Forum Discussion

plasticmaster's avatar
Aug 16, 2016

Forest River Vibe stabilizing issues

I have a Forest River Vibe 308BHS with electric stabilizing jacks. I deploy the jacks until both feet touch down plus a couple more seconds so that it puts a little pressure on the frame. However, the camper still shakes a ton. Even when my kids roll over in their bed at night it wakes me up from the shaking. Also, when one enters the camper, the whole camper rocks. My previous camper (Jayco Jayflight 28BHS) had manual scissor jacks and I didn't have these issues. Has anyone else had these issues with a Vibe or with electric jacks? Any advice? Thanks.
  • I have the Vibe in my signature and find that the jacks need to make considerable noise to be firm. Remember the jack foot nearest the ground contacts first and then the other one. I doubt that 2 seconds after the second foot touches is enough. I run mine until there is noticeable creaking, snapping, and groaning after the second foot touches. My wife always stops too soon. (Actually I prefer the the manual jacks run with a cordless drill as I can tell the torque applied to each jack and they are FASTER.)
  • I've found that if you put some boards or other blocks under the stabilizers so they are not extended completely there is less movement. Also some screw chocks in between the wheels helps also. I still like not having to manually lower the stab's, but then I'm an old Idaho guy.
  • Gadgets ,
    inexpensive motors to deal with, now we find out , they are not as stable as the solid non electric ones. Seems like someone somewhere is having themselves a good laugh at our expense . (not to mention power awnings that don't retract)
    Someday it will be , if you can use your thumb, you can go camping. Smartphones will be able to drive the truck, back it hitched up into a tight wooded campsite, unhitch itself, level itself and block the wheels with a remote parking brake. The awning gets deployed as does the BBQ as it swings off its bumper rack and cooks your food. This can all be done while knapping .
  • Are those the Lippert stabilizers?
    My theory - for what it's worth - is that the same mechanism that allows the jacks to compensate for uneven ground also allows the trailer to rock on its centerline. I put some $5 flea market scissors jacks under the frame in front of the tires, it helped quite a bit.

    BTW - the new GD has manual jacks.
  • I have the same issues with my Vibe. I believe its from the screw on the Electric jacks. They have give that allows them to bounce.

    There are some products out there that are supposed to help with jack stabilization but I have not used any of them.
  • The following is simply an observation of mine: I do not have electric jacks on my trailer, but a friend we camp with a lot has them on his (Palomino Solaire 297RLDS, made by Forest River) and it's amazing how much more "shake" their camper has than ours. We have manual scissor jacks at each corner and they are much more stable. The electric ones seem to almost have a shock absorber kind of effect to me. It's like they "give" a little when you are walking around inside the trailer. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I prefer the stability of the manual scissors.