it doesn't take much for the thing to star going.
Extensions will only magnify the problem, so I would rather carry some wide wood planks, what will also give you option for easy shimming on uneven pad.

[Wharfcat]

NRALIFR wrote:
How do you feel about making your extender plates over again, except about 4” longer? Then move the jacks down on them.

:):)

I actually thought about that but the motor would interfere. I think.

I couldn't wrap my brain around how to solve that so I just imitated yours.


Some men learn by reading, others learn by observation, everyone else has to pee on the electric fence themselves. Will Rogers.

[NRALIFR]

How do you feel about making your extender plates over again, except about 4” longer? Then move the jacks down on them.

:):)

[Wharfcat]

They're Attwood. You know offhand the diameter of the base of the Happijack?

[Homeless_by_Cho]

Whose jacks are on your camper. Happijack sells 6" extension feet. I have them on my camper.

LeRoy