Ultra-Fab Electric Stabilizers
I'm really leaning toward purchasing and installing these electric stabilizers to use in lieu of the manual scissor-style stabilizers on our fifth wheel: Stabilizers If at all possible, I'd like...
Forum Discussion
"Stabilizers"?? Hahaha... :B Ultrafab claims they stop front to back and side to side motion. Horse hooey. :M
If UF's electric stabilizers are anything like the two UF tongue jacks that died on us each within a couple of seasons, I doubt that they are much better than Lippert, if at all. I can't see the advantage of twin motors.
If you watch these jacks close up while someone walks up & down the entry steps, you'll be amazed at how much movement & flex there is in them. Adding stabilizer struts helps a lot. Note that at the front end, the tongue jack provides some reduction in vertical movement.
I installed a pair of BAL Lockarms on the rear only and they help a lot and see no need for a pair at the front. I mounted the upper end under the bumper and get side/side and fore/after reduction in movement (use X-chocks also). I also bolted a piece of 8x8 x 3/4" HDPE to the jack pads. Improves stability on softer ground and don't need to use blocks of wood every time.
With manual or electric jacks, the ideal mounting location isn't at the very forward or rear end of the frame on a trailer where they normally are. From an engineering perspective, the best location is 1/4 of the frame length in from each end so if installing new ones, could mount them in from each end. I can't see the need to leave the old jacks in place. It would help to relocate one pair to just ahead of the axle.
I do like the convenience of our electric stab jacks, but man are they sloooow or what. :(
If UF's electric stabilizers are anything like the two UF tongue jacks that died on us each within a couple of seasons, I doubt that they are much better than Lippert, if at all. I can't see the advantage of twin motors.
If you watch these jacks close up while someone walks up & down the entry steps, you'll be amazed at how much movement & flex there is in them. Adding stabilizer struts helps a lot. Note that at the front end, the tongue jack provides some reduction in vertical movement.
I installed a pair of BAL Lockarms on the rear only and they help a lot and see no need for a pair at the front. I mounted the upper end under the bumper and get side/side and fore/after reduction in movement (use X-chocks also). I also bolted a piece of 8x8 x 3/4" HDPE to the jack pads. Improves stability on softer ground and don't need to use blocks of wood every time.
With manual or electric jacks, the ideal mounting location isn't at the very forward or rear end of the frame on a trailer where they normally are. From an engineering perspective, the best location is 1/4 of the frame length in from each end so if installing new ones, could mount them in from each end. I can't see the need to leave the old jacks in place. It would help to relocate one pair to just ahead of the axle.
I do like the convenience of our electric stab jacks, but man are they sloooow or what. :(
