Keeping Jacks Down for Storage to reduce tire flat spots

[jpwiggo]

I know from my tire engineer friends, that the weight sitting in one spot is bad for these 22.5 RV/commercial type tires, and reduces tire life. I'm still on my OE tires (11 years old) and want to keep them as long as they are serviceable.

Any issues with keeping the jacks down during storage and putting the majority of the weight on them?





2006 40' Class A Gulfstream Cresendo DP, triple slide, 350 Cat, Allison trans, freightliner chassis.

[dougrainer]

https://wd40.com/faqs

READ. Doug

[fortytwo]

Haven't had a flat spot on an RV tire since I replaced the nylon tubed tires on my 1972 Lifetime MH. Those tires rode really rough for a couple of miles, especially in cold weather.

Leveling jacks are to level the MH, for as long as needed. For 12 years my HWH jacks stayed extended for at least 6 months each winter in FL and never did anything special, nor had a problem.

I had 19.5 Goodyear 159's and the later 670's blow at 5 years. Not overloaded nor under inflated. No damage from the 159 blowout. The 670 blowout did over $2500 damage. None of the tires had any visual queues (weather checking etc) of impending failure.

From my 50+ years experience driving RV's I'm a 5 years and out guy. I don't cover my tires for for the 6 months they endure the FL sun, and have never had checking from sun exposure. YMMV.

No comments here on stored tire contact with ground, blacktop, or concrete and damage from leaching of the chemicals in the tires. Tire specialists have told me it is a problem. I have no proof, but always store mine with wood or plastic carpet runner under them.

[AllegroD]

You are very, very lucky and the people that travel around you are even luckier. Please replace those tires before the disintegrate in front of someone and you take them with you.

[Effy]

Tom/Barb wrote:

jpwiggo wrote:
I don't like WD as it will eat rubber,

What reference do you have for that?
All it is, is light distillate oil. it is a better cleaner than it is a lubricator or preservative

And oil being of petroleum base will dissolve rubber.

[Winnipeg]

Great topic with lots of interesting viewpoints...and a few that appear a little bizarre to me (personal opinion). I have a few thoughts on some:

1) Running old tires, especially on the front? Serious? Please, at least keep good (not so old) rubber on the front. It's not just you on the road. My personal opinion--if you cannot afford new tires every 5-7 years, maybe you are in the wrong sport.

2) Stainless steel is actually not "stainless". It can corrode, and is susceptible to pitting (google it). Guess what pitting does to the internal seals on a hydraulic system?

3) Ask a farmer or heavy equipment operator, they "unload" the hydraulic systems (lower the bucket, etc.) when they shut down. Hydraulic systems ALWAYS leak at least a very small amount. If you leave the system loaded, it will eventually leak.

4) Funny rebuttal by Tom/Barb about WD (WD40?). Cleaners often work by chemically dissolving stuff (like rubber?), so to argue that WD is OK because it is just a "better cleaner" makes me wonder. I don't know the answer to this one, but some substantiated "references" certainly would be nice.

P

[cwit]

I New York State there is a 10 year law on tires. there is also a 8 year limit on tires for recap. These are N.Y.S. Dot laws.

[Tom_Barb]

jpwiggo wrote:
I don't like WD as it will eat rubber,

What reference do you have for that?
All it is, is light distillate oil. it is a better cleaner than it is a lubricator or preservative

[jpwiggo]

I don't like WD as it will eat rubber, and thus worried about damage to the seals.

I do spray a bit of Silicone lube on the rods. Then wipe them off prior to retracting as lube does attract/hold debris. It's a bit more work but my rods look new.

I guess all and all there is no issue with keeping these jacks down during storage. I do know it does help the tires.

[tropical36]

dramsey1 wrote:
I've been told not to leave the jacks down for extended periods as the piston rods will coat with rust and this will damage the seals when they are retracted which will cause hydraulic fluid leaks. Frankdamp apparently noticed the rusting issue first hand.

We live on the coast and have never seen that, but if so, try wiping them down with WD or like substance.

[GHOST1750]

My motor home doesn't sit for long at a time and the jacks are not down. As far as tire life I just put the second set of Michelins on my motor home both sets changed at about 7 years. Expensive but cheaper than a roll over or the cost of a life. I have other ways of getting my exercise other than pushing my luck and jumping at conclusions.

[dramsey1]

I've been told not to leave the jacks down for extended periods as the piston rods will coat with rust and this will damage the seals when they are retracted which will cause hydraulic fluid leaks. Frankdamp apparently noticed the rusting issue first hand.

[Hank_MI]

tropical36 wrote:
Firstly, automobile tires are not subjected to the weight that motorhome tires are, while they're sitting around for months at a time and collecting sunshine in the process.

Automobile tires are not designed to hold the weight of a motorhome. Motorhomes tires are. I keep covers on my tires so they don't sit around collecting sunshine.

[frankdamp]

You're right Tom. I was a hydraulics engineer at Boeing for 20-odd years and I know the pistons don't exit the cylinder, plus, they're usually made of aluminum alloy with O-rings.

I was surprised that the rods on my Georgetown were as sensitive to atmospheric corrosion as they were, but maybe I wasn't clued in to the salty atmosphere when you live across the street from salt-water waterfront.

[Tom_Barb]

frankdamp wrote:
The pistons stay inside the cylinders all the time. It's the piston RODS that extend outside the cylinders on hydraulic levellers and that's what developed the corrosion on mine. .

The lift cylinders on my HWH system are hydraulic and the rod end of the cylinder is chromed and sticks out when the cylinder extends, lifting the coach.

how a hydraulic cylinder works