5th wheel shaking

If I'm parked for more than a couple days, tripod on the front and use cheap jack stands (Harbor Freight, 100 pound or so capacity) as far back on the frame as I can. Only takes a couple minutes to set the small aluminum jack stands.

Perfect answer. Stop at any other 5'er you see in an RV park that has these funny looking support bars on the front legs and ask the owner if it was a waste of money, I bet your going to get a absolutely not answer. They remove such a huge amount of wiggle from the trailer it is amazing. Adding a set of X chocks, or better yet a Roto-Chok between the tires and see another major improvement. I use both and we are extremely happy with our choices.

Dutch & Di wrote:
I have to respectfully disagree. While nothing will eliminate 100% of interior movement or movement from the winds for the reasons you mention, there are products out there that will eliminate 80 to 95% of interior movement. I can't speak for others but that 95% elimination made a world of difference for me and allowed me to enjoy my "home".
Maybe for some who travel less or spend short amounts of time inside their RV the movement is tolerable. As a fulltime RV'er for 17 years, I needed the stability to make me feel totally relaxed when inside. For us, stabilizers made all the difference. Hugs, Di

Veebyes wrote:
Ummm, it is on wheels. Between those wheels & the frame there are springs. Springs are designed to, well, spring, whether the pressure comes from the road or above as in people walking.

The only way to convert a trailer into a house is to take the weight off the wheels by jacking & blocking under the frame. Not worth doing for stops of only a few days but worthwhile if you are a seasonal & the trailer does not move for weeks at a time.

I have to respectfully disagree. While nothing will eliminate 100% of interior movement or movement from the winds for the reasons you mention, there are products out there that will eliminate 80 to 95% of interior movement. I can't speak for others but that 95% elimination made a world of difference for me and allowed me to enjoy my "home".
Maybe for some who travel less or spend short amounts of time inside their RV the movement is tolerable. As a fulltime RV'er for 17 years, I needed the stability to make me feel totally relaxed when inside. For us, stabilizers made all the difference. Hugs, Di

Veebyes wrote:
Ummm, it is on wheels. Between those wheels & the frame there are springs. Springs are designed to, well, spring, whether the pressure comes from the road or above as in people walking.

The only way to convert a trailer into a house is to take the weight off the wheels by jacking & blocking under the frame. Not worth doing for stops of only a few days but worthwhile if you are a seasonal & the trailer does not move for weeks at a time.

I just bought a set of JT's but have not installed them. Are they simple to install for the average person with common tools. Set I got has arms for both front stabilizers and rear scissor stands. Was going to have shop install but they're always booked up for months at a time.

Ummm, it is on wheels. Between those wheels & the frame there are springs. Springs are designed to, well, spring, whether the pressure comes from the road or above as in people walking.

The only way to convert a trailer into a house is to take the weight off the wheels by jacking & blocking under the frame. Not worth doing for stops of only a few days but worthwhile if you are a seasonal & the trailer does not move for weeks at a time.

We added permanently installed stabilizers on our Carriage 8 years ago and wouldn't be without them. We have virtually no movement from people walking around or in strong winds. Hugs & MERRY CHRISTMAS Di

overthehillbill wrote:

patbren wrote:
we have a new 5th. wheel and when we set up it shakes when we walk in it,is there any thing we can do to stop the shaking, thanks

SteadyFast and X chocks.

X's 2. They work great!!!!!

What has been said already

- JT's StrongArms (or equivalent triangulation stabilization).
- between the wheel chocks
- and then the final thing is to add jacks for near the axles

See this:
Shake, Shake, Shake - RV Stabilization

I made a set based on the Steady Fast and they work really well. I have 3 T-handle screws that I loosen, level the 5er with boards for side to side and then front jacks. Lower the rear stabilizer scissor jacks. Then tighten the T-handles. When leaving I loosen the T-handles and raise everything the snug the T-handles so they don't fall out on the road.

No wiggle, everything is always in place just loosen and tighten the T-handles. I have 3 slides and this stopped the shakes.

One for side to side in the front and one in the rear. Then a second one in the front for front to rear.

iawoody2 wrote:

tvman44 wrote:
JT Strongarm Stabilizers. :)

wouldn't be without my JT Armstrong s.

sorry Strongarms, my finger slipping again.