Stabilizing Jacks

[scotty_pac]

My teardrop didn't come with stabilizing jacks. Just wanted to get people's opinions on whether they really help or not necessary. And if they do help, which kind is best? Scissors or regular fold out?

[Greg M]

They definitely help. I've got the fold down ones that you tension with a bar. They're plenty strong for the light weight of a teardrop. I haven't used the crank down type, so I can't comment on them, though I'm sure they're great.

-Greg

[scotty_pac]

Greg do you mean this kind?

[Vedette]

Bought mine new on ebay.....very reasonable.
Good Roads
Brian

[GuitarPhotog]

They help. I need the kitchen counter to be level so stuff doesn't run to one side of the pan, and stabilizer jacks are the easy way to do that for me.

I use the cheap aluminum screw jack type because there is no practical way to attach any others to the underside of my 65 year old teardrop. They are a PITA but they work, are reliable, and are cheap.

<Chas>

[GerryS]

A must have! My first trailer (a canned ham) didn't have them. My wife and I were on the back couch, and the tongue decided to point skyward...we laughed, and then went about the business of gleaning up a heck of a mess,

When we told that tale a friend one upped us. He saw a popup, the same thing happened....only two people in a state of undressed rolled out of the screen. He never saw a site packed up, packed in, and vacated as quickly as that site was that day.

My cargo (8x12) that I pulled for a concession business had the pull down type, they worked fine. My TD has crank downs...they can lift the trailer off the ground. They make the unit rock solid. I wouldn't want a trailer that didn't have them. A must in my book.

[JeremiahO]

Good thread,as im at this very stage in my build. I was leaning towards the standard scissor jacks but wondering whether two at the back were enough or should i get two for the front like a traditional camper??

[prohandyman]

Our local pick a part sells screw-up car jacks for $5 each. Would work great, just a little heavy.

[prohandyman]

Yes stab jacks are a must...even with small teardrop campers. Our local pick a part sells screw-up car jacks for $5 each. Would work great, just a little heavy. I have recently switched to these...crank down easily and then crank up almost out of view. The surplus shops have them considerably cheaper than new.

[TPMcGinty]

I have never needed any kind of stabilizer jack on my Tear. I bought some screw type stabilizer jacks but have never used them.

[GerryS]

Mine are the scissor types. My biggest complaint is there is no good handle/crank available. I've got some concept how to make a better handle for the crank, I just need to get my hands on a block of hickory...

[Gary and Cheri]

Tim is ex Navy and rolling around like he is at sea probably makes him feel like at home.

I wouldn't be without them. You have two basic types: scissor jacks and stabilizers. Stabilizers do just that. You level out your trailer and then put the stabilizers down so that one person rolls you don't bounce all over the place. With most jacks you can level and stabilize the trailer with them. Which is why they are also usually heavier. Many people with stabilizers, including me, carry small ramps to drive one tire up onto to get level side to side. You could probably eliminate these with jacks but jacks may still weigh more. Stabilizer vs jacks? pluses and minuses to both.

Most camp sites are fairly flat and so finding level is fairly easy. A trailer that doesn't feel like it is floating all over the place sleeps better.

Gary

[Woodbutcher]

I got em, never use them. I set my tongue on a jack stand and it seems stable enough for me. I know they are there if I need them do to an un level site situation.

[nevadatear]

Scotty, we have just like the photo. They really make a difference, even with the tongue on a jack stand. I can tell when we forget to put them down as soon as i crawl into the cabin. It squeaks more and rocks a little from side to side. Got ours at an rv parts place.

[aggie79]

We have stabilizer jacks at the rear of the teardrop and use them all of the time.

After unhitching the teardrop, we lower the tongue jack so that the tongue is slightly below the level of the rear of the teardrop. Then we level the rear of the teardrop side to side with the stabilizer jacks. Finally we level the teardrop front to back by raising the tongue jack.

The type we have are the BAL jacks. I mounted them at a 45 degree angle.