Stabilizer Jack Placement

[clarkbre]

I am building a camping trailer that I plan to attach a rooftop tent to. The frame is a 4x8 Redtrailer bolt together frame that I've shortened to 6'. I'm looking at installing the stabilizer jacks. I've purchased 4 atwood flip down jacks and want to install one on each corner. I'd really like to have the trailer as steady as possible when in the tent and need to know how to mount the jacks.

Being that I will be sleeping parralel with the axle,

should I mount them front to back (flipping towards the front and rear of the trailer), side to side (flipping out on the sides of the trailer), or mount them at a 45 degree angle (flipping out to the side and front or back)?

Which set up will give me the most stable platform when in the tent?

[Dean_A]

We put ours flipping towards the sides. I didn't want to be tripping over them when we used the galley. I doubt it makes any difference from a stability point of view. Once you have jacks down at all four corners, that thing isn't going anywhere. You would have to have a LOT of weight extended out over the jacks to get any movement.

[clarkbre]

Is there any wiggle front to back on your trailer?

[Dean_A]

Is there any wiggle front to back on your trailer?

With all four stabilizers down and loaded it feels like a block of granite. Couldn't get it to wiggle if I tried.

[boomboomtulum]

I purchased 4 and after trying to place them ended up using 2 in the rear. The first couple of trips used them, then tried not putting them down and not enough of a instability problem without them. Next trailer will not have any or 2 in the front only. However my trailer is 58" wide, with a 48" might be a good idea. But I would think facing out like Dean_A said would be out of the way somewhat and give it the max. stability, Wider stance.

Dave

[clarkbre]

Right on. Thanks for the tips guys. It's tough to tell how good they will work when it's only the trailer frame being bolted together. I imagine with a few hundred more pounds of wood, tent, and gear, the jacks will be very stable.

[del]

I purchased 4 and after trying to place them ended up using 2 in the rear. The first couple of trips used them, then tried not putting them down and not enough of a instability problem without them. Next trailer will not have any or 2 in the front only. However my trailer is 58" wide, with a 48" might be a good idea. But I would think facing out like Dean_A said would be out of the way somewhat and give it the max. stability, Wider stance.

Dave

You already have a stabilizer in front, the tongue jack. With two jacks in back and one in front it creates a tripod, plenty stable unhooked from the car.

my 2c del

[Darren]

I have stabilizer jacks on the back and I use jack stands on the front. I've found that the rear jacks really don't do anything because the rear wheels are far enough back and the trailer springs are stiff enough that I don't feel any movement without them. I think if I relocated the jacks to the front and lost the jack stands it would feel just as secure as it does now. My tongue jack is junk basically so it would allow lots of side to side movement if I used it.

This is on a Harbor Freight 1800 lb trailer with the axle moved back.

2 on the front is how my next one will be setup.

[boomboomtulum]

I purchased 4 and after trying to place them ended up using 2 in the rear. The first couple of trips used them, then tried not putting them down and not enough of a instability problem without them. Next trailer will not have any or 2 in the front only. However my trailer is 58" wide, with a 48" might be a good idea. But I would think facing out like Dean_A said would be out of the way somewhat and give it the max. stability, Wider stance.

Dave

You already have a stabilizer in front, the tongue jack. With two jacks in back and one in front it creates a tripod, plenty stable unhooked from the car.

my 2c del

I have stabilizer jacks on the back and I use jack stands on the front. I've found that the rear jacks really don't do anything because the rear wheels are far enough back and the trailer springs are stiff enough that I don't feel any movement without them. I think if I relocated the jacks to the front and lost the jack stands it would feel just as secure as it does now. My tongue jack is junk basically so it would allow lots of side to side movement if I used it.

This is on a Harbor Freight 1800 lb trailer with the axle moved back.

2 on the front is how my next one will be setup.

That is exactly my point Victor Star thank you, the rear wheels are stable w/o jacks back there, now their just added weight. In the front is where my next ones will be as well. THe distance between the tongue jack and the rear wheels does not provide enough stability, so two atwoods at each front corner would create four points to the ground. I am using a 3500 lbs axle on a custom built frame.

Dave

[Endo]

I am building a camping trailer that I plan to attach a rooftop tent to. The frame is a 4x8 Redtrailer bolt together frame that I've shortened to 6'. I'm looking at installing the stabilizer jacks. I've purchased 4 atwood flip down jacks and want to install one on each corner. I'd really like to have the trailer as steady as possible when in the tent and need to know how to mount the jacks.

Being that I will be sleeping parralel with the axle,

should I mount them front to back (flipping towards the front and rear of the trailer), side to side (flipping out on the sides of the trailer), or mount them at a 45 degree angle (flipping out to the side and front or back)?

Which set up will give me the most stable platform when in the tent?

I have 4 jacks on my latest build (the one pictured below). I mounted them at 45 degree angles. Using 4 jacks eliminates all suspension movement. It is very stable.

[Carter]

I have 4 Atwoods on my standy. I use the rear 2 if I need to level the trailer. Most of the time I use none. The fronts have never been down. Without any it may wiggle a little when stepping in and out but once inside there is no movement. As said above, small changes in placement would make little difference. Mine are on a diagonal in the corner and the mounts also serve as a diagonal brace.

Jim