Trailer "shimmy" in campgrounds
I've been an RVer since the mid-70's, progressing through a few pop-ups, a 26ft trailer, a 30ft 5vr, and now, a 40ft 'destination' trailer. We love the new unit, but are still dealing with trailer 's...
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Most of your problem is those stabilizer jacks are a poor excuse for a stable support system on ANY TRAILER IMO. There are just too many pivot points and lack of overall non flexing support in one or more planes. I would put that trailer directly on some screw jack stands that rest on a base of cinder blocks or better the shorter sections of RR ties. I would make each support base big enough so not both the jack stand and a small hydraulic jack can be placed on each stand and then you could use the hydraulic jack to adjust each jackstand for the best support. You will need some kind of adjustment system to account for settling over time. When you find a jackstand starting to get loose you could simply put the hydraulic jack on the existing support raise the frame slightly and retighten the jack stand. Over time as the trailer settles these periodic adjustments should diminish, but you might always have to do one or maybe two each season as conditions warrant. For a 40' trailer I would put supports at each end or about 5' end from each end and then pairs in front and in back of the axles so all the stands are basically evenly spaced along the length of the trailer. That would be 4 jackstands on each side about 10' apart for a 40' span total. I would also make my support bases tall enough so the amount of screw length is minimal on each jackstand. Instead of the cheaper standard screw jackstands I might look into some of the more robust screw support type stands since this is a one time cost an probably worth the additional small extra $$$.
The whole secret here IMO is to get the right amount of support at each location and using just these screw stabilizer jacks will never get the "lift" needed for the support you want (hence the use of the hydraulic jack to set each support stand) and there are just too many moving joints/parts in these stabilizer jacks to provide a really stable support system. I guess you could fore go the jack stands and put the frame directly on wood or blocks, but then you would need all kinds of thicknessess and shims to add support height during settling and using the screw type jackstand that extra "stuff" is not necessary.
Larry
The whole secret here IMO is to get the right amount of support at each location and using just these screw stabilizer jacks will never get the "lift" needed for the support you want (hence the use of the hydraulic jack to set each support stand) and there are just too many moving joints/parts in these stabilizer jacks to provide a really stable support system. I guess you could fore go the jack stands and put the frame directly on wood or blocks, but then you would need all kinds of thicknessess and shims to add support height during settling and using the screw type jackstand that extra "stuff" is not necessary.
Larry
