7,500 lb. capacity leveling jack snapped

[Jim Stoltz]

I had 4 under the RV, one under each corner. There's NO WAY there was anywhere near 7,500 lbs on it. I use them for leveling/stabilizing. The suspension had most of the load. When I let some air out of the bags that one snapped. It scared the bejeezus out of me - I was standing outside the cab working the air bag controls and I thought the thing was going to roll over on me! Sold by a company in Indiana, made in China.

[Lakota Wolf]

I've seen those things snap and launch shrapnel, lucky you didn't get hurt. Have to love that high quality made in China stuff.

[Cristina Gouin]

My mechanic snapped one when he was working on the rear brakes but due to uneven load.. had  here back end off the ground on gravel but not up on the 2x10 pieces I always use to ensure even loading on the base. 

[Jim Stoltz]

Well there you have it then. The base was off kilter a bit because the brick I had it sitting on had sunk a bit. I need to have some QP brought in here to level a spot for it. It has a pretty serious lean - too much to level with jacks or ramps.

[Cristina Gouin]

yup... I also learned to put the 2x10 pieces wood grain 90 degrees to the base, as I have also cracked them in half needing to raise one corner more than others to get level on an unlevel space.  A friend got rid of his 5th and gave me some of those  plastic lego type things mostly meant for under tires, jacks use says use at least 2 together.. yea.. I will have them up for grabs at Jimco's for anyone who wants them.. I also need to get some stone for under Gone at the farm.. she is on turf though I can put her on compacted gravel driveway for work... 20 days of rain/clouds in last 25.. it's not pretty and over winter a boarder made a mess not knowing how to drive her 4x4... rutted it up pretty bad whlie Gone was in NJ... 

[Jim Stoltz]

I'll have to make sure I have them level and on 2x10 or something solid. I really need to get the one side up pretty high, with more height in the back than front. I may move it around a bit to see if there's another spot that is better but other than the footprint of my house, there's no level spot on the property. But no matter where I put it, it will be on dirt for now. Jack pads sink, even the big pavers I had the leveling jack sitting on. I want to bring a bunch of fill in to make a parking spot but it would need topped with QP and compacted otherwise I'll have a bigger mess when the Allegro sinks in the gravel. Still, I'm glad I got it up here. It makes it so much easier to pack for a trip and do maintenance when it's right outside the door rather than 10 miles away.

[Cristina Gouin]

you may want to put a layer of typar/woven landscape fabric not the plastic stuff.. under the gravel as this will support the gravel and not let it get imbedded into the dirt... I did it at my barn and it has helped to keep the gravel separated and not sinking...

[Jim Stoltz]

Thanks I'll try that. It looks like the builder did that with the driveway before it was paved - some of it has popped out. Actually a groundhog dug it up. Little bastage chews on the fiber optic cable coming down the pole to my house, too. 

Went to move the Allegro tonight but it won't start. It's not getting any gas. I have fuel in the filter at the tank, and lots of fuel draining from the line at the pump. But it's not getting from the pump up to the carb. I'm thinking it's the pump itself - better it quit here than on the road somewhere. AZ has it for $18 - a job for tomorrow.