Electric stabilizer jacks? ? ? ?

beeman · 10-30-2014, 08:12 AM

What is the general consensus on electric stabilizer jacks on a travel trailer? Heard a lot of people complaining they do not stabilize as good as manual? Is there a trick that I do not know about please help?

TURBS · 10-30-2014, 08:41 AM

The trick is to add strong arms such as jt's or bal's.

Love my electric jacks.

Turbs

beeman · 10-30-2014, 08:54 AM

Thanks

Brother Les · 10-30-2014, 09:31 AM

Not hard to install for different applications.

http://www.happijac.com/~happicja/im...stall_2009.pdf

Hilgert · 10-30-2014, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

The trick is to add strong arms such as jt's or bal's.

Love my electric jacks.

Turbs

Turbs, do you have to manually place those strong arms each time? If so, would using manual scissor jacks with a drill be just as quick (or quicker).

Reason I ask is that the wife does not like the wobble, and I can see the stabilizers moving. Many folks that I've talked to suggest to either dump the electric stabilizers altogether and replace with scissor jacks (bolted in place), or put a scissor jack on each side near the wheels (in addition to the electric).

I have scissor jacks I purchased, and from playing with them I think I could stabilize a trailer (using a cordless drill) as fast or faster than with electric. I'm going to try next weekend to use just those jacks and see how they compare to the electric.

TURBS · 10-30-2014, 10:38 AM

Yes you manually have to loosen and tighten each time.

A set of scissor jacks by the axles are always a good idea to eliminate bounce.

Turbs

Hilgert · 10-30-2014, 10:40 AM

Wow...quick reply...thanks.

I'll probably try two near the wheels at first...if that works then I might leave the electrics.

TURBS · 10-30-2014, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilgert

Wow...quick reply...thanks.

I'll probably try two near the wheels at first...if that works then I might leave the electrics.

Out of curiosity where are you from?

Turbs

Brother Les · 10-30-2014, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilgert

Wow...quick reply...thanks.

I'll probably try two near the wheels at first...if that works then I might leave the electrics.

I do have scissor jacks (along with electric stabilizers) and did not like the clearance when the jacks were in the up position. The side skirts hang way down and were in the way of the jacks and the gas line was way close to the I-beam. I installed a 'sav-a-jack' quick release to put them on and off when needed or not.
SaveAJack Quick Release Jack Saver

Hilgert · 10-30-2014, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Out of curiosity where are you from?

Turbs

I live in a small town north of the DFW area in the Republic of Texas (as we Texans like to call it). PM me if you want more specifics (like if you need my address so you can deliver my Publisher's Clearing House winnings).

TURBS · 10-30-2014, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilgert

I live in a small town north of the DFW area in the Republic of Texas (as we Texans like to call it). PM me if you want more specifics (like if you need my address so you can deliver my Publisher's Clearing House winnings).

Lol !
I'm just interested in your electric jacks if you decide to remove them to put on scissor jacks! [emoji106] [emoji106]

Turbs

Hilgert · 10-30-2014, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Lol !
I'm just interested in your electric jacks if you decide to remove them to put on scissor jacks! [emoji106] [emoji106]

Turbs

Oh, well...if you coming to the Dallas area any time soon? I'll know in a few weeks...need to try it both ways.

If you do come let me know and I'll get a visa for you so you can enter the Republic easily (we are actually building a fence on the north side...details HERE).

TURBS · 10-30-2014, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilgert

Oh, well...if you coming to the Dallas area any time soon? I'll know in a few weeks...need to try it both ways.

If you do come let me know and I'll get a visa for you so you can enter the Republic easily (we are actually building a fence on the north side...details HERE).

In that case I better have you ship it!

Better yet I'll buy you two new scissor jacks and mail you those.

Can we save on shipping by emailing them ? [emoji16]

Turbs

MuddauberE · 10-30-2014, 01:57 PM

[QUOTE=Hilgert;728166]Turbs, do you have to manually place those strong arms each time? If so, would using manual scissor jacks with a drill be just as quick (or quicker).QUOTE]

I have scissor jacks and BAL's on my rig and I do just that! I have a drill that I lower the jacks with and then I tighten the BAL stabilizers. My wife was complaining about the same thing. the rocking was pretty bad no matter what I did. I added the stabilizers and it was gone, almost 100% and I did not add stabilizers at the wheels. Now I don't have a 5er so that may be different, but I don't get a bounce in the Roo.

kerrlakelover · 10-30-2014, 03:27 PM

[QUOTE=MuddauberE;728242]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilgert

Turbs, do you have to manually place those strong arms each time? If so, would using manual scissor jacks with a drill be just as quick (or quicker).QUOTE]

I have scissor jacks and BAL's on my rig and I do just that! I have a drill that I lower the jacks with and then I tighten the BAL stabilizers. My wife was complaining about the same thing. the rocking was pretty bad no matter what I did. I added the stabilizers and it was gone, almost 100% and I did not add stabilizers at the wheels. Now I don't have a 5er so that may be different, but I don't get a bounce in the Roo.

Same thing on my Sandpiper. Operate my scissors with drill...zip zip. Then hand tighten my homemade "JT" stabilizers which make a big difference. One day I'll come across a deal on electric or manual stabilizes to put forward of the front axle to take out the bounce of the tires. But with the right angle stabilizers most of the sway is gone.

Hilgert · 10-31-2014, 02:20 AM

Turbs, how much does one of the electric stabilizers weigh? In other words, if I remove one (say the front one), how much weight would I be removing from the trailer? I figure one has to be around 85 lbs or so?

kandl · 10-31-2014, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeman

What is the general consensus on electric stabilizer jacks on a travel trailer? Heard a lot of people complaining they do not stabilize as good as manual? Is there a trick that I do not know about please help?

Work just fine when they work. Challenge has been to find motors that last more than a season. They get cranked up and down a lot by hand!

Witch Doctor · 10-31-2014, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilgert

Turbs, how much does one of the electric stabilizers weigh? In other words, if I remove one (say the front one), how much weight would I be removing from the trailer? I figure one has to be around 85 lbs or so?

Think maybe 30 at best.....

Hilgert · 10-31-2014, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

Think maybe 30 at best.....

Well, the shipping weight is 93 lbs. There's a lot of steel, plus the motor. Heck, a pair of manual scissor jacks is almost 30 lbs.

beeman · 10-31-2014, 05:13 AM

[QUOTE=kerrlakelover;728291]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuddauberE

Same thing on my Sandpiper. Operate my scissors with drill...zip zip. Then hand tighten my homemade "JT" stabilizers which make a big difference. One day I'll come across a deal on electric or manual stabilizes to put forward of the front axle to take out the bounce of the tires. But with the right angle stabilizers most of the sway is gone.

How bout some pics of the homemade it strong arm??

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