Slide-out jack stabilizers. Good or bad?

I have a couple home made ones that I use at times when 4 people will be sitting in the dinette. I also use 3 wedges lightly shoved under the edge of the slide when its in. Too much torque on the slide when stepping on the edge during tear down or lunch stops. Mine are made from a pick up truck cargo retainer bar cut in half.

I put them under the main arms just tight enough to have tension but have had them fall out a couple times because they are not so tight as to be lifting the slide. Being single stem without a base like a jack stand, you could move the trailer and they would fall out. The base is the pivoting end that originally went against the side wall of the pick up bed.

This subject comes up every now and then on these forums. The general consensus for any RV is "NO!" The biggest reason is the "potential" for the slide to get damaged or bent if the trailer shifts, as they commonly do when they settle after initial set-up.

If manufacturers and RV designers thought having stabilizer jacks on slides would work, I'm sure they would have them factory installed.

Just stabilize the main body of the camper and the slides are OK.

You will find many that will post that it will damage the slide, but I haven't seen anyone post that they have had it actually happen. I would first look in your owners manual. Mine recommends them for long term use. If you can't find anything in the manual, I would call the mfg as they would know better than anyone here. I use them for month long stays or more.

"If manufacturers and RV designers thought having stabilizer jacks on slides would work, I'm sure they would have them factory installed."

I don't know that I would go that far since stabilizers like JT Strongarms work very well and they mostly don't come factory installed. However, I've never used slide supports and never felt the need for slide supports. I suppose they could be useful on an older unit when you're going to have a lot of heavy people in the slide. Mostly not though.

My owners manual specifically states that use of slideout support of any kind will void the warranty.

fj12ryder wrote:
I don't know that I would go that far since stabilizers like JT Strongarms work very well and they mostly don't come factory installed.

JT's are for stabilizing the trailer from movement while walking inside the trailer. I've never had a slide out that wobbles uncomfortably that needs further stabilizing. If it is not sturdy enough to handle people sitting at the table then I'd opt for a different RV made better!

Slide stabilizers can easily add unwanted stresses to the slide since the trailer can settle, bounce etc and the slide would not be able to move with it. Especially true if a tire decides to leak. I've only seen stabilizers used on rather old trailers on rare occasions.

Slide-out jack stabilizers. Good or bad?
Bad.

downtheroad wrote:
Slide-out jack stabilizers. Good or bad?
Bad.

X2
I wounder if most people understand that the slides in the out position, the weight is not so much supported by the arms, as the interior trim! That 6" wide molding surrounding the sides and top on the interior are what truthfully provide the support.

rhagfo wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
Slide-out jack stabilizers. Good or bad?
Bad.

X2
I wounder if most people understand that the slides in the out position, the weight is not so much supported by the arms, as the interior trim! That 6" wide molding surrounding the sides and top on the interior are what truthfully provide the support.

Yes indeed. Take the inner flange away and the arms would bend. As I mentioned, when its in and I walk on the edge of the slide all the force is on the outside top edge and trying to also tweak the rail and bottom edge out and up in a bending motion. There are a lot of things the manufacture didn't give us.

When people argue of why somethings are not included or improved on by the manufacturer people often say it's to keep costs down and competition. I do think you have the chance of damaging something if you mess up so the manufacture says dont use them. It's easier for them. People do all sorts of dumb stuff and that's not the wheel cock or the stabilizer or the unlatched pin locks fault. You could ague to not use a rear stabilizer in case the tires go flat and it twists the whole rig.

What do manufactures say about charging batteries at 14.8 volts or equalizing it 15.3? they say your converters good enough energy to do everything as built you don't need to do anything to it. from reading up so many post it seems like a lot of stuff doesn't always go by the manufactures recommendation. I have a fifth wheel that was manufactured with 15 inch marathon tires it now has fire stones 16 inch. Also has an axle/spring flip. Battery box was enlarged from two gp24 to four gc2. Compensated by moving the spare tire crank up to the opposite side from the battery pack to rebalance. Not one size fits all by any means when it comes to RV's.