Jack Pads
A stabilizer or tongue jack rests on a small metal foot, and that foot will sink straight into wet grass, soft dirt, or sun-softened asphalt, dropping your carefully leveled rig overnight and leaving dents behind. A jack pad spreads that load over a much wider footprint so the jack stays put. This category covers universal flex pads, stabilizer jack pads with carry handles, and dolly pads from Camco and AP Products.
3 products
What a jack pad actually buys you
It comes down to surface area. A bare jack foot might cover four square inches; set it on a 14 by 12 inch Camco pad and the same weight spreads across a footprint wide enough that it stops sinking. That holds the rig level through the night and protects both the jack and whatever you're parked on.
- Pad size vs jack load. Bigger pads spread weight better on soft ground. A large stabilizer pad like the 14 by 12 inch Camco works under scissor and telescoping stabilizers, while the smaller 8.5-inch universal flex pads suit lighter jacks and tighter spots.
- Surface you're parked on. Grass and dirt call for the largest pad you can fit. On gravel or hot asphalt, a pad keeps the foot from digging in or leaving a dent as the day heats up.
- Handles and storage. Pads with a molded handle, like the Camco stabilizer pads, are easier to carry and won't slide around a wet basement bay. The recycled-material flex pads stack flat.
- Right pad for the right jack. Dolly pads such as the AP Products Super Dolly pad support trailer tongue and dolly wheels, while stabilizer pads go under the corner jacks. Match the pad to what's actually resting on it.
Get the pad flat first, then lower the jack onto the center of it rather than an edge so the load stays balanced. Pads only hold a setup once the site is level, so keep your levels close and let your wheel chocks do the anti-roll work at the tires.