We have a Chaparral 355. It has a complete bedroom in the back with a loft. We usually have 6 to 8 people in the trailer at night, usually 3 or 4 people sleeping in the back. What is the best way to "stabilize" a big 5th wheel so that it doesn't shake or wiggle when someone moves in it ?I've used a pin stand, which stabilizes the front of the trailer, but the back is still very prone to bouncing around. Do wheel locks help ? Do the hydraulic landing gear systems make the trailer very solid or do they allow it to wiggle too ?

JT Strongarm kit. Best mod I have done to our trailer. Took all the shake and wiggle out. Get the ones specific for 5th wheels.

i seriously need to look into that. when my kids run through the fiver moves a bunch

X2 on the JT Strongarm struts (or other similar systems). I used a king pin tripod the first year. Helped a little. Installed JTs the next year. Much, much better. Never used the tripod again.

This is a great question. I've tried many systems; all 'said' to 'stop' the wiggle. All help somewhat, but none remove the wiggle completely. Short of jacking the trailer up and placing concrete blocks under it, I don't believe the wiggle will be stopped. Reduced yes, totally stopped, no.

So the hydraulic landing gear isn't better than the telescoping screw legs ?Would the landing gear from a larger trailer be more stable ? How about 4 jackstands with hydraulic jacks built into them ? Heavy and cumbersome, but stable ? I use 2 5 ton jackstands in the back of my trailer right now. Heavy, cumbersome and time consuming, but it stabilizes the back.Thanks for the replies.

Best way to stabilize a big 5er ? Hydraulic landing gear ?

avvidclif1
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
Gsport wrote:
These are cheap and made the most difference on my 39' 5th wheel, even with the 6 point level up system, putting them at the extreme corners made a huge difference..

I just have one question. Where are your rear jack located? If just behind the axles that's a lot of rear sticking out there to wiggle. Mine are at the back.
me2
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
What size is the tubing on the JTs ? Wall thickness ?
me2
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
Gsport wrote:
These are cheap and made the most difference on my 39' 5th wheel, even with the 6 point level up system, putting them at the extreme corners made a huge difference..

So your trailer with the 6 point system still wasn't stable ?

My jackstands are a lot heavier than yours. http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-steel-jack-stands-69596.html

They make a huge difference, but I wish they had an adjustment screw like yours.
Gsport
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
These are cheap and made the most difference on my 39' 5th wheel, even with the 6 point level up system, putting them at the extreme corners made a huge difference..
avvidclif1
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
me2 wrote:
avvidclif1 wrote:
JT's are nowhere near as stable as the 6 point hydraulic leveling system. They are better than about anything else and quite a bit cheaper than hydraulics. The problem is the give in the suspension. If I desired I could lift the wheels completely off the ground.

Does the trailer move side to side or back to back if you take that much weight off the suspension ?

No. It's like is it sitting on 6 blocks of concrete. With my toyhauler I have the front jacks, a pair just in front of the axles and a pair at the back. They are evenly distributed front to back and make it very stable.
me2
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
avvidclif1 wrote:
JT's are nowhere near as stable as the 6 point hydraulic leveling system. They are better than about anything else and quite a bit cheaper than hydraulics. The problem is the give in the suspension. If I desired I could lift the wheels completely off the ground.

Does the trailer move side to side or back to back if you take that much weight off the suspension ?
avvidclif1
Explorer
Jul 11, 2016
JT's are nowhere near as stable as the 6 point hydraulic leveling system. They are better than about anything else and quite a bit cheaper than hydraulics. The problem is the give in the suspension. If I desired I could lift the wheels completely off the ground.
Timay
Explorer
Jul 11, 2016
X4 on the JTs!

Tim
laknox
Nomad
Jul 11, 2016
n7bsn wrote:
The only way to stop the movement is to get the rig off the suspension. That takes a 4 or 6 point leveling system set to get the rig up.

Other then that, it's just reducing the movement

Even with this, you still have the length of the jack stands themselves that allow movement. There are really only 2 effective ways to stop it: 1) Jack the rig up and crib it several places on the frame and remove the wheels. 2) Use JT Strongarm, or similar, stabilizing system to brace the jacks.

Lyle
n7bsn
Explorer
Jul 11, 2016
The only way to stop the movement is to get the rig off the suspension. That takes a 4 or 6 point leveling system set to get the rig up.

Other then that, it's just reducing the movement

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Best way to stabilize a big 5er ? Hydraulic landing gear ?

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