FYI Proper jack pads for motorhomes

[Neal]

I've seen various uses of jack pads for heavy motorhomes. I've seen plastic, rubber, and hardened plastic ones. I installed RV Snap Pads on my coach which after the fact I realized they do contact and conflict with the chassis and I probably should not have installed them on my coach but they have remained intact and work well.

The purpose of a jack pad is not protect a surface from marking but actually to provide a larger footprint to distribute the weight. If your jack pads are folding up under weight, i.e. a thick rubber that is not maintaining its form (cough: not naming names here) then your jack pad is ineffective. A jack pad that can distribute the weight under a jack should not lose its form to properly protect the surface below whether concrete or soft surface (grass/turf).

The best jack pads I've seen for heavy Class A motorhomes are DICA RoadWarriors. You can purchase the size based on weight but I recommend the largest size as that is going to distribute the surface area under your jack the greatest and protect the surface of the campground you're showing respect to or are required to use such as FMCA required use on the grass in Perry, GA. RoadWarriors are not heavy and have a useful handle. I am able to easily store them side by side in my house battery bay.

I cannot recommend higher. If you want a quality jack pad, DICA RoadWarriors is what I recommend. I am not affiliated, I am a happy customer and will even use these under my RV Snap Pads when the surface needs weight distribution.

RV Jack Pads by DICA | RoadWarrior Trailer & Camper Stabilizer Pads

RoadWarrior Heavy Duty RV Jack Pads by DICA are 100% gauranteed unbreakable and will never break, sprinter, or absorb water. Choose an RV stabilizer pad today!

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[Scooterfan]

You use pads under your snap pads? Hmmm... So yesterday I installed my newly acquired snap pads. The video made it look as easy as pie ? Well, lets just say it was more of a challenge than I expected. Of course I was solo (I know the video says two people), what I discovered was my 2007 (Atwood) jacks do not operate independently until they make initial contact with the ground, and they do not retract independently (they ALL go up). Thus there was some total ups and downs while I positioned them. Then two pads didn't snap as easy because the metal jack plates were slightly bent. I had to use the shim method to finally get them on. Now that they are installed I like them. Obviously they ride an inch lower...anyone had one brushed off driving down the road?

 

[Neal]

I did mine by myself as well, I think the trick was some dawn dish soap per the snap pad web site I think is where I read it. And yes, the dica roadwarriors offer a larger footprint and since I have them I'll use them at critical locations, otherwise not necessary with snap pads I believe.

 

[AbdRahim]

I did also, on my BayStar, but had to remove the front two due to something rubbing and wearing an indentation on the front of the pads. I gave them to a neighbor. I am thinking of looking closely at exxagerating the carved out area and putting them back on. I need to see exactly how the tire, which seems far away can get back there to rub the pad.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

We have and use the 15” Dica Road Warrior pads. If I was doing it over, I would probably buy the 18” instead. We purchased the ones we have when we had the smaller Ventana LE. That said, the 15” pads work well on hard/firm surfaces. A larger pad might work a little better on soft surfaces (aka grass). And that’s why I would go with the 18”.

As for storage, here’s how we do it with the 15” pads.

They sit on edge in a heavy-duty, 6” wide x 15” deep plastic parts bin in the pass-through storage bay. Takes very little space.

TJ

 

[Nobaddays]

We camp on grass a couple times a year and purchased Buyers Products 24 x 24 outrigger pads. They work great and store nicely under the slide out tray. Used some smaller ones prior to that but drove them into the ground.

 

[Day2Day]

I've seen various uses of jack pads for heavy motorhomes. I've seen plastic, rubber, and hardened plastic ones. I installed RV Snap Pads on my coach which after the fact I realized they do contact and conflict with the chassis and I probably should not have installed them on my coach but they have remained intact and work well.

The purpose of a jack pad is not protect a surface from marking but actually to provide a larger footprint to distribute the weight. If your jack pads are folding up under weight, i.e. a thick rubber that is not maintaining its form (cough: not naming names here) then your jack pad is ineffective. A jack pad that can distribute the weight under a jack should not lose its form to properly protect the surface below whether concrete or soft surface (grass/turf).

The best jack pads I've seen for heavy Class A motorhomes are DICA RoadWarriors. You can purchase the size based on weight but I recommend the largest size as that is going to distribute the surface area under your jack the greatest and protect the surface of the campground you're showing respect to or are required to use such as FMCA required use on the grass in Perry, GA. RoadWarriors are not heavy and have a useful handle. I am able to easily store them side by side in my house battery bay.

I cannot recommend higher. If you want a quality jack pad, DICA RoadWarriors is what I recommend. I am not affiliated, I am a happy customer and will even use these under my RV Snap Pads when the surface needs weight distribution.

RV Jack Pads by DICA | RoadWarrior Trailer & Camper Stabilizer Pads

RoadWarrior Heavy Duty RV Jack Pads by DICA are 100% gauranteed unbreakable and will never break, sprinter, or absorb water. Choose an RV stabilizer pad today!

rvjackpads.com

View attachment 5630​

Good day,

We are new to RV camping, and we are trying to get the lay of the land. I have extensively researched recommended jack pads for hydraulic leveling system. We own a 2021 Jayco GreyHawk Prestige 29mvp (Class C) 32'. I've read many recommendations on DICA Road Warrior jack pads, and based on the company's website the 12" pads would fit our coach.

Can anyone confirm that the 12" pads are sufficient for our size motorhome, or do you recommend purchasing a larger size?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.

 

[Neal]

I would always err on the larger size. Won't hurt and you can use them on any future motorhomes. Too small and they can be less effective and money lost. Also if you decide to sell them larger ones will go easier than smaller ones.

 

[Day2Day]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You made really great points that I hadn’t thought about.

 

[JRW-NAW]

I have Outdoors for Life jack pads.;

RV Jack Pads - Outdoors for Life

Whether you’re stabilizing your RV, pull-behind camper, horse or stock-trailer, you need a convenient and durable RV jack pad that is available at a moments notice and doesn’t force you to “play in the mud.” Outdoors for Life’s RV Jack Pads are made from a super-strong industrial grade plastic...

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The 14" size with the optional name and phone number.

Safe Travels

 

[Joe Hogan]

We use Quality Plastics pads when necessary.

Quality products for the Camping, Motor Home, and RV enthusias

Campers Friend, a division of Quality Plastics Custom Molding, Inc., provides high quality accessories for the camper and the RV enthusiast, including Utility Blocks, Swewer Weights, Cable, and Satellite. All Made in the USA!

www.qualityplasticscmi.com

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Good day,

We are new to RV camping, and we are trying to get the lay of the land. I have extensively researched recommended jack pads for hydraulic leveling system. We own a 2021 Jayco GreyHawk Prestige 29mvp (Class C) 32'. I've read many recommendations on DICA Road Warrior jack pads, and based on the company's website the 12" pads would fit our coach.

Can anyone confirm that the 12" pads are sufficient for our size motorhome, or do you recommend purchasing a larger size?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.

The 12” will probably be sufficient for your 29’ Class C, but being a “belt and suspenders” guy, I would go with the 15”. If you get someplace where the ground is soft, the larger pad may just save the day.

TJ

 

[Scotttkd2]

That is the primary benefit in my opinion of the SnapPad, it is installed, and forget about it, no crawling under the coach or trying to place a pad. I can see a "once in a while" need for a larger footprint (soft sand, etc) but so far I have had no issues with sinking in since adding SnapPads. Dug some pretty impressive holes before I got them though!

 

[Gizmo]

We had Snap Pads on our first coach and didn't think they provided enough increase in surface area to justify the high cost. We tend to stay at a lot of Harvest Hosts while traveling and Snap Pads didn't prevent jacks from sinking in. We found these at an RV Show and work well but even these we had them sink into grassy areas sometimes.

 

[RKins]

Our coach has a 1/4" - 12"x12" piece of steel welded to the original round foot. Gives us a big footprint. The front pieces had to have the outside corner cut off for clearance when turning the tires.

 

[Ventana]

On really soft ground I'll put out some homemade jack pads pictured below. I purchased a "Horse Stall Matt" from Tracker Supply back in 2018 for $48 and cut it up into 6 big squares. I rarely need them because the Snap Pads work 90% of the time. Nice side benefit is they make great entry matts for the outside steps when the ground is a bit muddy.

 

[JRS]

I rarely have to use them... I purchased large white plastic cutting boards at Walmart and only one has cracked thus far and still using it. Cut a hole in opposite corners for placement and removal. They're bungie corded together for simple storage.