Can I have my stabalizers changed?

[Kristenamber]

I have an 07 Fleetwood Royale with swing down stabalizers.  I cannot even express with words how much I HATE the stabalizers.  I am not a man with long arms, and to have to reach under the camper with my head craned under it, squeeze the realease lever and push very hard toward the center of the camper just kills me!  I have tendonitis and no kidding, the whole trip and for a few days after my poor tendons hurt so badly.
So who has the crank down stabalizers?  Are they a ton better?  Less wear and tear on the joints, lol?  And can I have my stupid, horrible swing down's changed out at my dealer?

[austinado16]

Thoughts I have:  
1) Swing by the dealer and ask about having crank downs added to your camper....and while you are there, find a camper that has them and try them out to see if you like them.  One concern though; will the crank downs be so low under a pop-up that they'd drag(and get torn off or damaged) going in and out of driveways?  

2) Could you actuate the existing stabs easier by bringing a closed-cell-foam camp mat, tossing it on the ground and laying on it, sort of part way in under the camper?

3) Are your kids old enough to swing the stabs down and help set up?

[mike4947]

In a word...YES. I've done it on two of my campers that came with swing downs. Some are welded on and so takes a cutter or grinder to remove them, but the new ones can be bolted or welded on.
We found no difference in clearance between the two so that's not really an issue.
One hint till you change them over is to use the bar to push on the back side of the stabilizer to release it rather than crawling under and pulling it free.

[coach]

One hint till you change them over is to use the bar to push on the back side of the stabilizer to release it rather than crawling under and pulling it free.

Gee that would be great if possible. The stabilizer are tucked up under the PU so there is no access to the back side. At least I tried this, I even saw a video link demoing it.

[Kristenamber]

Thanks for your replies.  Unfortanely I cannot get down on my back on a mat underneath the camper....I have a slipped disc that I am sure I will pinch again if I try that!  My kiddos are too small to help out with the stabs, too.  I am an average sized woman and it seems like my arms just barely reach the release lever and then to push it in either further while squeezing is so hard!  

To the poster who suggested pushing the bar...do you mean to sqeeze the release lever and push the stab. from the inside of it...like to push it out?  I never thought of that....

[tlhdoc]

You will be much happier with the new jacks.  I had the swing down jacks on my old camper and hated them.  Good luck getting the new jacks installed.