Position of stabilizers when stored for the winter

[C. Hains]

I just parked my camper - a Coleman Westlake - at an outdoor storage facility for the winter.  I noticed a Coleman Bayside parked next to mine with the stabilizers down.  I didn't put my stabilizers down when I stored it last winter.  What do you all do?
Thanks in advance.
Carole

[bearbait]

.....

[B-flat]

I leave the stabilizers up when it is stored for the winter.  I see no reason to have them down.

[tlhdoc]

I leave my stabilizers up also.   Unless you think someone may climb on the back end of the PU while it is in storage  :eek: there isn't any reason to put them down.  At the dealer where I bought my PU they do put the stabilizers down when the trailers are closed on the lot, but they don't know what someone looking at them may do.  I have stopped there to browse on a Sunday and there has always been at least one other family there.

[6Quigs]

Well I'll go against the flow, and admit I leave my stabilizers down.
I keep my popup at the side of the house, and as an added security measure, it would make it a little more difficult to steal, if the stabilizers are down.

[brainpause]

Well I'll go against the flow, and admit I leave my stabilizers down.
I keep my popup at the side of the house, and as an added security measure, it would make it a little more difficult to steal, if the stabilizers are down.

This might be true, but if you were to get your trailer back after a theft, there would be quite a bit of damage. You would be better off getting a hub lock (or whatever those things are called that police use for illegally parked vehicles).
 
As for what we do, our camper is set up in the garage (with stabilizers down). Someone would have a lot of work to do before they could just drive off!;)
 
Larry

[Turn Key]

Leave up.

[Gone-Camping]

I used to store my Coleman with the stabilzers down for a couple of reasons. I had it in the driveway which had a rather steep incline to it. So in order to get the trailer fairly level (so that I could pop-up/dn for loading etc) I had to raise the tongue all the way, then drop the stabilizers, then place some wood under the tongue, and finish raising it... By then the stabilizers were already halfway down, so I just finished lowering them. It also was an additional aid against theft, someone was going to work VERY hard at hooking that trailer up and towing it anywhere?!?! :eek:
 
 
If I didn't get the front that high up (so it was level), then I'd get some seepage from rain under the rear seal where it was glued together. The current unit does't exactly fit in the driveway, so it sit's in the side yard. Stabilizers have remained up so far...

[MtnCamper]

Dealer told me to put down 2 of them, for a brake in case the wind blows. So I angle nose up, and put the front 2 down.

[Papaso]

The way I look at it, what can it hurt. Everytime I park my PU I put the stabilizers down. I feel it supports the whole unit a little better and makes it harder for someone to take off with it.

[Ab Diver]

I really can't think of a single good reason why they *should* be lowered for storage. They are *not* meant to support a significant amount of weight, but to simply stabilize the trailer while set up. Perhaps this other person used them to take the majority of the load off the tires. Or to keep the tires/tongue jack from sinking into the ground over the winter (tip: use a piece of plywood to spread the weight, Vern).
 
Then again, maybe they had it set up at the facility while they took out all the gear/food/clothes for the winter, and simply forgot raise the jacks before they left.
 
Either way, don't worry Carole, you're not doing anything wrong by leaving them up. Hope your Westlake has a safe and snug winter's nap, and awakes fresh and ready for next year's adventures with you.

[topcat7736]

I point the tongue to the ground, as far as it will go (which our owners manual says to do), and then drop the stabilizers so they just touch the ground. (I don't use the jack handle to snug them).
 
With the tongue toward the ground, snow, ice and rain can drain off the roof toward the tongue. Although the wheels are chocked, with the heavy snows and winds that hit it each year, I feel that it's not going to take off for a trip on its own if the stabilizers are left down.
 
There are some who point the tongue toward the sky (a reverse of what is in our Coleman owners manual). If you're in an area where it snows a lot in the winter, DON'T DO IT! The wheels are about 2/3 of the way to the rear of the trailer. With the nose up, a weight on the rear of the trailer would cause about double its weight to be removed from the tongue. It's conceivable that a load of snow on the back of the trailer could push the trailers bumper to the ground lifting the dolly jack off the ground. As the snow melts, the trailer could slam to the ground & either damage the dolly jack or jolt itself off the chocks & go for a ride.

[Tim5055]

I'm also among the group that stores the PU with the stabilizers up.

But, before the winter nap I spray down the entire length of the stabilizer screw with WD40 and run it up and down a couple of times.  This lubricates it and gives it a nice coating for the winter.  Keeps the rust away.

[TJWSANTAFE]

I leave them down as well. However, I store it on my side yard and the ground has been very soft all year. I had a hard time pulling out for the first time this year. My second thought is about the snow, some say that we are going to have a very wet winter, some say no. Do I want to take a chance.. I think that with heavy snow, it would only help to have the stabilizers down. Or am I wrong?..

[Miller Tyme]

I leave the stabilizers up, as well as the tongue of the trailer. Makes it easier to clean all the snow off of it this winter, and I'd rather crank the tongue down and hook-up, then crank it up and try to position it under the hitch, in case I have to move it.:cool: