I recently damaged a scissor stabilizer jack / mounting bracket on my TT. The welds holding the 1/8" metal mounting bracket to the frame are still sound BUT part of the bracket is bent and needs to be straightened. Impossible to do without cutting welds. I can get the bracket to be straight if I clamp and force the bent portion back up to the frame and secure it with a 1/4" bolt and nut or self tapping screw. Does either the nut/bolt or self tapping screw method impact the strength of the I beam frame more than the other? Which is the preferred method? Hopefully the picture shows the bent gap I need to snug up to the frame..

Self tapping would have a tendency to pull back outNut/bolt for more secure mounting and added strength

DD716TED wrote:I recently damaged a scissor stabilizer jack / mounting bracket on my TT. The welds holding the 1/8" metal mounting bracket to the frame are still sound BUT part of the bracket is bent and needs to be straightened. Impossible to do without cutting welds. I can get the bracket to be straight if I clamp and force the bent portion back up to the frame and secure it with a 1/4" bolt and nut or self tapping screw. Does either the nut/bolt or self tapping screw method impact the strength of the I beam frame more than the other? Which is the preferred method? Hopefully the picture shows the bent gap I need to snug up to the frame..

Had an RV guy install two front jacks on my trailer 5 years ago. They were installed (self taping screws) the first part of a 7 month coast to coast trip-so needless to say they got frequent use. They were/are still fine.

Self tappers have a tenancy to twist the heads off if it bites just right

Mine were attached at the factory with self tapping screws 13 years ago and they've held up fine. I even reused them when I replaced Jacks.Most of them I've seen are attached this way.

Nut and Bolt or Self Tapping Screw? | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

ScottG
Nomad
Feb 18, 2017
Mine were attached at the factory with self tapping screws 13 years ago and they've held up fine. I even reused them when I replaced Jacks.
Most of them I've seen are attached this way.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2017
Self tappers have a tenancy to twist the heads off if it bites just right
CKNSLS
Explorer
Feb 18, 2017
Had an RV guy install two front jacks on my trailer 5 years ago. They were installed (self taping screws) the first part of a 7 month coast to coast trip-so needless to say they got frequent use. They were/are still fine.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Feb 18, 2017
DD716TED wrote:
I recently damaged a scissor stabilizer jack / mounting bracket on my TT. The welds holding the 1/8" metal mounting bracket to the frame are still sound BUT part of the bracket is bent and needs to be straightened. Impossible to do without cutting welds. I can get the bracket to be straight if I clamp and force the bent portion back up to the frame and secure it with a 1/4" bolt and nut or self tapping screw. Does either the nut/bolt or self tapping screw method impact the strength of the I beam frame more than the other? Which is the preferred method? Hopefully the picture shows the bent gap I need to snug up to the frame..
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Feb 18, 2017
Self tapping would have a tendency to pull back out

Nut/bolt for more secure mounting and added strength

Forum Discussion

Nut and Bolt or Self Tapping Screw?

15 Replies

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