Stable-lift ?

I will throw in my support the best I can. I love the stable-lift. I use both my four corner jacks and stable-lift at the same time to lift and lower. I go straight up and straight down. I also use my tie downs when traveling. It travels more like an RV than a truck camper. Of course mine has been sacrificed to the great northeastern road salt god. I moved to Florida two years ago and intend to take it off and clean it up but that requires time of which I have none. Here are some photos I hope.

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I'm a relative new owner (last year) of an older truck camper (1994 9.5 Shadow Cruiser) with the Stable-Lift already installed. I can attest to the pros/cons others have commented on. Also, I contacted the manufacturer (Mont Peters) via phone to try and find out more info and how best to install the saddle brackets (what the lower hoop retracts onto) on the truck frame. This guy was amazing; answered all of my questions/offered suggestions, as well as emailing me a copy of installation instructions (very very informative). I didn't need to install the saddle brackets, since I have running boards installed. The system is very stable when loaded in or out of the truck, as well as quick and easy to offload. I'm a very happy owner and haven't encountered any problems with the system.

burningman wrote:
... I'd never, ever go back to corner peg-legs. I paid more for my Stable Lift than I did for my camper. Because it's that worth it.

I too paid more for my lift (about $2500) than my TC (about $1000 before upgrades). I also said I never would go back to "corner peg-legs", but I have. Went from my SRW 2WD to my new to me DRW 4x4. I had to remove the lift for the DRW. I have every intention to modify my lift from the SRW to DRW this winter.

Your post helped fill in some of the details I left out. I sure hope other Stable Lift owners chime in, even if it is simply to repeat or counter what has been posted.

I have been accused of being a Stable Lift "lover" due to my posting on the Stable Lift and my appreciation of the product. I guess you could also say I am a Bigfoot TC lover and a Dodge Cummins lover for the same reason. It makes no sense to me to praise what I perceive to be a substandard product. Each of us have our own expectations and preferences, is that not great?

As a Moderator, over the past 12 plus years, I have been offered free products to evaluate. I have accepted none. Will I in the future? Probably not.

Wayne

To those who don't have one: you don't know what you're talking about.

The Stable Lift works GREAT on uneven ground. It DOES adjust quite a bit, you can indeed level the rig up with the Stable Lift jacks.
The Stable Lift doesn't hang as low as your differentials, you don't really lose any clearance. I also have a "belly bar" under my truck and the Stable Lift is no lower.

Sure, you CAN offload in the woods with four corner jacks, but it's infinitely less hassle with a SL.
The unloading proceedure is this: press the buttons. Unplug the light cord. Drive out.
No tie downs to mess with, no nothing. Loading up is just as easy, it's a total game changer.
The lift itself clamps the camper down to the truck.
If I wanted to go two miles down the street to buy a couple bags of ice, I'd drop my camper to do it. Would you, with your stock jacks? Really?

Safety and stability aren't even in the same league either. As for off-roading, I've torn corner jacks off before. More than once. The Stable Lift is much, much more stout. If you whack a corner, the load is spread out over the whole thing. I've never had any problems,
And I have had it protect my truck, a sheet of plywood blew from a neighbor's campsite in strong wind and would have banged up my truck, but the lift saved it. It's like a partial exo-cage.

Installation is a big deal, yes. But once it's done, your camper is SO easy to load/unload, and SO much safer, you'll forget all about that.

If you haven't had one, you're not qualified to weigh in. You also don't know what you're missing.
I'd never, ever go back to corner peg-legs. I paid more for my Stable Lift than I did for my camper. Because it's that worth it.

jornvango wrote:
We are considering having a stable-lift system installed on our 2014 Livin Lite 8.6 truck camper.

My lift is mounted on my 11.5 foot 4000 lb Bigfoot TC. You would probably be using the same lift, which means it due to weight and size the lift would not work as hard with your TC.

jornvango wrote:
Since we love to boondock on public lands, we are looking for a solution that will allow us to easily remove the truck camper while we are camping on uneven/unstable ground.

I seldom unload my TC when camping, but when I have I have never found uneven or unstable ground an issue. The lower hoop bridges the low spots, and on real low spots directly under a jack I have put leveling blocks. I have put leveling blocks under the hoop where the tires run over the hoop. It is certainly possible to find ground just too uneven to unload on, but you definitely do not need a graded level surface.

When you say unstable ground, I understand that to mean soft like sand, soft dirt, or mud. The truck I used with my lift is 2WD, so I seldom I avoided serious sand, soft dirt, and mud. I did experiment one time in sand, but not super soft. I put one leveling pad under each of the three jacks and under the hoop where the tire drove over. There was no issue at all. I am sure you could find something too soft but all you will get from a four jack system is four leveling pads.

jornvango wrote:
The 4 wobbly jacks on our TC are too scary for us to use in these circumstances, but we do love to have the truck available for exploring while boondocking. We are currently considering trading in the TC for a travel trailer for this very reason.

I also have a lifted 19.5 foot Alpenlite 5th wheel. My Bigfoot TC with the Stable Lift will go more places and park in more places than the Alpenlite. There are more creature comforts in the Alpenlite.

Loading your TC with the Stable Lift when there are strong wind gust really makes the lift worthwhile. I was loading my TC in the wind with the front jack extensions and had to stop until the next day. That was the final motivator for me, I ordered my lift. With the lift I care less if the wind is blowing.

jornvango wrote:
Obviously, installing a stable-lift will be cheaper than the money we would lose on trading in the TC and buying a travel trailer.

That I can't comment on. I would suggest if you could swing it to have Stable Lift do the install or ask them if they could recommend someone. It is more time consuming than difficult. The most critical is the preload with the tie down feature.

jornvango wrote:
Does anyone have the Stable-lift system and if yes, how is the performance on uneven ground?

I discussed that earlier.

jornvango wrote:
How about taking it off on forest land, desert ... does it sink in case of heavy rains?

My four jack systems have sank in the ground, but my lift never has. Four jack systems or Stable Lift, you can put pads under the jacks or jacks/hoop.

jornvango wrote:
Regarding potential negatives of the product: I'm aware of the difficulty to install (while reading up on the product); I would find a shop to install them.

As I previously stated, it is more time consuming than difficult. I installed mine with no help in two days. You have to remove some appliances to drill holes and install bolts. Each TC is different. I think I can post some photos if I still have them and you are interested.

jornvango wrote:
I'm also aware of the reduced ground clearance.

If installed correctly, it will reduce the ground clearence about 2-1/2" to 3".

A plus I have never seen discussed is the protection the lift give the truck. It important to know the lift is made of heavy wall tubing, 1/8" or thicker. I have got too close to boulders, hitting them with the hoop. I raised the side of the truck and skinned the paint with no damage. Car doors and shopping carts no longer crash into the side of my truck.

Wayne

Well in my travels and playing with Wayne I have seen him put his Stablelift through it's paces...

Try this with jacks or putting blocks under your tires! He positioned his truck and dropped the Stablelift in less than 5min!

This picture was taken at Scotts Flat during the 2nd West Coast TC caravan get together. My TC is in the foreground.. Wayne's in the back.

BTW, his camper weighs a bit over 4,000 lbs loaded.




Jim

I run into stable lift in some camper research and they are not cheap.
Beside 400 lb
Anyway, for time being I ended up with 2 of high-end campers and can compare how different manufacturers approach the projects who don't have much margin for changes.
First thing I noticed one of the camper had front jacks brackets bend.
Closer look shows that dually brackets extenders come in 2 varieties, even they look the same at first look.
The difference is that one has locking rings only on top, the other on top and bottom.
Again, the difference that average RV owner will not even notice, makes heck of the difference in camper stability.
Meaning probably in lot of cases replacing the single locks extenders with dual lock extenders might be all the owner needs.
Brackets cost - about $200 new.

jimh425 wrote:
would work at different heights for each jack either. Better to lower the conventional jacks on blocks or stall mat squares.

jimh425 wrote:
I'm not saying it is typical, but sometimes the ground isn't very level even at campgrounds. In Yellowstone's Bridge Bay campground in one space, I had a different number of blocks under each tire to level the camper. I'm not sure how that would work with Stabile Lift, but it seems like it would either be unlevel or put a lot of twist in the system.

jimh425 wrote:
As far as fear of collapsing goes, anything can break.

This is what I was referring to in a previous post, three conclusions made by someone who does not have or has never had Stable Lift.

Would it not be more reasonable to ask a question rather than stating a conclusion?

SidecarFlip wrote:
I read the OP's post carefully. The OP was concerned with the 'wobbly jacks" on uneven ground. I don't see how a Stable Lift would help with that, especially if the ground is uneven or sloped.

This is difficult for me to explain with the keyboard, but I will try. With independent jacks, three or four, each has clearance that is not tied to the other jacks. With the Stable Lift, typically three jacks and two guides, the clearence is connected to the three jacks and two guides through the connection to the TC and the lower hoop. The clearence is also stabilized with the use of the three struts from the hoop to the TC. I think this is where the idea of the Wobble Stopper came from.

SidecarFlip wrote:
You never want to use a TC with the jacks extended unless you like being seasick from the sway...

This is not an issue with the Stable Lift. I always left my TC at the height required to remove it from my truck. There were times I lowered it to make the steps more comfortable. The height of the lift is more stable than independent jacks even at maximum height, especially with the three struts.

SidecarFlip wrote:
I'm not negative or positive, I just don't understand the OP's post, which is why I commented confused.

I am comfortable responding to questions to help clear confusion or add to someones knowledge base. That is how I perceived your questions.

I referred to the three pieces that go from the hoop to the TC as struts. They could be reférred to as braces. I remember what Stable Lift calls them.

I also must say I am in no way connected to Stable Lift. I paid full price for mine and installed it myself. I had two phone conversations with Mont Peters during my install process. I cannot imagine the Stable Lift being for everyone and believe that is true with any of the jacks available. I have probably put the Stable Lift through more test that anyone. I am will versed on its limitations, some of which I would not try to explain with a keyboard. If installed properly, the Stable Lift is a very good product. Do expect to add 400 pounds to your TC.

Wayne

free radical wrote:
There are some reviews online if you Google stable lift,,explaining pro and con..
Only negative I see,
it leaves TC very high of the ground when off the truck which can make it being easily knocked over in strong winds,,??

I know three other stable-lift users and all of us are very happy with our system. For some reason people who do not have the system seem to speak for everyone else who does not have the system. You will love the stable - lift system. It has it's pro's and con's like everything else. Yes even four corner jacks have pro's and cons.
Pro - Stability!!!! "STABLE-lift" It will not blow over in the wind! Unbelievable ease of mounting and dismounting your rig.
Con - installation can be tough going. It was for me. It is also very heavy, mine added well over four hundred pounds to the camper.
Good luck with your decision....As far as your questions about different terrain, I can't comment. I'm a campsite kind of guy.