Happijacs, what will happen if.........
When reading about the operation of my happijac electric camper jacks, it stated numerous places, "Never raise the back of the camper higher than the front". Why? Is the location of the front jacks...
Forum Discussion
JoeChiOhki wrote:
I do also wonder if it has to do with Happijac's choice to use square tube jacks, as their jacks have been known to buckle at the pressure point between the outer and inner tubes before. Round tubing is naturally stronger by shape than square tubing and will take a good deal more strain without failing catastrophically than square tubing does.
From an engineering point of view, square tubes of the same dimensions are stronger in every direction than round, and not by just a little: for example a 2" square tube with 1/16 wall is 70% stronger than a 2" round tube with the same wall (though only 20% stronger if bent on the diagonal). If the round tube is bigger or thicker, then sure.
Happijacks explanation must be out of an "abundance of caution". Suppose you had a camper with the CG 4 feet off the floor and 2 feet back from the front of the box. Most large campers would sell their soul to get the CG that far forward. To tip it to the balance point you'd have to get it 26 degrees nose down. With 4' of jack travel and a short box camper, you might just be able to manage that. Not sure why you would try, it's kinda like telling kids not to put beans in their nose.
