RV SnapPad Designs the Ultimate Jack Pad for Your RV

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more new RV owners have sprung up in the last two years than ever before. With the benefits of easy isolation and an “instant vacation”, the RV lifestyle has become more and more appealing to large numbers of people in North America, Australia and Europe since the start of 2020.
Even so, RVing comes with its share of challenges. New RV owners should be aware of some of the key issues that regular RVing comes with.
RV Maintenance
Owning a recreational vehicle is a bit like having to maintain a large vehicle and small home, all at once. Larger, luxury Fifth wheels and Motorhomes come with full kitchens, bathrooms, appliances, as well as sewer and water. You can have engine problems, wheel/tire problems, appliance outages, and water flow/temperature challenges – all at the same time!
You also have to keep a keen eye on your batteries/energy supply, especially when boondocking, which is camping without access to electrical hook-ups.
To avoid disaster, new RV owners should become as familiar as possible with key aspects of their vehicle, as well as sticklers for maintenance schedules. Find a dealership or service vendor you can trust to keep your rig on the road in top-top shape.
Setting up and leveling
Having a stable, level RV is of upmost importance. Not only for orientation and comfort when you are inside the RV, but to make sure that all your appliances are functioning well. After all, certain appliances won’t function effectively if your RV is off-kilter. An unstable rig can also feel seriously unsafe.
Luckily, most modern RVs have powerful leveling and stabilizing systems installed. Automatic leveling systems appear on most large or luxury rigs and they use smart technology, hydraulics, and metal landing (or “jack) feet to help make sure your RV is level in a variety of terrain.
Nevertheless, you will always want to find a relatively level/stable camp site when setting up. In addition, metal jacks can have a hard time finding purchase in soft, wet, or unstable conditions like sod, mud, sand, or gravel. Jack pads, which are pads or boards placed beneath the jack feet, can help alleviate these issues by providing surer footing for the leveling system.
Recently, new permanent jack pads, called RV SnapPads, have been created to take this solution to the next level (pun intended!). SnapPads “snap” onto metal jacks permanently, kind of like big, rubber shoes for the RV. They provide the stability and protection of jack pads, but don’t have to be carried, stored, placed, and retrieved every time you set up and tear down. This makes the auto-level system even more automatic than before.
Finding the right campsite
As outdoor pursuits and RVing have become more popular, access to the best sites during peak season has become tougher to secure. As an RV owner you also need to consider if you’ll be dry camping/boondocking (setting up without hook-ups to sewer/power) or staying at a more prepared campground. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to scout, plan, and book your trip, especially in the summer months.
For help, be sure to talk to your neighbors while camping, or engage with the RV community on digital channels like Facebook or Messageboards. Experienced RVers can give you tips and insights on the best sites and how best to find them.
For further assistance, check out RV planning apps like Togo RV. Other options include FreeRoam, Roadtripper, and GoRVing.
Managing your storage
Modern RVs come with a lot of storage space and options, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you can fill them up when stocking up for a weekend, let alone a more extensive cross-country trek. Keeping your belongings out of the way while also balancing your overall weight becomes a mix of art and science for dedicated RVers.
Which items are vital and which ones are optional? Is there anything you can pick up or replenish on the road? Can you swap out existing things for options that are smaller, lighter, or more capable of being folded/stowed?
Playing Tetris with your camping gear and swapping out everyday items for more camping/travel-friendly items will become “must-have” skills.
Driving
Did you know you don’t need a special license to tow a 40-foot 5th wheel or drive a 45 foot Class A Motorhome? That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. RVs extend the size and weight of your vehicle, making the driving experience much, much more difficult than the average car or SUV.
With hitched travel trailers and towables, you must be keenly aware of the connection and movement of your rig as you drive. Backing into campsites with a large vehicle on your hitch or driveways is also a required skill.
Additionally, drivers must be aware of the height of their rig if they own a larger RV. Some bridges and parking entrances can have lower clearance allowances, and the last thing you want to do is get stuck under a bridge or tear the roof off your $100,000 RV.
Of course, there is also the issue of highway driving and making sure to double-check while lane changing and leaving yourself plenty of space will following, breaking, etc.
With all of these considerations, it might be a good idea to take an RV driving school.
RVing has never been as popular as it is now. While existing RV manufacturers scramble to increase production and firm up their supply chains to keep up with the demand, the burgeoning RV lifestyle has created opportunities for new companies outside of long-time incumbents.
For example, RV Share, RVezy, and Outdoorsy are platforms that connect RV owners with RV renters, in a kind of a blend between Uber and Airbnb. Harvest Hosts helps RVers find unique camping and outdoor lifestyle experiences, ranging from private ranches to wineries. Husband and wife team Matthew and Joann Hoffman are full-time RVers who recently launched a new, direct-to-consumer RV brand called Living Vehicle, featuring modern design esthetics and luxury, high tech features.
One of the fastest-growing brands in RVing is RV SnapPad, an independent family-owned company. Domiciled in Western Canada, the business was founded by Gordon Wilson and his three sons (Kent, Devon, and Barrett), initially as a side project in their garage. The vision was a simple one – create a new product category in the RV leveling accessories space called “permanent jack pads”. Though simple, the concept wasn’t easy to execute, resulting in a series of experiments featuring different product versions using things like powerful magnets and industrial adhesives to achieve “permanence.”
Eventually, the concept was realized via careful engineering driven by an insight that enabled the new company to create a rubber jack pad that could be installed permanently. All one needed to do was “snap” a physical lip onto the RV’s metal jack feet.
Gordon and the boys were able to patent the idea and launched the product directly to consumers on a single-page website in late 2015. Since then, the business has grown to 18 employees. The jack pad is currently produced by three different US manufacturers, and is sold in over 500 North American RV dealerships.
The ballooning interest in RVing means more unique, innovative, and independent startups are likely to pop up on the horizon. While it was previously ignored by modern DTC (direct-to-consumer) and tech startup hubs in favor of “sexier” segments like food, fashion, and fitness, RVing is now all the rage. Outdoor enthusiasts should expect to find more and more new products and platforms that aim to make the RVing lifestyle easier, better, and more accessible than ever before.
Once you get yourself an RV, you’re going to want to invest in good protection for your jacks. Want to see how the RV SnapPad works? Visit their website for more information.