Stabilizing a Fifth wheel

rhagfo wrote:

Martyn wrote:
JT Strongarms front and back.

about X4, just finished our install, waiting to test.
..........

Make sure to follow the instructions about putting pressure on the struts when setting up. If you can shake the struts and they rattle they are not helping.

Pirate wrote:
Never owned a fiver but keep seeing in campgrounds where they are stabilized with hydraulic jacks but nothing on the pin. So, what happens when you have a hydraulic leak and nothing is supporting the pin?

There are mechanical stops to keep the front landing gear from dropping too low.

Most kingpin stabilizers are rated for a maximum 5,000 lb load though I'm sure there are some with higher ratings.

Martyn wrote:
JT Strongarms front and back.

about X4, just finished our install, waiting to test.

Never owned a fiver but keep seeing in campgrounds where they are stabilized with hydraulic jacks but nothing on the pin. So, what happens when you have a hydraulic leak and nothing is supporting the pin?

"The best thing we've done with our 36 foot TT is add a couple scissor jacks to lift the frame right behind the rear axle"


This is what my thought was as well. I have the Windfield cross bar stabilizers on the front landing gear and the rear stabilizers that helps a lot with the side to side and the locks between the wheels helps a lot with the front/back motion. Its the bounce I think is the problem. Its not enough to bother my wife but it annoys me a little bit. I can easily live with it but if I can reduce it I will.

Dan

Nicholsfamily05 wrote:
It we stayed longer than a week we would adjust them to account for things settling.

Something I forgot to mention is settling.

Even on a level concrete pad, after a couple days - I will adjust my leveling/ stabilizing - because the rig does change how it sits over time.

Especially important to adjust the leveling/ stabilizing if the rig is sitting on dirt, sand, gravel, etc.

Stongarms or Steadyfast WILL help stabilize

BAL between tires helps eliminate for/aft but should use wedge wheel chocks also.

Extra set of jacks in front of axles on frame will help eliminate suspension/tire bounce-flex


Other than wheel chocks I didn't use ANY of those or king pin tripod

After doing side to side leveling (wood planks---low side)
I would unhitch and then run front landing gear UP/DOWN as necessary to level Front/Rear
THEN I would run landing gear DOWN 1" below level
Set rear stabilizers tight
THEN run frnt landing gear back up to level

Very solid set up..........and minimal suspension/tire bounce

Always will have that UNLESS you block frame rigid so suspension/tires can not move

I've got the 6-way leveler and scissor jacks at the extreme rear and movement is still felt. The only thing that will work to neutralize feeling movement is to get your tires off the ground.

Class A diesel pushers reduce movement to nothing by having airbags. When air is dumped from the bags they've essentially disconnected the wheels from the chassis and the jacks lift and level the chassis. Some of the heavier, larger Class A's don't use stabilizer jacks. Instead they use the airbags to level the rig. But these things are so dang heavy, in the 50,000+ pound range that the average person doesn't weigh enough to disturb things.

Class A gassers still have springs but weigh much more than our trailers, which helps reduce the movement.

Most Class C's have no leveling system at all so the motion is felt.

Airbags instead of springs on our trailers.

JT Strongarms front and back.

Good morning.

We had a 40' fifth wheel for a few years that only had the front landing gear and rear stabilizers. It was horrible for movement.

We then used the x chokes for the wheels and the front 3 leg stand under the hitch. People say the stand doesn't help but it did a good amount with us.

We have a 10 year old and a 8 year old boy and girl. The rear of the camper was a bunk house. You could feel them move in the mornings when they got up.

So then we tried what they call slide out stabilizers. Which simply go under your slide outs and you just snug them up to help. Those made a world of difference. Once we put them up most of the movement wasn't there. We put them under the main slide and one under each bunk slide.
If you do it right you don't have to worry about them hurting the slide mechanism or pushing it out of alignment.
If we were staying at a place longer than 2 days we would put them out. It we stayed longer than a week we would adjust them to account for things settling.

We had that camper for 2.5 years and never had an issue using them.
THey helped trumendously with movement.

We let them go with the old camper when we got the new one and think we may end up getting them again