Best Jacks to Stabilize TT

I had posted this same question last year as I sat on a picinic table and watched as the trailer moved side to side in the front and rear. The tires were solid, no movement, but the scissors jacks were dancing at the four corners. The Strongarms are on my list of mods for this season. I got the same answers in my thread as done here.

afidel wrote:

FrankShore wrote:
Look for these kinds of jacks.

For the front, they will run parallel to the length.

For the back, the stab should be running in the opposite direction. Take a look at this photo:



This will get you the most "no shimmy" trailer

Yeah, those should be fairly similar to the JT StrongArms/BAL Lock Arms, though I would think without the lock nut they wouldn't be quite as stiff.

The example I posted, those are BAL jacks, with the pads. You should have 2 of those in the front, pointing in the right direction, then in the back, same thing just as long as your pointing them in another direction.

This will eliminate fore/aft sway and port/starboard sway.

These are all lousy ways (imo) to jack something up to try and stabilize a rig

FrankShore wrote:
Look for these kinds of jacks.

For the front, they will run parallel to the length.

For the back, the stab should be running in the opposite direction. Take a look at this photo:



This will get you the most "no shimmy" trailer

Yeah, those should be fairly similar to the JT StrongArms/BAL Lock Arms, though I would think without the lock nut they wouldn't be quite as stiff.

Look for these kinds of jacks.

For the front, they will run parallel to the length.

For the back, the stab should be running in the opposite direction. Take a look at this photo:



This will get you the most "no shimmy" trailer

jukes wrote:
Thanks for the replies, finally getting back to this. I am thinking to get the BAL Lock-Arm Stabilizing bars, 2 of them. Will these still be effective on the 2 original stabilizing jacks that are on our 2008 30-ft Jacyco TT? These jacks probably aren't the best, but it's really the side to side movement I am trying to reduce the most, and I read that the jacks are more for to help with the up and down movement.
Thank you.

They mount to the frame and to the foot of the jack so how good the jack is shouldn't matter at all. If you're going to do 2 I'd probably do one in front and one in the rear on opposite sides. I say that because getting two to fit and be usable over the whole range of jack travel while also having the tightening nut easily accessible is really tough (at least it was on my 7' wide frame, perhaps an 8' frame would make it easier).

Thanks for the replies, finally getting back to this. I am thinking to get the BAL Lock-Arm Stabilizing bars, 2 of them. Will these still be effective on the 2 original stabilizing jacks that are on our 2008 30-ft Jacyco TT? These jacks probably aren't the best, but it's really the side to side movement I am trying to reduce the most, and I read that the jacks are more for to help with the up and down movement.
Thank you.

Another thing to think about is how you or other people walk in your TT. It makes a huge difference. If you "walk light" your trailer will hardly move. If you clomp around and stop fast I don't care how much bracing you do it will move.

If you have a family like mine, good luck in teaching them to walk softly and light. :R

Gulfcoast wrote:
A question... On the travel trailer JT Strong Arm kits, why do they include just six arms and not eight? I want two stabilizer bars for each jack.

what you want to do is to stabilize side to side movement and up and down movement. All that takes for up and down is a jack at each corner for vertical load, and 3 points to stabilize lateral movement front to back and side to side. Adding a 4th for lateral stability actually can detract from stabilizing lateral movement since one of the 4 may likely be out of plane.

That's why only 3 points.

Gulfcoast wrote:
A question... On the travel trailer JT Strong Arm kits, why do they include just six arms and not eight? I want two stabilizer bars for each jack.

It would probably be overkill. I have 4 on the front and one on the back for side to side movement and have virtually zero movement. I bought 6 (bought 3 of the 2 arm kits from BAL) but couldn't find a good way to mount the 6th and after trying to move the trailer I'm not at all upset that I couldn't get the last one installed, completely not needed.

A question... On the travel trailer JT Strong Arm kits, why do they include just six arms and not eight? I want two stabilizer bars for each jack.