The ultimate 5th wheel stabilizers!

Mile High wrote:

jminyard wrote:

Mile High wrote:
I admire your dedication and resourcefulness - but I must comment:

I have JTs, and I have your stabilizer that I use to secure loads in the back of the truck. Your stabilizer is just not strong enough for the purpose you've adapted it too. I can flex mine by hand just spanning the bed of the truck. The ratchet also cannot exert enough pressure and would not be able to hold the pressure of the landing gear when trying to "set" the stabilizer like the JTs. Lastly, the ratchet only works against compression, not extension. The JT set screw works to secure both ways, which is part if the success.

To be honest, I bought one of your stabilizer at the same time as another brand that actually has opposing threads on each end that lets you turn the shaft to secure it between the bed and I prefer it over the ratchet type.

You may prove me wrong, but I don't see where they would not be strong enough. As for the flexing, they will never be extended but a few inches and I challenge anybody to bend one of them in that position. I'm not that familar with the JT's but I assume that you would bring the jacks down to where the trailer is level, go a little bit more, lock the JT's in place, then raise the jacks back to the level position, thus putting the pressure on the JT's. Correct me it that is not the correct way of setting them. With these stabilizers you just put the jacks down to the correct position, ratchet the stabilizer to put the pressure on, and you're done. Anyway, glad you're happy with your JT's and I really believe I will be just as happy with mine, for a WHOLE LOT less money! :B

Joe,
I didn't mean to sound so negative - I do hope they work out and again I admire your resourcefulness. Yes, for yours you would let down the front a little to put pressure on the stabs. I have to do the opposite to mine because I have them in the back as well. I go down in front, set the back and raise the front to put pressure on them, then set the front and raise the front a little more to take the slack out of the front stabs.

Just caught what you said above "for yours you would let down the front a little to put pressure on the stabs". I think this would be a HUGE mistake! If you use the landing jacks to put pressure on the stabilizers there is a chance you could exceed the design specs for the ratchet mechanism and strip it out. Just lower the landing gear to where the 5er is level, engage the ratchet to put pressure on the stabilizers, and LEAVE IT THERE! I think you will find that the pressure you get from the ratchet is sufficient to stabilize the RV.