Does having more blocking under your jacks equate to less bounce in your TT? We only have a single set of orange blocks that get dispersed among the stab jacks. Would we get less bounce in the TT if we bought a second set of blocks? What if we used a 6x6 in addition to the orange blocks?What about the tongue jack? I assume the more it's extended the more bounce you'll have too.

When we had a TT I used the metal jack stands like used under mobilehomes. You can get them online or at an independant RV supply store.I was able to use these stands under the frame near each corner of the TT to get the weight off of the springs, sometimes the tires would be off of the ground on one side depending on how unlevel the spot was. I also used the tongue jack with a 6X6 block under it. Wheel chocks and the TT was very stable.

Absolutely! The more spread apart the stabilizers are, the more stable your trailer will be. I made up four boxes with 2" x stuff and 3/4" plywood for the stabilizers and then one bigger one for the tongue jack. I paint them every year with a fresh coat of black paint and don't leave home without them. Makes for a nice stable set up.Jack L

It's been my experience that the further you extend scissor jacks, the less stable they become, so I always add blocks under mine until the extend no further than about half of their full travel.The manufacturer of my TT states not to use the jacks to physically lift the trailer, and to get as level as possible prior to jacking and use them only to stabilize.

What do you use to chock your tires? I bought a pair of Rotochoks, which reduced a lot of the bounce we had been experiencing at the time.

If the ground is soft I put a Lynx leveler under each jack and a block of wood under the tongue jack. If we're on a hard surface, I do neither.

Blocks Under Jacks? | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

down_home
Explorer II
May 26, 2013
The frames are springy and the jacks are not made of heavy steel either. The Fifth Wheels and Trailers want to move back and forth and side to side as well. The leaf springs want to move side to side too. The stabilizers you put between the tires and lock tight and the additional stabilizer available for fifth wheel pin hitch help to stabilize them too. Some newer fifth wheels and maybe TTs have HWH or other jacks systems and they are more stable.
Former neighbor has a 45 ft fifth wheel, I think and it feels solid.
If the units had air brakes it would lock the wheels and stop a lot of that but i don't think any of them come that way. Can't lock the magnetic brakes as they would get too hot and drain the batteries.
Panhard rods perhaps might help too?
Separate jacks and pads under the frame would probably do it.
ArticFox_676
Explorer
May 26, 2013
Added an extra set of scissor jacks in front of tires to help with bounce because of shocks. Also put at least 4 lynx blocks under each (6) jacks. To finish off the x chocks for the front to back movement.
wbwood
Explorer
May 24, 2013
We use 6x6 would blocks that are about a foot long. We also have x chocks. We do find that the less you extend the stabilizers the better the stability. Therefore more blocks or bigger blocks, then better stability.
bmupton
Explorer
May 23, 2013
I chock mine with these ones:

http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/camco-44412-wheel-chock/10183950

My axles are quite far apart, and I haven't found another style of chock that fits yet. (I haven't looked that hard though)
pitch
Explorer II
May 23, 2013
I always use blocks under the stabilizers 4 inches worth usually
longislandcampe
Explorer
May 23, 2013
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
What do you use to chock your tires? I bought a pair of Rotochoks, which reduced a lot of the bounce we had been experiencing at the time.

My Dad has the x chocks as well as the plastic orange chocks. My brother just has the orange ones but was thinking about the x chocks too.

All of our camping is done on soft ground.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
May 23, 2013
If the ground is soft I put a Lynx leveler under each jack and a block of wood under the tongue jack. If we're on a hard surface, I do neither.
Mortimer_Brewst
Explorer II
May 23, 2013
What do you use to chock your tires? I bought a pair of Rotochoks, which reduced a lot of the bounce we had been experiencing at the time.
bmupton
Explorer
May 22, 2013
It's been my experience that the further you extend scissor jacks, the less stable they become, so I always add blocks under mine until the extend no further than about half of their full travel.

The manufacturer of my TT states not to use the jacks to physically lift the trailer, and to get as level as possible prior to jacking and use them only to stabilize.
NanciL
Explorer II
May 22, 2013
Absolutely!
The more spread apart the stabilizers are, the more stable your trailer will be.
I made up four boxes with 2" x stuff and 3/4" plywood for the stabilizers and then one bigger one for the tongue jack.
I paint them every year with a fresh coat of black paint and don't leave home without them.
Makes for a nice stable set up.

Jack L