Adding a 3rd Set of Jacks

Lakeland Bob wrote:
I have gone 1 step further by adding 4 extra jacks to our 31' TT. By placing the jacks as close as possible to the front and rear of the axles we have achieved significant improvement in the stability of the trailer.

I have found that by tightening up the jack one or two turns past the 1st contact of the jack, and starting in the middle on the slide side, the TT is very firm.

Additionally, as I installed four 6500 LB jacks on all 8 locations, I can use the middle jacks to lift the trailer to change tires. That's more lifting capacity (13000 lb) than my floor jack that I carry in the truck, and more than the jack furnished to be used to lift my truck for a tire change.

And as I have already gone this far, I might as well confess that I use my jacks to level the trailer, w/o raising the wheels.

Here in Florida, we usually only have to take up the flex in the suspension to level the TT. However, on a rare occasion I have lifted the trailer to level it with no apparent ill effects.

I also have permanently attached 4 x 6 PT wood blocks to the bases of the jacks to speed up the process of setting up.

Please note that the jacks are heavier capacity than the originals, giving me 26000 lbs of lifting capacity (yes they are lifting jacks) per side, more than enough for my 10000 lb TT.

And just so as to get it all out in the open, I use an 18v "Ridgid" impact driver to operate the jacks. We never arrive at night, nor leave early in the morning.

Let the flaming begin.

You're getting close to what I have found, however, one suggestion is that if you move those 4 extra jacks to about 6' or so away from each axle and use the tongue jack to set them you will get enough support off the suspension to ready make things "ROCK STEADY". The current positions so close to the axles don't allow that and IMO you will never get enought "UPWARD" force with just the jack to achieve the best results. You can then use the factory jacks to keep the frame flex under control and with the tongue jack you will probably find the front factory jacks are providing close to zero support.

Larry