stabilizers

[North Shore]

Being relatively new to using stabilizers I'm wondering how much I need, or can,  crank them down and so forth. I have a starcraft 19ck Hybrid. Also, could I remove the stock stabilizers and replace them with individual bottle jacks that would hold  more weight? I noticed Harbor Freight tools has them for about $9.00 apiece. They will hold something like 2000#s per jack. Could this help to stabilize my trailer a little more or do the frames flex so much it really won't make a difference? Has anyone heard of this method?

[wavery]

Being relatively new to using stabilizers I'm wondering how much I need, or can,  crank them down and so forth. I have a starcraft 19ck Hybrid. Also, could I remove the stock stabilizers and replace them with individual bottle jacks that would hold  more weight? I noticed Harbor Freight tools has them for about $9.00 apiece. They will hold something like 2000#s per jack. Could this help to stabilize my trailer a little more or do the frames flex so much it really won't make a difference? Has anyone heard of this method?

Check your owners manual to see what they say about the stabilizers.

On most PUs, the stabilizers should only be put down firmly but not enough to do any lifting.

Our PU actually has electric levelers that can actually lift the trailer for leveling. It seems that each trailer is a little different and if you put too much weight on a frame that is not designed to handle it, it can damage the frame.

I think that it boils down to whether the trailer was built for "Stabilizers" or "Levelers".

Even my brother's large travel trailer says, "Level the trailer before putting stabilizers down".

[North Shore]

I'm just wondering if this would help keep the trailer a little less rocker like. I'm not thinking of using the jacks as a leveling device. I was told at the dealership the jacks the trailer came with really aren't that strong

[wavery]

I'm just wondering if this would help keep the trailer a little less rocker like. I'm not thinking of using the jacks as a leveling device. I was told at the dealership the jacks the trailer came with really aren't that strong

There is usually a reason that the ......."jacks??" (I think you mean "Stabilizers") aren't that strong. I would take that as an indication that they are only intended to "Stabilize" the trailer.

You can find out the weight limit of your stabilizers. They are usually 500+# each. That's a lot. It is usually sufficient to just put them down firmly. As people move around in the trailer, that will add and take away weight on individual stabilizers.

We have actual, "Jacks" on our trailer. Trust me, it doesn't make a lot of difference how hard they are put down. We still get movement in the trailer when someone is lying down and someone else is walking around.

We find that it is more effective (on our trailer) to block the tires real good than to put the jacks down real hard.

[North Shore]

Thanks, that makes tons of sense. i would think quite a bit of movement comes from the trailer moving front to back on the wheels. Thanks again for the insight.

[austinado16]

We use a BAL leveler which traps one wheel as part of how it levels the camper. Then put enough pressure on the stabilizers to plant them firmly.  But as wavery says, it's still "bouncy."  Just the nature of a thin lightweight frame and having bunks swung way out past it.

[coach]

I'm guessing your stabs are rated 700lb lift and 1000 lb hold.
In any event, try what you think is firm, then later 'jack' a tad more and try that! Watch for weight coming off the leaf springs, stop at about that point.
Use a jack stand for the tongue in lieu of a wobbly wheeled jack. That and chocking eliminates most all 'rocker like' movement.

I stand firmly on the ground, that's more force than I put on the stabs setting up, what is firmly or the popular 'snug' to the ground?

[North Shore]

I'm guessing your stabs are rated 700lb lift and 1000 lb hold.
In any event, try what you think is firm, then later 'jack' a tad more and try that! Watch for weight coming off the leaf springs, stop at about that point.
Use a jack stand for the tongue in lieu of a wobbly wheeled jack. That and chocking eliminates most all 'rocker like' movement.

I stand firmly on the ground, that's more force than I put on the stabs setting up, what is firmly or the popular 'snug' to the ground?

Thanks for the advice, I just wanted to make sure I was using these correctly. I also got rid of the wheeled jack, that helped a bunch.

[GeneF]

Being relatively new to using stabilizers I'm wondering how much I need, or can,  crank them down and so forth. I have a starcraft 19ck Hybrid. Also, could I remove the stock stabilizers and replace them with individual bottle jacks that would hold  more weight? I noticed Harbor Freight tools has them for about $9.00 apiece. They will hold something like 2000#s per jack. Could this help to stabilize my trailer a little more or do the frames flex so much it really won't make a difference? Has anyone heard of this method?

Your hybrid has dual axles so take a look at the BAL chocks

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/deluxe-tire-locking-chock/11109


I use them on my tt and they do help with the forward and back motion of the tt.  

I also use the stabilizers.  snug them up, and then give a 1/4 to 1/2 more turn to tighten.

You will be hard pressed to get all of the motion of the htt out.  It is something that most learn to live with.

There are other cheaper items out there and some have made homemade ones.