Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-14-2016, 09:41 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Mounting stabilizers to torsion axles ?

I wanting to mount some central stabilizer scissor jacks, near the axles.
Unfortunately that stretch of the frame has a propane line running along one side, making it impossible to mount a jack there.

I had been thinking of mounting them to the front torsion axle main "axle" (clamp-on, no drilling into the axle obviously) ...

however I've read that folks say not to jack up the camper on the axles because it could buckle the axles.
Now obviously I'm not planning on actually lifting the 5er with the stabilizer jacks, just apply enough pressure to stabilize, so I wondered if those in the know about the axles could comment on whether applying enough pressure to just stabilize, rather than lifting (e.g.: for changing tires) would cause an issue ?

Thanks in advance for any insights
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 11:56 AM   #2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
The issue with jacking on the axle tube is the small contact point on the hollow tube. If you devise some way to spread out the area of contact it should be ok to stabilize with. However, mounting anything to the axle tube is probably going to void any warranty you may have on them.

I think I'd figure out how to move the propane line so you could mount directly to the frame.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
Bama Rambler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 12:16 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Helmsey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 848
I used some square aluminum tubing to make a riser for the stab jack to attach to.

Mounted to the jack for testing:


Mounted to the camper, 3/8" hardware:


Clearance around the gas line:
__________________
2015 Chevy 3500HD
2013 Sandpiper 365SAQ
Helmsey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 01:00 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by Helmsey View Post
I used some square aluminum tubing to make a riser for the stab jack to attach to.
That's an awesome idea
I even have some spare 1" tubing handy
The aluminum was tough enough to withstand the pressure ?
I think the 1" square tube that I have is 16 gauge

Did you do the spacer on both sides of the camper to match, or did you only bother on the one side where it was needed ?
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 03:27 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 705
Mounting the Jacks to the axles won't do anything to stabilize the trailer. Need to be on the frame to dampen the bounce from the axles. .
__________________
Dale & Karen
2015 Lacrosse 311RLS
2006 F-250 The 06-6.0
Dwilcox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 03:41 PM   #6
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Mount the jacks on the axle FRAMEWORK tubing.

Herk has a set on his 5er.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Axle scissor jacks 1.JPG
Views:	341
Size:	153.4 KB
ID:	104898   Click image for larger version

Name:	Axle scissor jacks 2.JPG
Views:	184
Size:	162.7 KB
ID:	104899   Click image for larger version

Name:	Axle scissor jack mounted.JPG
Views:	372
Size:	93.8 KB
ID:	104900   Click image for larger version

Name:	Driver Side Axle Jack Retracted.JPG
Views:	175
Size:	132.3 KB
ID:	104901  
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 03:47 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwilcox View Post
Mounting the Jacks to the axles won't do anything to stabilize the trailer. Need to be on the frame to dampen the bounce from the axles. .
With torsion axles, the main "axle" beam is mounted directly to the chassis, and the suspension is independent per wheel. I was suggesting mounting to the fixed beam.



I agree that with "normal" leaf-spring axles putting stabilizers on the axles wouldn't do anything at all.
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 03:49 PM   #8
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Mount the jacks on the axle FRAMEWORK tubing.

Herk has a set on his 5er.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Axle scissor jack mounted.JPG
Views:	217
Size:	93.8 KB
ID:	104902   Click image for larger version

Name:	Axle scissor jacks 1.JPG
Views:	271
Size:	153.4 KB
ID:	104903   Click image for larger version

Name:	Axle scissor jacks 2.JPG
Views:	278
Size:	162.7 KB
ID:	104904   Click image for larger version

Name:	Driver Side Axle Jack Retracted.JPG
Views:	203
Size:	132.3 KB
ID:	104905   Click image for larger version

Name:	Passenger Side AxleJack 1.JPG
Views:	229
Size:	130.3 KB
ID:	104906  

OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 03:58 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
Mount the jacks on the axle FRAMEWORK tubing.

Herk has a set on his 5er.
Thanks for the pics, that looks like almost exactly what I was planning to do, mounting onto the axle cross beam (which I thought has the rubber torsion cords running through it, but perhaps not). I wasn't suggesting touching the torsion arm or spindle.

I just wasn't sure which portion of the torsion axles folks were concerned about crushing when jacking the camper.

Rather than welding onto the jack brackets I was going to get a custom bracket made to either replace, or mount to, the standard flange brackets
I must admit tho' that I do like Helmsey's solution too, since I can avoid having to get anything fabricated (I can cut/drill some aluminum tubing, but don't have any welding equipment unfortunately)
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 04:00 PM   #10
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by leefl View Post
Thanks for the pics, that looks like almost exactly what I was planning to do, mounting onto the axle cross beam (which I thought has the rubber torsion cords running through it, but perhaps not). I wasn't suggesting touching the torsion arm or spindle.

I just wasn't sure which portion of the torsion axles folks were concerned about crushing when jacking the camper.

Rather than welding onto the jack brackets I was going to get a custom bracket made to either replace, or mount to, the standard flange brackets
I must admit tho' that I do like Helmsey's solution too, since I can avoid having to get anything fabricated (I can cut/drill some aluminum tubing, but don't have any welding equipment unfortunately)
DO NOT MOUNT anything to the axle tube itself.
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2016, 04:05 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
DO NOT MOUNT anything to the axle tube itself.
From the pics you posted I'm pretty sure that I was looking at the same bit of the axle support framework, rather than the axle tube.

I'll take another look at the weekend, when I can head back over to the storage lot.
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2016, 12:27 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
I was concerned with warranty so just put them under when parked. I am off warranty end of the year then I will mount them to cross frame.


Carrier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2016, 12:32 PM   #13
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Just weld 2 flat straps to the top of the jack and drill a hole thru both straps and a thru bolt above the tube. No welding to the frame and they are easily removed.
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2016, 01:32 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 237
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
Just weld 2 flat straps to the top of the jack and drill a hole thru both straps and a thru bolt above the tube. No welding to the frame and they are easily removed.
Yup I got the idea of not only using those car jacks but also the way to mount them from you last year. Really appreciate that, made a huge difference in our Windjammer. Going to weld straps on this year.
Carrier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2016, 01:44 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
Cross frame mount,easy and quick! Youroo!!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCF4148.jpg
Views:	161
Size:	457.8 KB
ID:	105003  
__________________
youroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2016, 04:39 PM   #16
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 64
My Solution

I chose to purchase a set of four aluminum screw jacks from Amazon for something like $30. With maybe 3 of those Lego type blocks under each jack, I screw the jack up to the square tube.
robertew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2016, 10:06 AM   #17
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
To clarify/confirm, the point I was planning to mount to is the framework not the axle tube: -



Since the BAL jacks I have don't have a flat surface covering the top, and instead just have two flanges, I was considering mounting a 16 gauge steel plate to the top of the jacks, and then securing that to the mounting point in the photo with two U-bolts (U bolts would hook over the framework shown, and secure through holes in the steel plate using nylock nuts and washers.

Do you think that sounds workable ?

I'm hesitant to drill holes into that framework beam, and if I can avoid having to get something fabricated/welded by a metal shop then it saves me time and money and hassle.
Even I can manage to cut, and drill some holes in, and paint some 16 gauge cold-rolled steel sheet myself
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2016, 10:11 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
leefl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 454
Quote:
Originally Posted by leefl View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Helmsey View Post
I used some square aluminum tubing to make a riser for the stab jack to attach to.
That's an awesome idea
Unfortunately when I looked yesterday I realized that mounting to the frame there would work on the side with the propane pipe, but the other side would conflict with my plan to hook my 2 front sewer hookups together, so I'm back to mounting on the axle framework (not the axle)
__________________
2015 Rockwood Signature UltraLite 8281WS
2016 Ford F-250 Lariat CrewCab, 4x4, 6.2L V8
leefl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2016, 02:10 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Helmsey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 848
Quote:
Originally Posted by leefl View Post
That's an awesome idea
I even have some spare 1" tubing handy
The aluminum was tough enough to withstand the pressure ?
I think the 1" square tube that I have is 16 gauge

Did you do the spacer on both sides of the camper to match, or did you only bother on the one side where it was needed ?
Sorry for that late response....
So far it has been tough enough. It doesn't see that much pressure as I just barely snug these jacks up.

I just used the spacer on the street side, wasn't needed on the other side and I'm not quite OCD enough to need them to match
__________________
2015 Chevy 3500HD
2013 Sandpiper 365SAQ
Helmsey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2016, 02:19 PM   #20
Mod free 5er
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
Quote:
Originally Posted by leefl View Post
To clarify/confirm, the point I was planning to mount to is the framework not the axle tube:

Since the BAL jacks I have don't have a flat surface covering the top, and instead just have two flanges, I was considering mounting a 16 gauge steel plate to the top of the jacks, and then securing that to the mounting point in the photo with two U-bolts (U bolts would hook over the framework shown, and secure through holes in the steel plate using nylock nuts and washers.

Do you think that sounds workable ?
Don't see why not, just anyway to attach it to the 2x4 tube without drilling holes in the 2x4 tube.
OldCoot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
axle, mount, stabilizers

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:35 PM.