Homemade stabilizers

[dh]

A little off topic, but has anybody seen a ''If the teardrops a rockin don't come a knockin'' sticker?

[bobhenry]

http://www.bumperart.com/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=2004081406&productID=7982

Here is the bumper sticker !

http://cgi.ebay.com/If-Trailers-Rockin-Travel-Trailer-funny-sign-GIFT-/110641420511

and here is the license plate !

[Catherine+twins]

Okay, not knowing the right names for the metal parts makes this harder to describe than it would be to take a picture, but the remains of my grandfather's old trailer are in Colorado, and I am in New Mexico. I'm going to salvage the old stabilizers off of it the next time I visit the family farm.

The stabilizers he built were from two sizes of three-sided box or U-shaped iron (maybe even aluminum, remember I'm not examining in person). The two sizes fit together nicely to make a box, with 1/4 inch holes along the sides that you could put a pin through. When you set up the trailer, you dropped the stabilizers by removing the pin from the holding bracket, lengthened the leg by sliding the smaller/inner leg down (hinged foot at the base), then put the pin in at the right length and scissor the two pieces back together. To take down, you put your (gloved) finger in the top of the lower piece and pull it out to scissor the support back out. Simple, light-weight, and just enough support for a light trailer (Grandpa's tent-top weighed about 800#).

I've looked online for u-channel and c-channel, and haven't seen anything like what Grandpa used. Maybe someone who works with metal will know the right name and come up with it. Grandpa built planes, and he built the trailer just post-WWII, so it may have been something he used in the shop at work.

Catherine

[Conestoga]

We haven't managed to tip our 4x8 trailer yet, even while testing it with
the majority of our weight aft of the axle. So we never thought about
using stabilizers.
We do use a form of insurance though...
Turn a 5-gallon bucket upsidedown and push it under
the rear end of the trailer. Works great :-)
Small block of plywood to fill gap if needed.

[Catherine+twins]

Simple, inexpensive, love it. But we had a different plan for the 5 gallon bucket in the middle of the night.

[Conestoga]

We take 2 buckets, they're light, they stack, and they make good seats... with AND without the loo lid.

[ME87]

Anyone have any grand ideas for a my large floor to ground distance? I haven't been able to come up with something simple and clean yet.

[Todah Tear]

I used some PVC pipe and purchased some of the little PVC caps that fit in them for incremental height adjustments (The PVC was later painted to match the teardrop trim.)

...OR you could use a PVC pipe that is of a smaller diameter w/holes on the side vertically. A small rod could be slide through the holes to decrease or increase the height.

Todah

[Miriam C.]

I used some PVC pipe and purchased some of the little PVC caps that fit in them for incremental height adjustments (The PVC was later painted to match the teardrop trim.)

...OR you could use a PVC pipe that is of a smaller diameter w/holes on the side vertically. A small rod could be slide through the holes to decrease or increase the height.

Todah

Now that is a great idea!

[canned o minimum]

MANY years ago, I did a garage clean out and found sum of those aluminum stackable stabilizers..saved em ( as I do EVERYTHING) and finally have a use fer em !

Recently did ANOTHER clean out and found sum "folding" chock blocks...keep em in my VW( TV) and use em as well when I take the TD.

BUT...I usually jus keep the trailer hooked to the car...

Fer ME..and the VW bug..it's ALL about the "weight " factor. The alluminum stabilizers ..light ! The folding chocks..light AND FOLDING !

I love that we git SO MANY good ideas from our peers...

[wagondude]

Anyone have any grand ideas for a my large floor to ground distance? I haven't been able to come up with something simple and clean yet.

You could just put a couple of scissor jacks between the axle and frame when parked to take the bounce out. But the PVC idea would be better if you have tipping issues.

[cracker39]

I bought Stack Jacks at WM 5 years ago for the Squidget. I ordered a ser online while ordering my TV receptacle for the outside and a spare tire cover. The cheaper prices online plus shipping compared to local prices with sales tax and I didn't spend any money for gas to go find them. I like the stack jacks...simple and cheap and don't take up much storage space.

[LDK]

I used some PVC pipe and purchased some of the little PVC caps that fit in them for incremental height adjustments (The PVC was later painted to match the teardrop trim.)

...OR you could use a PVC pipe that is of a smaller diameter w/holes on the side vertically. A small rod could be slide through the holes to decrease or increase the height.

Todah

I thought about doing that awhile back. I bought the pvc but I never got around to making them. I think I'm gonna go a different route on mine.

[john warren]

well,,,,fore andaft (for those non nautical front and rear) rocking should not be an issue most of your wieght is forward of the axel. port to starboard (side to side) you shouldn;t be getting much compresion on your springs,but a simple chunk of 2x4 or 1x4 the right length would work fine. a couple of each are also nice to have to level side to side on uneven ground anyway. so they serve two purposes that way.