Stabalizer jacks

[Shadow Catcher]

This is a, lets start a discussion thread.
You need only three points to adjust and level a trailer. We do not have trailer/leveling jacks and I do not feel we need them and my concern is that because a lot of people have them, folks think they need them.
We do have Lynx leveling blocks which work well (they go under one wheel) and if necessary supply additional height should I need it for the jack for the trailer or TV.

[Dale M.]

Yes you can "level" trailer by just propping it up on wheel pads and tongue hack... But that is all it is... Leveled....

Stabilizer jacks are so if you or sleeping companion roll over at night trailer does not shake, rattle and roll and bounce on springs....Or if wind blows trailer does not shake, rattle and roll and bounce on springs... Or somebody sits on galley or rear hatch ledge the extra weight does not cause tongue to rise..... Years ago when I was a kid about 12-13 dad had a little 14 foot travel trailer and we spent about a week in it and when ever somebody moved at nigh or got up and walked around or moved from seating area to bed area the thing wound bound around like ping-pong ball on concrete.... Dad being the ingenious guy he was took a couple of long bolts and washers and wood blocks and made some "screw jacks" to put under back and life was a lot more enjoyable ... Do not understand how some people can be comfortable with out having trailer stabilized.... Good stabilizers negate the action of suspension and it no longer feels like trailer is leveled on a jello field.....

Does not hurt to have some leveling pads with you, but they are for parking spots that are not exactly level and you have to compensate... And they work well under stabilizers and tongue jack....

IF you have never stabilized a trailer you do not know the comfort you are missing.... No more waking up in morning feeling like you are seasick or hung over from all the night motion of trailer dancing around all night...

Also if you have had stabilizer jacks on trailer and it still moved (reason for thinking your not needing them) you probably did not setup trailer properly... After you have placed the trailer on "the spot", drop tongue a few degrees below level (tongue down) and go to rear and drop stabilizers, if ground is soft or stabilizer does not reach ground use a "pad"....With stabilizers in contact with earth, go back to tongue jack and crank it back up till trailer is level... Simple cheap spirit level on tongue will help you set trailer lever at tongue jack....

Dale

[les45]

I agree with Dale that stabilizer jacks are a must. If you still want to level your trailer side to side on an uneven area, you can simply cut some pieces of 1X6 to different lengths and accomplish the same thing as the Lynx kit for a lot less $$$.

[TPMcGinty]

I don't agree that stabilizer jacks are a must. I've been in mine during high winds and heavy thunderstorms. It moved a LITTLE but the noise from the thunder was the most distracting. It moves a little when the wife or I move inside the trailer but not much. I weigh 265lbs so if you believe others, it must look like the wife and I are getting busy every time I shift my weight around.

If you sit on the galley hatch and the tongue lifts you don't have the trailer balanced right. You tongue is TOO lite! Tongue weight should be 9-15% of the weight of your trailer. Mine is about 100lbs for my 1000lb trailer. Since the wheels are towards the back of the trailer from center, it takes more than my 265lbs on the back to get the tongue to move. No I'm not saying that stabilizers are a bad idea or that they are a good idea. What I decided to do was try camping in it without the stabilizers before I decided to add the extra cost and weight to my Tear.

[Nobody]

Stabilizer jacks, like most other 'nice to have options' are a personal choice. Probably not necessary in a real sense but for my wife & I they are a definite necessity. We ain't large folks & probably don't move the TD much during the night. We have spent a couple of nights parked where we never un-hitched & consequently didn't lower the jacks. I could definitely feel the TD move during the night when I did. During the 50+ years we've spent camping in one kind of vehicle or another we've discovered that we're not as comfortable in a rig that 'moves' when we do as in one that is rock solid. We've camped in everything from a pickup camper shell to a 32' 5th wheel & found that the smaller the rig the more it'll 'move' when you do. We've had a number of cabover P/U campers & when you're in the 'overhead' bed a little movement results in considerable 'rocking'. You learn to ignore it but it never became comfortable for us. On my TD build I installed the BAL type stabilizers on all 4 corners before beginning cabin construction. They also helped stabilize my chassis during construction. I'm pretty sure I could have gotten along with only 2 at the rear but they're not that expensive & surely worth it to us...

[H.A.]

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[Dale M.]

I don't agree that stabilizer jacks are a must. I've been in mine during high winds and heavy thunderstorms. It moved a LITTLE but the noise from the thunder was the most distracting. It moves a little when the wife or I move inside the trailer but not much. I weigh 265lbs so if you believe others, it must look like the wife and I are getting busy every time I shift my weight around.

If you sit on the galley hatch and the tongue lifts you don't have the trailer balanced right. You tongue is TOO lite! Tongue weight should be 9-15% of the weight of your trailer. Mine is about 100lbs for my 1000lb trailer. Since the wheels are towards the back of the trailer from center, it takes more than my 265lbs on the back to get the tongue to move. No I'm not saying that stabilizers are a bad idea or that they are a good idea. What I decided to do was try camping in it without the stabilizers before I decided to add the extra cost and weight to my Tear.

Umm...NO.... That ratio is only for towing... Discussion is for you being parked... IF a 200lb person like me sits on rear you have upset the balance of trailer by a great amount, the rear of trailer is now 200 lbs heavier that makes tongue weight probably 100lbs light so one would have to move at least 100lbs to tongue to at least achieve a "zero" tongue weight (equilibrium) and have to go to 200lbs added at tongue to achieve proper tongue weight of 100 lbs (if you are trying to apply towing "conditions") .......

Its the old teeter-taughter concept.... Back to science class for you for refresher on weights and balances....

Dale

[jonw]

Another advantage of stabilizer jacks (2 in the rear and one on the tongue) is you can easily lift the trailer off the wheels with them should you need to change a wheel - you don't need to carry a jack just to use for this purpose.

It's also handy for winter storage to keep the tires from getting flat spots from sitting on one spot all winter.

[aggie79]

One of the decision making factors for having or not having stabilizer jacks is the capacity of your suspension relative to the loaded weight of the teardrop.

As an extreme example, for a teardrop with a 3500# rated leaf spring or torsion axle, and a 1200# loaded teardrop and 300# of occupant weight, there will be little suspension movement when occupied. Pad levelers are probably all you need. But for the same teardrop and occupant weights, but with a 1500# rated suspension, there will be considerable more movement and stabilizers will help do just that - stabilize - the teardrop.

Our situation is the latter and I wouldn't consider not having stabilizers.

[bobhenry]

Most of our camping is in the Indiana State park system. Most of these were set aside and put into service in the 1850's.

Many are in natural rolling hills and glacial cutouts created eons ago. In many of these parks the sites are very slanted sloped or otherwise trailer unfriendly. We have camped on sites where we had the passanger side trailer wheel 10 " in the air and others where I needed to un hook and all but dig a hole for the coupler to get the trailer level. We seldom unhook from the tow vehicle and often rely on a couple of wheel chocks for stability. I finally learned to take the time to do a 3 point level using scissor jacks or the screw type jacks in the 2 rear corners. I installed a level indicator on the galley wall for side to side level and one on the passanger side rear for front to rear level. When these are realitavely close to right we seem to sleep a bit better. I will take a neutral stance on this issue. However, when the topography made it necessary I took the time to level and other times I didn't bother on a reasonably level site. It's just nice to be prepared with the right equipment whether it is trailer mounted or just supplimental equipment.

[GerryS]

They are a must for me. Simply rolling over at night causes these things to shake rattle and roll. I don't like being awakened when my wife rolls over, or her when I do. The stabilizers stop that and give a solid secure feel.

Also, family friendly here, in a quiet moment at night, last thing I want to see is a "rocking" trailer. Or worse, be seen climbing out of one. If you get my drift.

[les45]

Another thing that affects movement is tires. When I had the stock 12" NT trailer tires on mine, they were very firm with little movement. After going to 13" passenger car tires (for better towing), the trailer moves a lot more due to flexing of the sidewalls (side to side and up and down). I find my stabilizers cut out this movement.

[Junkboy999]

I do not think they are a requirement, But I rollover a lot in my sleep so much I don’t remember how many times. But if the trailer shakes for a few second after I roll over it, I start to notice it and do not get a good sleep. My trailer is so light on paved camping sites wheel chocks and the wheeled hand crank will not hold it steady. I do three point it if not connected to the TV.


This was all asked about a month ago, Right ?

Like this thread. Apr 09, 2013
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=55269

[KGwood]

I like them and cheap too if you go to the junk yard a get 2 scissor jacks form a car. Mine were $5

[rowerwet]

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-44560-Olymp ... 477&sr=1-9
I use these when needed, mostly I realy don't need them.