Dear Dave,
What’s your opinion on using the rubber SnapPads on leveling jacks, on almost all types of ground surfaces? Thanks. —Bill Byerly, 2019 Winnebago Sightseer 33C
Dear Bill,
I am a big fan of the SnapPads® product, having put them on three different units. We started with a 2016 Keystone Raptor 5th wheel toy hauler with Lippert hydraulic jacks, then a 2003 Winnebago Brave with HWH hydraulic jacks, and finally a 2015 Thor Challenger with Power Gear hydraulic jacks. All three owners commented on how easy it was to level their rig, especially when parking on gravel.
The larger footprint provides better stability and after 5 years on the Raptor, the pads of the jacks look brand-new. No rust, paint chips, or scratches. And all three have never had any of the pads come off during travel or retraction.
They were extremely easy to install AFTER I learned a couple of tips. First, apply a little dish soap around the inside edge of the SnapPad. I used Dawn, as this is always my “go to” cleaner and lubricant! It helped the jack foot slip into the groove of the SnapPad easily.
The second tip was placing a piece of wood on the ground under the SnapPad, which provides a solid, flat surface for the SnapPad to sit on. I tried several times just using the cement pad that was outside my service shed. It must have been just uneven enough as I did get one pad to install but had trouble with the rest. Placing a 1×10 underneath made it a snap!
On the Thor I had to add a 2×4 on one edge to give it a little nudge on one of the legs.
P.S. Hi, Bill. From Diane. 😀
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Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
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I have had my snap pads for two years now. I think they work fantastic. No more crawling under the rig to retrieve wood! Also many campgrounds are requiring a barrier between the concrete and the metal foot of the jacks. Snap pads do the trick. I would never have a rig without them.
My experience with Snap Pads is different from Dave’s. After a year, the steel pads at the bottom of my landing gear were rather rusty from water pooling around the top of the Snap Pad. I removed them and after using rust converter, painted them and after two plus years, no rust. I threw the Snap Pads where I felt they belonged, in the trash. Like others who posted regarding the size being slightly larger than the feet, I found no advantage when they were in use. So in my opinion, Snap Pads resulted from “a solution in search of a non-problem which created a Rusty problem when installed.
My thoughts on trying/using them, was after some steady rains last spring, digging my old wood blocks out of the mud and rain puddles and then stowing them in a side compartment without cleaning them….
Dave- here is a little known fact about using dish soap as an installation lubricant (works even better if you mix it with a little water). When the soap film dries, it works as an adhesive. It’s best use is where there is a larger contact area not subject to getting wet.
For example, I use a little soapy water all the time for temporary joining of PVC pipes used for ‘grown-up Tinker Toy’ projects. Once the thin film of soap dries it takes a substantial effort to either twist or pull the pieces apart. But force some water into the joint to reliquify the soap and you again have a lubricant allowing easy disassembly.
For one project I joined PVC pipe to a Fernco rubber coupling with dish soap and skipped the band clamp. The other end of the Fernco is attached to a ceiling vent knob (using a band clamp). My spouse is short and couldn’t reach the bathroom vent knob. The clampless PVC/rubber union has been in use for six years.
We have had Snap Pads on both our RV — 2016 American Revolution and 2022 Newmar New Aire — and they have done very well. They were easy to install and show no signs of coming loose. The Snap Pad website makes it easy to find the right pads for most any rig. We carry several wooden blocks to aid in leveling, but rarely need to use them.
I know a lot of people love and proclaim the virtues of snap pads, but I just don’t understand the value of a pad that is just barely larger than the jack foot itself. At one park I was at there were perfect impressions of snap pads in the asphalt surface. In my view, they are just not big enough to be a fully effective pad.
$300 – $400 for six pads is a waste of money IMHO, as well I don’t like the reduced ground clearance of the jacks. 2 x 10 boards have worked for years and they cost about $20.
I’ve put wood under my stabilizers for years. One day while walking into Home Depot there was a pile of one foot by one foot plywood pieces and a sign proclaiming they were free “to a good home”. I snatched up four of them and have been using them for over five yeas now, and still going strong. I agree with Leonard on the price of the Snap Pads. I also agree with Mikal on the size of Snap Pads compared to the foot itself.
Thanks, Dave. I’ll get them on order and let you know what I think after a few trips.
P.S. , Hi right back at you Diane !!🙃
I knew you’d respond.👍 Thanks, Bill. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane
I bought a set when I got my GeorgeTown five years ago. The only time I lost one was a rear inner tire blowout. But you can purchase just one replacement. Other than that no issues and I hope that having rubber on the ground instead of metal would help during lightning storms. But that’s an article for Mike Sokol.