new full timer-wheels off the ground? - Montana Owners Club

melanie7ny · 10-24-2008, 01:09 PM

hello, my man and i have been full timing for about a month now, and are wondering if we are supposed to use all four jacks to get the wheels completely off the ground, if we're going to be stationery for about 6 months.

kerry · 10-24-2008, 01:29 PM

The jacks on your 5W are made to stabilize your unit, not lift it. Resting on the wheels will not hurt anything. Kerry

billhoover · 10-24-2008, 01:47 PM

Don't even try to get the wheels off the ground...the rear jacks could never take the weight, neither could the frame...stabilization only.

Glenn and Lorraine · 10-24-2008, 01:48 PM

No, no, no. Don't even attempt to lift the wheels off the ground. The rear "stabilizers" are just that "stabilizers". They are to be snug and not lifting any weight. You will bend them trying to lift the trailer. The front jacks are there to assist in getting the trailer off the hitch and than to level front to rear only.
In winter We sit for up to 7 months with the 4 tires on boards with no problems.

melanie7ny · 10-24-2008, 02:11 PM

Thanks so much for the replies!
this has been a huge argument between my man and my mother-she swears to make sure the wheels can spin! we just don't believe her because we were told by the dealer that these were stabilizer jacks! but she claims that on her 97 jayco 5th wheel, this is how she did it!
so taday, he tried to lift the rear jacks, the drivers side bent and the bolt sheared in half! on the other side, the jack twisted!we're so mad!
but, we won! and i just called her with the news, and shes gonna buy us some new jacks!
hopefully the frame is not bent, i don't think so because i'm hoping the jacks broke for a reason, so they couldnt cause any damage to the frame. all doors and drawers are working perfectly, so we may be ok

Waynem · 10-24-2008, 04:02 PM

That is one expensive lesson learned.
Good thing "Mom," will pick up the bill.

bigmurf · 10-24-2008, 04:05 PM

You can pick your friends but you can't pick your relatives. g

stiles watson · 10-24-2008, 05:16 PM

Well, you learned two valuable lessons. One is to check a rumor on the MOC. The second is to check the forum BEFORE you try out the rumor. Happy RVing......

Glenn and Lorraine · 10-25-2008, 01:16 AM

Some trailers do come with a scissors type stabilizers and they do have the capability of lifting a trailer but I feel those are a bad idea. Unless you can lift both sides together you are putting undue strain of the frame and twisting it. The first few times of doing this may show no effect but a year of doing this and the frame will be weakened and ready to fail.
Travel trailers and lighter 5ers quite often have these scissors jacks. I have seen folks in campgrounds lifting one corner off the ground and twisting the "H" out of the trailer. Than they raise the other side and everything looks fine. Than they go to the other end and repeat this twisting process. Do that a few times and no way in "H" would I want to drag that trailer down the road muchless 70MPH down an Interstate.

Delaine and Lindy · 10-25-2008, 03:20 AM

Most 5th wheels don't have the ability to lift the wheels off the ground. Some after market jacks like the Big Foot hydraulic jacks do have the capability to raise the 5er wheels off the ground, we were to have them installed on our Cambridge but did't have enough room in the front compartment and didn't want to cut it out. We also had a 12" frame. Our SOB has the Hydraulic system that will lift the wheels off the ground. We have a 15" frame and the 5th wheel is equiped with the a side to side leveling system and it has hydraulic jacks on each end for a total of 6 jacks. The system come standard on our SOB. We don't have to use any wood or plastic blocks for leveling side to side. We do put the tires on plastic, can get them at CW, I think they are for MH. Sorry about the damage. GBY...

kdeiss · 10-25-2008, 04:31 AM

I do recommend tires setting on wood planks 10X

ggranch · 10-25-2008, 01:58 PM

Glenn is right about some of the SOB's and thier jacks. I have one of them and the set-up instructions are different than Montana's. That said, they state not to jack the rig off the ground with the stabilizer jacks, just "unload" the wheel sets. Bob

mopar1 · 10-29-2008, 12:22 PM

What about parking on gravel? Still need plastic or wood to park on?

rich6506547 · 11-01-2008, 02:15 PM

Have been fulltiming for 4 years and work camping in texas. we put plastic cutting boards under the tires as a vaperbarrier. helps keep the tire from checking.

Icehouse · 11-01-2008, 02:23 PM

We always park our wheels on wood. Our jacks are "parked" on the bright orange lego looking stacking blocks. I think you can get the lego blocks at Wally World. You can see them in our photo below.

NCFischers · 12-17-2008, 12:06 AM

I just saw your post. The landing gear and stabilizers are not designed to take all the weight of the rig. You'll damage them if you try to lift your Monty.

PowellsMonty · 12-17-2008, 12:47 PM

We have been permanent for a year plus, wheels on the ground on wood planks as Ken & Jenny said. If you want wheels off the ground then you need to have someone come in and put it on cement blocks as a regular trailer, which I won't do. scissor jacks placed for support only, not to lift the 5er off the ground, will help movement. My opinion only as I am not a professional.

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