meandmydeere wrote: This is my reason for not using blocks. When you back under your 5th wheel, if you haven't jacked up the trailer quite high enough, the jacks slip off the blocks, and the front of the trailer drops on top of the bed of the truck. Now one of 2 things are going to happen, maybe 3. 1st is, you say things like, I won't say it here so you fill in the blank __________, second thing is, you call your insurance agent and tell him what you just did, or if your lucky, you can get some nice aluminum diamond plate top bed rail caps to cover up your stupidity.
No reason to ask how I know all this twice!!!!!!
I wouldn't put blocks under that landing gear either for the reason that you cite. But the O/P was referring to stabilizer jacks, not landing gear. Do you use any sort of stabilizer for the front of your 5er? I've seen the tripods, etc. and always wondered how effective they were.
I put 6x6 blocks under my jacks for two reasons: 1) I'm lazy and I don't have to unscrew them all the way. 2) I read in a study done by some university on lightning and RV's and they said the best protection is to use a minimum 6" block of wood under all the jack points.
garry1p wrote: To laze to crank them all the way down and to tired to crank them all the way up when it's time to go.
Other than that as others have said better stability the shorter the cranking distance and no dents in the asphalt.
You just described me to a tee. I carry (5)6X6s one foot each.
If any crack or get in poor shape, they go in the 'Fire Ring'...
A couple of dollars at Home Depot and 5 minutes with a saw and I'm in business. I carry mine in an old milk crate.
At the site I flip the milk case, add a throw pillow and it's a foot stool, or I put it on the bike rack with a couple of electrical ties and I'm set to make the odd garbage run.
I misunderstaood, many people call the landinggear stabilizers. Anyway, I do use a tri pod king pin stabilizer. I made it myself and I pretty much only use it when I know the front end will be high and the legs will be extended. Or when the back is high and the rear stabilizers don't reach the ground. I don't use it all the time because it is rather heavy and cumbersome. And a finger pincher.
Mark
Mark J Scholten, Sparta, Mi and Mission, Tx.
Antique tractor collector, Extra class amateur radio op AB8MS
Freightliner s/a semi tractor, 48' spread axel drop deck, '03 27 foot Cougar 5th wheel,'08 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel 4x4, 2013 Palomino Maverick 2902
meandmydeere wrote: This is my reason for not using blocks. When you back under your 5th wheel, if you haven't jacked up the trailer quite high enough, the jacks slip off the blocks, and the front of the trailer drops on top of the bed of the truck. Now one of 2 things are going to happen, maybe 3. 1st is, you say things like, I won't say it here so you fill in the blank __________, second thing is, you call your insurance agent and tell him what you just did, or if your lucky, you can get some nice aluminum diamond plate top bed rail caps to cover up your stupidity.
No reason to ask how I know all this twice!!!!!!
Guess that's why they make wheel chocks.First thing down,last thing picked up.
"If momma not happy ....Who cares.I have my TH AND my toys .
meandmydeere wrote: This is my reason for not using blocks. When you back under your 5th wheel, if you haven't jacked up the trailer quite high enough, the jacks slip off the blocks, and the front of the trailer drops on top of the bed of the truck. Now one of 2 things are going to happen, maybe 3. 1st is, you say things like, I won't say it here so you fill in the blank __________, second thing is, you call your insurance agent and tell him what you just did, or if your lucky, you can get some nice aluminum diamond plate top bed rail caps to cover up your stupidity.
No reason to ask how I know all this twice!!!!!!
I wouldn't put blocks under that landing gear either for the reason that you cite. But the O/P was referring to stabilizer jacks, not landing gear. Do you use any sort of stabilizer for the front of your 5er? I've seen the tripods, etc. and always wondered how effective they were.
Off OPs topic, but interesting anyway. I use roughly 2" blocks under my landing gear for two reasons. First, it helps pad/even the gear impact area. Second, when I am ready to leave and am hooked up, all I do is slightly raise the gear to pull blocks then the landing gear is perfect height for pull test. If it falls, it will not hit truck.
I understand the logic of pushing the 5W off the blocks while backing, but I chalk my wheels and I am super-careful about backing into my superglide hitch. I'm not an advocate of "lifting" the 5W because in order to "lift", you're also pushing backwards placing unnecessary pressure on the landing gear. I've found that if I back up to 5W and match plate to hitch (superglide remember), I can raise/lower legs till plate is touching. Once touching, I lower a smidge with one touch of button. This let's me back into the hitch and the plate slaps and bar releases super easy. Then, I do a visual to check for ensure I haven't high-connected and then do the pull test mentioned. Similarly, when unhooking, I lower legs onto blocks until I see the truck bed begin to lift then 5 more seconds or my best count to five. Then, I release the air in the airbags to 5 psi. This almost always give me an easy release. If it still slides forward a tad for any reason, my blocks have a lip to catch/drag them too.
If I am on concrete, I generally dont bother, I just run out the air bags and use the jacks to stabliize/level. However, if I am on gravel or softer stuff that is a gaurentee ill have blocks. I have used blocks in the past just out of pure habit on a concrete pad, but I been doing that less.
Offline
....Who cares.I have my TH AND my toys 
.
