slide out stabilizers

Maybe instead of posting an argumentative post you can consider the reasons posted then show, through your actual experience, where these fears might be unfounded. That would be positive.

Gotcha..... The reason and the only reason a slide cannot move is if the trailer frame is supported fully. Those that have, if they have, had problems and damaged there slide using stabilizers did not have the trailer frame supported properly or they were using electric stabilizers instead of screw jacks rated for the job.

I used to set up mobile homes, same principal. I-Beam frame and blocks and some with expandos. In this case the 4 screw jacks I have are rated over 24,000 lbs all together and more than capable of holding the trailer frame up without tires or axles without movement there for the slide cannot move up or down as long as the frame is supported.

jaycocreek wrote:
Lucky-No... The slide cannot and I repeat, "cannot" move if the trailer frame is supported.Period.com.. It is virtually impossible for that to happen with four quality jacks not these electric stabilizers!

I have one response to this - consider if your trailer is parked on pavement / asphalt and the slideout extends over soil (as in off the edge of the pavement). In a case like that your slideout support posts would be on the soil. Then there is a good rainfall where the soil sinks at a different rate than the pavement. The effectiveness of the supports would then be rendered less effective (ineffective) since the axial force in the strut would have dropped.

The point being made is that with the current designs of slideouts AND the recommendations of several RV manufacturers, these post-type supports are not to be used under slideouts. That is not nonsense. Moreover, some users of these supports (maybe not you) could see the need to cinch up the supports under the slideouts so that an upward force is applied to the slideout - maybe to offset any tendency to sink as in the situation I mentioned in my first paragraph.

The slideout manufacturers have to consider warranty claims made by users who might be using equipment not as they were intended or designed, and without proof of the abuse. When they deny the warranty claims these users then complain on the Internet and that is not good for business, so they prohibit things like slideout supports etc. in an effort to minimize spurious claims. There may well be some tolerance in the design (which you might be within) but nothing is guaranteed for ALL users. The thing is, none of us knows where this tolerance ends, so we have to go by what the manufacturer states just in case.

That is all.

BTW - have no clue what you are talking about with electric stabilizers. These are under the trailer frame not under the slideouts.

UPDATE - I think I know what you meant by bringing the electric RV frame stabilizers into the discussion, i.e they could flex causing relative displacement on the trailer downwards while the post-supported slideout does not move thereby placing a vertical upward strain on the slideout. Again, another reason not to use a post under the stabilizer. But lets say screw type stabilizers are used under the frame and the RV does not move, the point I made in the first couple of paragraphs still stands.

Jaycocreek - the issue with your original post supporting the use of supports is the bit where you insinuated that other POVs were nonsense. That is argumentative as are many of your follow on posts. And that is why you might be catching flak for this.

We get it. You like your supports and that is good for you. Many of us who are advocating against their use have no direct experience exactly for the reasons stated. That is reasonable and is not nonsensical. Maybe instead of posting an argumentative post you can consider the reasons posted then show, through your actual experience, where these fears might be unfounded. That would be positive.

As for the original question by the OP - I think that it has been answered among the 3 pages of responses, i.e. read the manual for the RV. If no manual is available call the manufacturer.

Agreed. Maybe he is not considering that and maybe he has been lucky so far. That does not mean that the other opinions are nonsense in this case.

How can you give advice without experience?Nonsense is giving advice on something you have never done or tried.

Lucky-No... The slide cannot and I repeat, "cannot" move if the trailer frame is supported.Period.com.. It is virtually impossible for that to happen with four quality jacks not these electric stabilizers!

Huntindog wrote:
There is a lot of "nonsense" on the net.... But use your head to decide.
There is a really good reason why most everyone says NOT to use them. If you do, and the TT moves for any reason, while the slide is prevented from moving with it from the stabilizers... What will happen?

Agreed. Maybe he is not considering that and maybe he has been lucky so far. That does not mean that the other opinions are nonsense in this case.

Cut to the chase - the OP asked if he needed a slide out support. Are you stating that he does, or are you just upset that others feel that they could cause damage, and you disagree? Most people with no experience ask questions of others who do - and who's cumlative experience spans decades. The consensus here is that 98% of posters advise against using them

I like cut to the chase straight forward and to the point. 98% of the posters you mentioned have not ever used them or stated so here. That 98% are not giving there personal experiences with slide supports just opinions without experience.

I am not saying the opp needs them not knowing his circumstances but I am saying that the 98% that say they will cause damage have never used them, I have without damage and with the dreaded flat tire.

There's always two sides to every story. The opp has his options to choose for himself.

I just wished that on this forum the advice would come from actual experiences not guesses which rules on this thread!

Googled your link - it's an absolute joke that somone would use that image to support any opinion on this matter. The opinion in question was written 7 years ago. More than enough to eliminate it from relevance in any case.

Cut to the chase - the OP asked if he needed a slide out support. Are you stating that he does, or are you just upset that others feel that they could cause damage, and you disagree? Most people with no experience ask questions of others who do - and who's cumlative experience spans decades. The consensus here is that 98% of posters advise against using them - and this forum has multiple threads on this subject that all advise the same - even ones with that jacked image you put up.

It's fine if you disagree, but if I'm in the OP's position, I'm spending my money elsewhere. If you REALLY need to know, I looked into it when purchasing. I asked my manufacturer. They stated what I have already posted. Believe it or not, I don't care to elaborate further on it. Camping World would love to sell me a pair - why in the world would I ask them? Of course I need them in their eyes! I suggested the OP contact his manufacturer - maybe he will, maybe he won't. I don't get angry and question others experience when someone disagrees with me.

If you like to google, then google the question. There is even a Jayco forum where posters are against using them for the reasons posted on this thread.

What I do know and can state as fact is that nobody's slideout ever looked like what was in that faux picture you posted. With all that experience, you should have known better.

Nuff said - won't be replying to this threrad any longer. Happy camping to you.

Try this: click here. I'm not saying I for or against them. I've never used them as I said above. But evidently, they do exist as I did some internet searching on this subject.

FYI, if you do an internet search on "stabilizer jack slide out problem" you'll also get several hits to other forums. I looked at some of these (for example the Forest River forum) and found this is a very highly debated topic.

I think the final resolution REALLY is, each one of us need to make up our own decision if we want to use these jacks or not. If each one of use (as individuals) decide the "risk" of damage is too great, then I think we are within our own rights to decide not to use them, and I think it's OK to state the reason why we do not use them. (Notice I said, "state the reason why we do not use them".)

If it's because we've read from someone else a simple, "NO". Well, that may be good enough. Some other source may state from personal experience, they had no issues using them at all. Well, that's OK too.

I think, as with all our experiences with our campers (of all flavors), we each have to decide what works best for us. Opinion from someone else is OK, but in the end, we each have to decide for ourselves.

It's quite apparent reading some of the various forums (out there), damage "could" occur and on some occasions, damage "has" occurred. But by the same token, I've never had a flat on my TT yet either when traveling, so in my opinion, all the talk about Chinese tires, seems kind of silly to me. BUT... I'M NOT IGNORING the experiences of others either. I'm still running on my original tires and have no issues. I'm taking the "risk"! Same is true with the jacks. The warnings are out there. Everyone on this thread is very much aware of them. Some have NOT had the "flat tire" scenario yet with their jacks, so for them, it's still working OK. Me ... I'm OK with my original equipment. But if you want to try the extra support, go ahead. Give us periodic updates or state your experiences as the rest of us are very interested in the outcome. And we can all either continue to be extra cautions and avoid using the jacks, or go out on a limb and try them. But when (if) something gets damaged, remember ... you had the warning also!

Just my 2 cents. I need to blow off a little!

Coleman

I'm not questioning your RV experience but I am questioning your personal experience with slide stabilizers! If you have never used them, you have no experience in this particular field as I have none in solar.... I just say, if I reply on a solar question, I can't use it because of where I camp so a generator is better for my needs rather than argue about something I have no experience with!!!!!!!

Try this link off of chrome, i'm limited to a mobile phone or tablet.No computer here.

http://rvtravel.com/blog/jerry/2007/06/slide-out-supports-love-em-or-leave-em.html


Or:

http://rvtravel.com/blog/jerry/2007/06/slide-out-supports-love-em-or-leave-em.html

Or Google -Slide out supports- love em or leave em.:B

jaycocreek wrote:

2012Coleman wrote:
I'm sorry, but even a casual observer can plainly see that the image above is severly doctored.

Well Coleman, if its doctored, I didn't do it.. Here is the link.

http://rvtravel.com/blog/jerry/2007/06/slide-out-supports-love-em-or-leave-em.html

What is your experience using slide out supports, past or present?

How many items does Camping World or E-Trailer sell that will harm your RV if used properly?

I clicked on your link - and got this:


I don't need to squak about how much experience I have in a forum of opinions - it's all internet babble as you put it...