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Old 07-20-2016, 11:42 AM   #1
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Stabilizer ground contact pressure

Does anyone have a guess as to how much down force, or pressure, scissor style stabilizers might have when properly deployed? I'm getting tired of stacking pieces of wood under them so they have a wider stance, rather than have them extend way down to the ground. I'm thinking of a lightweight plywood 'box' about the size of a 1 foot cube. Obviously I'll have an internal x brace to carry the pressure. Just not sure how robust to make them. Thanks!
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Old 07-20-2016, 11:53 AM   #2
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I'm guessing enough that a hollow plywood box is not enough to support it. Remember, that pad on the bottom of the stabilizer is only what? 4x6? Its still gotta be in the hundreds of pounds.

I just took a 4x6 (Not treated) and cut it into 11" chunks and painted them gray with outdoor paint. They're easy to clean off, easy to grab and easy to store. They're light enough too. I stack 2 under each jack.
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Old 07-21-2016, 07:36 AM   #3
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I'm guessing enough that a hollow plywood box is not enough to support it. Remember, that pad on the bottom of the stabilizer is only what? 4x6? Its still gotta be in the hundreds of pounds..
That's why I'm planning on a vertical X brace inside.
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Old 07-21-2016, 08:07 AM   #4
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I suppose if you really had to know how much force is applied, you could put a bathroom scale under the pad and deploy it on a solid surface. Know scales capacity first so you don't overcook the scale
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Old 07-21-2016, 08:14 AM   #5
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That's why I'm planning on a vertical X brace inside.
I guess that's why I suggested what I do...by the time you build a plywood box and put an x-brace on the inside, it will weigh more than the 5lb blocks I suggested.
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Old 07-21-2016, 08:30 AM   #6
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You are probably right! But then, I wouldn't have to stack anything. Lol.
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Old 07-21-2016, 08:37 AM   #7
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Honestly went through all that stuff in my head when I did mine. I was going to put hinges and clasps to make them easier to carry and blah blah blah.....and after using these blocks this way for 2 years now, it's just fine. It's simple, reasonably priced, looks nice and does the job. The best part is, if I end up on a site with a slope, I can use 1 block in the back and 3 in the front, or vice versa. It's still interchangeable. I store them in my slide out storage compartment, carry one block in each hand to each stabilizer and I'm done. IMO its a lot easier than trying to stack 2x6's or 2x8's too.
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Old 07-24-2016, 11:34 AM   #8
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When properly deployed there shouldn't be much downward pressure on the stabilizers - static case and nobody in the RV. That can increase up to more than two people's weight if they are on the back bed and the stabilizer is in front of the bed. How much of the weight is being transferred to the axles by the frame would be the question.

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Old 07-24-2016, 11:54 AM   #9
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Stabilizers are not jacks. A properly glued and screwed 1/2" plywood open-ended box will have more than enough strength to provide a solid base for the stabs, even without an x-brace, plus provide storage when not in use. OTOH, a couple of 6x blocks would work, too.
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Old 07-24-2016, 12:48 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by Springerdad View Post
Does anyone have a guess as to how much down force, or pressure, scissor style stabilizers might have when properly deployed? I'm getting tired of stacking pieces of wood under them so they have a wider stance, rather than have them extend way down to the ground. I'm thinking of a lightweight plywood 'box' about the size of a 1 foot cube. Obviously I'll have an internal x brace to carry the pressure. Just not sure how robust to make them. Thanks!
I don't have scissor jacks, but cut some 2X12 down in 12 inch sections and screwed them together. Then attached a metal handle to make them easier to move.
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Old 07-24-2016, 12:50 PM   #11
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Here is a picture of what I did.
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Old 07-24-2016, 12:57 PM   #12
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I use the Lynx blocks and are light weight and come 10 to a bag. I bought two bags and you can stack and they inter lock and use more in the higher places and fewer when more level. And store easily in my side storage compartment. Later RJD
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Old 07-24-2016, 01:01 PM   #13
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hidee ho

Springerdad,
All I did was use some pressure treate lumber I had lying around and built these landing pads, large enough to give the scissors pad something solid to rest on. They are tall enough that in most camping locations, my scissors jacks are not too extended or retracted when resting on them. Remember, there is an operating range of each manufacture's jacks where they work the best, the info is in the directions that came with the trailer, product or online. Extend them too far and they are unstable and could bend, retracted too much and they don't provide the stability you are looking for. I used the orange plastic pads for a long time but these work even better and don't slide. Have fun!
Oh yeah, the wabbits on our property love staying cool under the trailer!
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Old 07-26-2016, 11:52 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by phillyg View Post
Stabilizers are not jacks. A properly glued and screwed 1/2" plywood open-ended box will have more than enough strength to provide a solid base for the stabs, even without an x-brace, plus provide storage when not in use. OTOH, a couple of 6x blocks would work, too.
I disagree on the latter half of your statement. And partly for the first half of the statement... the stabilizer will not jack up the camper but it will take some of the spring out of the suspension. It is definitely holding weight if used properly, but not the entire camper weight.

An open box will have a lot of flex and bounce... thereby eliminating the purpose of a stabilizer jack.

to the OP - you will definitely want a direct load path to the ground... the x-brace you mention should work fine.

I built some boxes for my dad years ago. His motorhome has hydraulic jacks that are sized to lift the entire thing.... putting perhaps 5-6000 pounds on each box!
I used treated plywood on both sides (leftover from an old pool deck) and 2x4s for the outside frame and for inside cross braces.

This was partly to give more height, and partly to quadruple the footprint of the jack and spread out the weight on the ground.

I have seen him lift the motorhome wheels many times with this setup when campsites are not level. The boxes have survived for about 20 years now with no issues.

But yes, they are heavy.
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