Centre stabilizing jacks
BACKGROUND While camping we use the trailer's corner stabilizing jacks and we chock the wheels securely. Nevertheless, when someone is moving around in the trailer it's easily felt by those who are...
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I took some measurements and did some calculations, arriving at a modular set that could be made for each jack from 2 x 6 lumber: Blocks of 4, 3, 2 and 1 pads each. Since 2 x 6s are actually 1-1/2" x 5-1/2", square pads would be 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" x 1-1/2" and 60 of them would be needed. That's 4 8' lengths of 2 x 6, CAD 4.89 each.
I set up a 5-1/2" stop block on my mitre saw and got to work. Total yield from the four planks: 68 pads.
Cabinetmaker's glue was used to join the blocks together; each was rotated 90º from the one below it to cross the grain. Blocks were stacked on blocks to provide clamping pressure. Just eyeball carpentry - nothing fancy.
The six sets fit perfectly in the Rubbermaid bin I was hoping to use for storage.
As you can imagine, pads cut with a mitre saw might have a splinter or two looking for a host hand. So I brought my router table outside, fitted with a slightly retracted 3/8" roundover bit.
Test pad looks good...
... so I did them all.
With the spreading wheel chocks installed and the highest possible set of blocks under each jack, it seemed to be firmer... but it's hard to test with one, so when Dawn comes home we'll have the official word.
If these aren't good enough, no worries - the pads become firewood and we consider other options. Like STEADYfast. :)
I set up a 5-1/2" stop block on my mitre saw and got to work. Total yield from the four planks: 68 pads.
Cabinetmaker's glue was used to join the blocks together; each was rotated 90º from the one below it to cross the grain. Blocks were stacked on blocks to provide clamping pressure. Just eyeball carpentry - nothing fancy.
The six sets fit perfectly in the Rubbermaid bin I was hoping to use for storage.
As you can imagine, pads cut with a mitre saw might have a splinter or two looking for a host hand. So I brought my router table outside, fitted with a slightly retracted 3/8" roundover bit.
Test pad looks good...
... so I did them all.
With the spreading wheel chocks installed and the highest possible set of blocks under each jack, it seemed to be firmer... but it's hard to test with one, so when Dawn comes home we'll have the official word.
If these aren't good enough, no worries - the pads become firewood and we consider other options. Like STEADYfast. :)
