My fifth wheel front stabilizers

[crocus]

Here are a couple of pictures showing my version of the steady-fast system. I welded a 1x2 rectangular steel tube between the leg towers so I had a solid attachment point for the stabilizer bars, plus it adds strength to the legs.
The side bars are mounted (at the back) to the camper frame. The mounts are bolted solidly to the frame. I had to remove the basement door opening tubs (those black plastic tubs by the door) to gain access to the frame, but that was easy.
The ball-and-joint ends come in many sizes, I just got some that had bolt ends about the same size as the holes in the legs.
There is virtually no slack in the system anywhere, and is very quick to use. And it looks a lot slicker than the real Steady-Fast. I don't know why they made it so complicated, other than they could charge more.
Attached Thumbnails

[onetonford]

Here are my home made ones

[crocus]

Those look pretty slick too!
Are those bars the ones they sell to keep loads in place in a truck box? I see they have the ratchet tighteners on them. If so, how did you attach the eyelet ends?

[onetonford]

I bought them at Homedepot I cut off about ten inches each end removed the rivet that held the crome cap on removed the foot pads and drilled the end caps to fit the rod eyes and put a lock nut inside and another outside to sandwich the nuts on each side of the caps then to reattach the caps I used two #10/32 screws and threaded the holes where the rivets were. I also bought the rod eyes from Mc master Carr for about five bucks each and they were american made belive it or not.

[crocus]

Nice job. Where the two bars meet in the center between the legs, did you find something solid to attach the mount there? Mine is pretty flimsy in that area, thus the need for the steel tube addition.
Up here in Canada the ends you used are about twice the price of the ball-and-socket type, so I went with them.

[onetonford]

Here is the complete kit I built for a friend. and it just bolts on.

[crocus]

Looks like you are ready to go into business!

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by onetonford

Here is the complete kit I built for a friend. and it just bolts on.

What is the cost including shipping to Canada? I may want to order a set. Looks impressive.

[f1100turbo]

I bought a pair of those cargo jacks today at Midwest wheel for 16.00 dollars ea.
thanks for the mod post. Heim joints at a race car shop for 5.00 ea

[crocus]

After a bit more thought, those cargo jacks probably are not the best thing to use. They are meant to push in one direction. Much better to just have a simple slide with the lock nuts like the ones onetonford uses for the front-to-rear stabilzers. That way all motion is stopped.
Using the cargo jacks would tend to spread the legs apart, and that probably is not the best idea.