Our trailer's got 3 jacks that mount onto the weld on lugs. One at each back corner and one at the tongue. The issue is that when we've got the roof top tent deployed and 6 people sleeping in the rig you can feel any movement from other people. This type of jack attachment is great for ease of leveling but is wobbly laterally. Is there a better jack design we could retrofit?
Better Jacks for Stability?
- Thread starter Awkragt
- Start date
billiebob
Well-known member
I swear by keeping the trailer coupled to the tow vehicle. That anchor adds lots of stability... and put the tow vehicle on 4LO.
Now you just have the rear stabilizers to "stabilize" but by staying hooked up you have eliminated any fore aft movement.
PS, a traditional ball is way more stabile than a pintle or 360 degree swivel thing. Thats a basic engineering fact.
Hiker Trailers uses these at the rear corners. Not actually jacks, you uncouple, drop the tongue jack, drop the rear stabilizers and jack the tongue up.
They are way more stabile than any scissor jack. You could extend the frame mount tube to add more stability.
The more moving parts you use, the less stable or more expensive things get. Keep it simple.
Now you just have the rear stabilizers to "stabilize" but by staying hooked up you have eliminated any fore aft movement.
PS, a traditional ball is way more stabile than a pintle or 360 degree swivel thing. Thats a basic engineering fact.
Hiker Trailers uses these at the rear corners. Not actually jacks, you uncouple, drop the tongue jack, drop the rear stabilizers and jack the tongue up.
They are way more stabile than any scissor jack. You could extend the frame mount tube to add more stability.
The more moving parts you use, the less stable or more expensive things get. Keep it simple.
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I like that. Mine has three 2K# tongue style jacks and wobbles like hell laterally as well, and I don't even have a tent on it yet.
Yep, our trailer had a serious case of the wobbles when I first built it. I added BAL style jacks in the rear, put blocks between the frame and axle when I get to camp to take the springs out of the equation, use chocks and it has helped a lot. I think next time I set it up I will leave it attached to the truck to see how that helps like billiebob says that should take the front to back wobble out of it, which is half the battle. Our tent rack extends and adds some of its own wobble. For now I use a couple ratchet straps to tighten that up. Eventually I will make something rigid that tightens from the bottom where the rack connects to trailer up to the top of the rack. For now it is not bad with the wife, 10 yo, 50 lb blue heeler and myself up there. But I was worried there at the beginning.
Louisd75
Adventurer
I've got a BAL 'C' jack on each corner of my teardrop and they are rock solid once deployed. They are relatively heavy though.
I did look at making something like this:
www.campingworld.com
I wonder how much of a difference it would make it you ran a ratchet strap around your jack legs?
I did look at making something like this:
Valterra Universal RV Camper Stabilizer I 14"-28"
Stop rocking and swaying while parked with an RV camper stabilizer. Easy setup and compact storage; act now!
www.campingworld.com
I wonder how much of a difference it would make it you ran a ratchet strap around your jack legs?
billiebob
Well-known member
I must say ratchet straps are god for me. Luv them and use them always. The weakness of ratchet straps is the strap which I replace often.