Jacking up the Casita for Winter

[Esther out east]

Hello,
We live in New England. Our Casita is in a covered, unheated shelter for the winter. But we would like to place it on jack stands to protect the tires from developing flat spots over winter. Where should the jacks be placed?

[Alex Adams]

On the frame just behind the axle if you are using the tongue jack in addition to the jack stands. If you plan to go into the trailer then an additional jack stand should be placed at the rear to prevent tipping.

[Jim Bennett]

I have never jacked up a trailer over winter, nor have I had issues with the tires either. Mind you, I am in Canada and it has warmed up nice here, only -25°C (-13°US) today. Almost t-shirt weather. [emoji16]

[Jon in AZ]

Radials don’t get flat spots. But jacking may have some benefit to preserving the stock ride height of a trailer with a rubber torsion axle.

Agree, place jack stands on the main frame rails just behind the axle.

[jerrybob]

I agree with Jim......never have jacked up a trailer for storage. Flat spots have never been a problem......axle will....more than likely.....out live me......I say it is totally unnecessary to jack up trailer.....probably safer not to as well.

[Sean in VT]

Mine doesn't fit in the garage without taking the wheels off, and that trick stopped working after my new axle was welded on. I use trailer tires, not radial car tires. I've noticed no difference having the tires on all winter.


That bit about having a jack at the rear bumper if you are planning on any off season interior work is gold though. You can pitch the tongue up when you least expect it. Removing a rear screen, for example. 😬

[doctoruv]

I use two cut 4x4 inch pieces of wood that I install with a floor jack that keeps the tires 1 inch off the ground. They fit on the frame giving stability to the Casita. I live near the beach in California and use it as a guest bedroom during the winter. I am a lucky guy!!!

[Alex Adams]

Originally Posted by Sean in VT

That bit about having a jack at the rear bumper if you are planning on any off season interior work is gold though. You can pitch the tongue up when you least expect it. Removing a rear screen, for example. 😬

In my case it was working to remove the rear sliding window so I could rebuild and reinstall it. I didn't think I could move that fast!

[Motoboss]

Originally Posted by doctoruv

………..I live in California. I am a lucky guy!!!

Really…………….

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Alex Adams

On the frame just behind the axle if you are using the tongue jack in addition to the jack stands. If you plan to go into the trailer then an additional jack stand should be placed at the rear to prevent tipping.

I just use the leveling jacks on my 16 foot scamp

[John McMillin]

I just did this with my newly bought 2021 Scamp 16. In addition to the tongue lock, I figure that removing and storing the wheels will serve as an additional deterrent to theft.

[jerrybob]

Years ago.....I knew a guy that did the same with a 21ft stick built trailer.....apparently he stored his trailer with removed wheels in an unsafe lot......somebody pushed his trailer off the jack stands.....maybe an angry thief or some kids.....doesn't matter.....he had a real mess. Just sayin.....

[John McMillin]

Scampy is in my own private driveway, in a relatively safe neighborhood. But once I had her up on stands to relieve weight on the axle, it seemed pretty easy to go this extra step. And with the tires locked in the shed, I don't have to use the tire covers that came with the trailer and expose them to deadly sunlight. So the benefits keep on coming.

[jgilliam1955]

I am not going to raise the tires off the ground this year. I think it may be left over from the "Old Times."

[John McMillin]

Tires might be less prone to flat-spotting now, but the common Dexter axle hasn't changed in the whole span of Scamp production, I believe. I never jacked up my old Scamp for the winter, but my nearly new one gets special treatment!

[Mr Lynn]

I put our Casita on jackstands one year, on advice from someone (here?). I don't think I'll bother with our new-to-us Escape 21.

[Casita Greg]

Not totally adverse to jacking it up for storage if you want to, but in almost 15 years I've had my trailer, I've never jacked mine up for storage. No rubber torsion bar sag, no flat spots on the tires come Springtime, etc. Just sayin'.