Dear Dave,
Our fifth wheel is currently in a seasonal campground in Michigan. We are there from May 1 to October 31. When I winterize the RV in the latter part of October, should I take the RV off of the auto levelers for the winter and re-level in the spring? Or should I just leave the auto levelers alone? —Ken, 2022 Grand Design 303RLS
Dear Ken,
According to the specifications I could find, it looks like your 5th wheel has a GVWR of almost 12,000 lbs. It most likely has the Lippert Level Up® hydraulic leveling jack system. This question has been debated almost as much as Chevy vs. Ford, and the confusion comes from a lack of any recommendations of leveling jack manufacturers.
In the Lippert Level Up® Owner’s Manual it only states the following:
If jacks are down for extended periods, it is recommended to spray exposed jack rods with a dry silicone lubricant every three months for protection. If the trailer is located in a salty environment, it is recommended to spray the rods every four to six weeks.
Some of the forums I read stated the Grand Design trailer’s owner’s manual recommended retracting the jacks when not in use.
What about flat spots on tires
Over the years many readers have indicated they leave the jacks extended during storage to get weight off the tires, claiming the steel radials can get a “kink” and weaken the tire. According to Michelin and Goodyear owner’s manuals, they recommend filling the tire to the recommended PSI and making sure the tire is not on a surface that could leach a chemical into the rubber.
Tire expert Roger Marble wrote a great article for RVtravel.com regarding flat spots and storage here.
I personally feel that when storing a rig, the slide rooms should be retracted to create a tight seal and the leveling jacks extended to help support the weight, stabilize, and level the rig. If you have really harsh winters, I have found several owners here in Northern Iowa that have installed corrugated plastic tree trunk protectors on them, which you can get on Amazon here.
Since you have a 5th wheel, I would also suggest a hitch tripod to secure the overhead part of the rig.
Let’s see what our readers have to say.
You might also enjoy these posts from Dave
- Can I use a small battery jumper to extend and retract RV jacks?
- My RV’s auto-level system doesn’t work. How do I recalibrate it?
- Are SnapPads on the RV’s jacks a good idea?
- Why aren’t the leveling jacks working?
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
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I noticed after a few years my manual crank down jacks were getting rusty. Now I don’t let them down in the winter when stored.
I sprayed mine with STA-BIL Rust Stopper corrosion inhibitor and they operate much
better and have no dust build up.
Our 37′ bumper tow has electric self-leveling jacks and other than a few short moves, has been stationary in south-central Texas for 8 years. We keep the levelers down and the slides retracted during the off season. I use a level at the start of each season to check for any settling; if none, we leave the levelers be.
Prior to one move, one jack errored upon retraction. After manually raising the jack and cleaning the electric connector, the jack was reset within the leveling computer. That has been our only issue. FYI- another reason for slide retraction during storage not given by Dave is there is less roof to be potentially weather damaged.
For HWH jacks:
Can I store my coach with my jacks extended?
Yes, this will not hurt the system.
How long can I leave my coach parked with the jacks extended?
As long as you want. We recommend operating the system occasionally if possible.
Do I need to do any maintenance on the jacks or slide-outs while the vehicle is parked with the jacks and slide-outs extended?
There is no necessary maintenance for the jacks or slide-outs while the vehicle is parked. If desired, WD-40® can be used on the jack rods right before storing the jacks if dirt has collected on the rods.
In the first place get rid of anything Grand design….before the so called “smart jack system” goes wacky on you.
Thank you for the discussion, Dave! Thanks too for the implication that RVs should not be stationary for months at a time! 🙂 We promise to regularly make the wheels roll. Have a great day and safe travels!