Need advice on trailer jacks...

[RandyH]

Hey, just picked up my 7X16 cargo trailer today. I'll try to get pics up tomorrow. It took a couple of hours to get it leveled and put on jack stands. I want to get some jacks to bolt/weld to the frame. I was looking at scissor jacks, but when collapsed, they look like they would stick out way beyond the trailer sides. Anyone got some pics of their setup?

Thanks,
Randy

[CoventryKid]

Randy:

I ordered my trailer with 2 scissor jacks at the rear of the trailer.

After my conversion I found I needed two at the front. I picked these up from Princess Auto here on Vancouver Island on sale for 1/2 price - $49 Cdn for the pair.



You can see that these mount on a lateral frame member so they run front to back on the trailer.

These work well for me. You should be able to find something similar locally.

Hope this helps!

[lrrowe]

Randy:

I ordered my trailer with 2 scissor jacks at the rear of the trailer.

After my conversion I found I needed two at the front. I picked these up from Princess Auto here on Vancouver Island on sale for 1/2 price - $49 Cdn for the pair.



You can see that these mount on a lateral frame member so they run front to back on the trailer.

These work well for me. You should be able to find something similar locally.

Hope this helps!

I wish I had this type of jack. I do not like my drop down and lock type. Maybe this will be a later add and it seems that my experience says all I need is a pair for the back.

[nitro_mt_racer]

Collapsed height on those scissor jacks is around 4". How are you guys not tearing these off the frame?

[Iconfabul8]

I am installing a rear bumper/sewer hose compartment and will weld these to it. Pull a pin and it drops to the ground, a few cranks and you're done.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360964807869?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Hader]

Collapsed height on those scissor jacks is around 4". How are you guys not tearing these off the frame?

I have the same concern.
Iconfabul8's Idea is brilliant and doable. I'll have to consider it for my build.

[mikeschn]

I like the BAL jacks. They look like they were made for this kind of trailer.



To keep from ripping them off while driving, I mounted them to the sub-floor instead of the chassis.





Mike...

[RandyH]

Randy:

I ordered my trailer with 2 scissor jacks at the rear of the trailer.

After my conversion I found I needed two at the front. I picked these up from Princess Auto here on Vancouver Island on sale for 1/2 price - $49 Cdn for the pair.



You can see that these mount on a lateral frame member so they run front to back on the trailer.

These work well for me. You should be able to find something similar locally.

Hope this helps!

OK, have you got a picture of that setup? If I understand correctly, mounting them sideways would take away some of the stability, wouldn't it?

[Hader]

Bob,
"I do not like my drop down and lock type"

How and where do you have the 'drop down jacks' mounted?

[Hader]

Dragging is very serious issue that has been around since mankind invented the wheel. Not all trailers drag all the time, but at some point it will happen.
I did some Googling and found endless discussions about the subject. The following is an example from one forum:

Post: "I've always had a problem wrecking my stabilizers when going up steep driveways and dirt roads. Ive tried moving towards the center as the jack manufactures specify but they don't really work when they are not in the corners of the vehicle."

Reply1: ".... What i did see first hand was a set of 6", 4 bolt swiveling dolly wheels welded to the bumper of a 30 foot camper as it entered a Marathon gas station and when the rear end of the camper dipped down wards the rear dolly wheels gently lifted the rear of the camper saving the stabilizer jacks. I pulled in behind the camper and asked the owner if he was happy with his wheels. He said he absolutely was and you had to be careful of large potholes when entering gas stations or entrance ramps at campgrounds and always slow down while engaging the wheels to the ground."

Reply 2: ".... I actually tried these on a weekend warrior a couple years back. Fully loaded with my toys i went over a decent hump entering a Grocery store in Mojave I drove slowly but it put too much weight on the frame and it actually bent the frame. They really make these things out of toothpicks, especially the ultra lights. The Door never shut right after that."

Camping World in a product-description of a solution called Saveajack: "Most stabilizers hang 4”-5” below your vehicle’s frame. They are very susceptible to damage when driving off road or steep driveways. Saveajack is a permanent steel bracket that mounts directly to the frame of your RV and to your stabilizer jacks. Once installed you can easily remove your jacks, thus preventing the constant problem of dragging your jacks.".

I kinda like the idea! The price is $70 for 2. I'll have to come up with my own build and save the $140.
Video shows how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxv66ZzZlFY

[Yukon Cornelius]

Some good ideas; thanks for sharing

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Hader]

What do you all think of this?

It will cost me $1.20 for the 8 screws instead of $140 for the 4 brackets from Camping World.

[nitro_mt_racer]

Should work fine. The brackets only job is to hold the jack until you can lower it to the ground. I suppose it keeps the top of the jack from kicking out once it's been cranked down and you start moving around in the trailer.

[CoventryKid]

Randy:

Per your request:








Re the stability, I agree, the jacks would probably provide a bit more stability if the base of the jack ran across the trailer rather than front to back. But I guess it depends on where the floor framing is located.

The dealer mounted jacks at the rear of my trailer are secured to the 2nd last cross member so I have to crouch down to see where the jack is to lower it.

I mounted the front jack stands close to the edge of the trailer making them easier to "find."

Bottom line is: a jack at each corner means a stable platform, no matter which way the jacks are mounted IMHO.

Hope this helps!

[McDave]

Uh, two hours to level? Here's a cheap, easy, 10min solution. Wal mart levels, 5.00 pair, eBay screw jacks 35.00 set of 4 shipped. $60.00 total Install level on each corner, and midpoint of front and rear bumper or gate. You will get better at it as you do it more. 10 min max.

McDave