We have been having issues with stabilization. The JT Strongarm stabilizers were on the front jacks of our 5th wheel when we bought it new from the dealer. Now that we are having issues we have been looking at the install info and it appears the strongarms were not installed correctly. There are no bushings and they are attached on the jack legs in the 6th hole up from the bottom. Anyone else have theirs installed this way or have any suggestions??

Mine are installed at the bottom. As I recall that is what the instructions stated. Been 6 yrs since I installed them.In addition, when setting up you need to put pressure on them after you tighten the T handles. Tighten the T handles and then lower the jacks just enough to put pressure on the struts. If you can rattle the struts by shaking them by hand they are doing no good.For the rear struts I crank the stabilizers until the rear of the trailer rises just a little, tighten the T handles, and crank the stabilizer back just enough to put pressure on the strut.

I installed them as close to the bottom as possible, on one side I have it a bit higher because I have one leg with a screw adj. foot. and it doesn't allow me to go to the very bottom. I did call strongarm because I bought my set used at the swapmeet and didn't have all the details and they were very helpful. and after you are set up and level you tighten the SA and then lift the legs till you take the slack out of the SA. and you are good to go.

As close to bottom of inner leg as possibleParts List

Having just installed these, I can say that the OP's installation might have been due to constraints of the 5er. The kit includes a lot of different parts/pieces for a more "universal" installation, but even then you may still have an issue making it all work. My front side-to-side and front curbside stabilizers went on exactly as instructions said. The front roadside stabilizer had to sit back pretty far and I had to develop a drop bracket in order for it to clear my sewer pipes. The rear stabilizers required me to install a section of uni-strut from side to side for the purpose of mounting to the top of the stabilizers.Not saying that any of this relates to the OP's issue, but it's worth taking a look at since the kits can only be "universal" to a certain extent ;-)

majorgator wrote:Having just installed these, I can say that the OP's installation might have been due to constraints of the 5er. The kit includes a lot of different parts/pieces for a more "universal" installation, but even then you may still have an issue making it all work. My front side-to-side and front curbside stabilizers went on exactly as instructions said. The front roadside stabilizer had to sit back pretty far and I had to develop a drop bracket in order for it to clear my sewer pipes. The rear stabilizers required me to install a section of uni-strut from side to side for the purpose of mounting to the top of the stabilizers.Not saying that any of this relates to the OP's issue, but it's worth taking a look at since the kits can only be "universal" to a certain extent ;-)Ditto - my problem was the gas line on the front street side. Didn't think about the need to put pressure on them though. Have to try that next time out.

'Correct installation of JT Strongarm Stabilizers

magic43
Explorer
Nov 07, 2015
I opted to not install the rears. After over 3K miles of travel and many nights unhooked, I will not. The fronts took care of my "wiggle".
JW_of_Opechee_S
Explorer
Nov 07, 2015
Check YouTube for the video on installation, easy to follow and start and stop while you install and has tips if your unit is not the same.
ACZL
Explorer
Nov 07, 2015
When my son and I did ours this summer, the front ones went into bottom hole of landing legs (or one just above where pad attaches). The rear, had to have a metal shop weld a bar across frame rail to frame rail so we had a place to mount the rear ones to. Sadly. with the a rear bumper, am unable to use the "T" handles, so in their place, we had extra bolts from the kit that fit nicely in same spot so we use them and a 9/16 wrench instead.

I won't say the JT's eliminate all the "wiggle" out of the coach, BUT they do eliminate a vast majority of it! Very happy with them. Now watch, probly get a new coach in a year or so! Oh well.
Grady23
Explorer
Nov 07, 2015
The folks at JT aren't much help. I had to fabricate a mounting surface for the rear stabilizers. When I called JT, all they could do was send me ANOTHER copy of the installation instructions. The setup when parking your unit is very important to how well the system works. Also, the mounting to the jacks MUST be as close as possible to the bottom hole. The closer to the ground, the better angle for the stabilizer arms.
laknox
Nomad
Nov 04, 2015
banan88t wrote:
We have been having issues with stabilization. The JT Strongarm stabilizers were on the front jacks of our 5th wheel when we bought it new from the dealer. Now that we are having issues we have been looking at the install info and it appears the strongarms were not installed correctly. There are no bushings and they are attached on the jack legs in the 6th hole up from the bottom. Anyone else have theirs installed this way or have any suggestions??

I don't have them, but I've never seen a picture of JTs, or any other similar stabilizer (even homebuilt), that didn't attach at the foot. You lose effectiveness the further up you go, so anything you can do to get them to attach further down is desirable, IMO. Simple physics...

Lyle
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Nov 04, 2015
Call the people at JT Strongarms and explain the issues. I had to get a couple parts that were missing from my kit and it was no problem at all.
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Nov 04, 2015
I just removed and threw out a pair of BAL stabilizers I had installed on the rear jacks on my fiver. Look about the same as the JTs. Mine got so rusted up it was hard to tighten them anymore. Didn't seem to do anything on the rear stabilizers. I think they might work better on the front..

B.O.
alexleblanc
Explorer
Nov 04, 2015
I've looked at this and I have no idea how I could mount it to mine, there's nothing to mount it to on the front portion of my unit that's exposed...
waltbennett
Explorer
Nov 04, 2015
majorgator wrote:
Having just installed these, I can say that the OP's installation might have been due to constraints of the 5er. The kit includes a lot of different parts/pieces for a more "universal" installation, but even then you may still have an issue making it all work. My front side-to-side and front curbside stabilizers went on exactly as instructions said. The front roadside stabilizer had to sit back pretty far and I had to develop a drop bracket in order for it to clear my sewer pipes. The rear stabilizers required me to install a section of uni-strut from side to side for the purpose of mounting to the top of the stabilizers.

Not saying that any of this relates to the OP's issue, but it's worth taking a look at since the kits can only be "universal" to a certain extent ;-)

Ditto - my problem was the gas line on the front street side. Didn't think about the need to put pressure on them though. Have to try that next time out.
majorgator
Explorer
Nov 04, 2015
Having just installed these, I can say that the OP's installation might have been due to constraints of the 5er. The kit includes a lot of different parts/pieces for a more "universal" installation, but even then you may still have an issue making it all work. My front side-to-side and front curbside stabilizers went on exactly as instructions said. The front roadside stabilizer had to sit back pretty far and I had to develop a drop bracket in order for it to clear my sewer pipes. The rear stabilizers required me to install a section of uni-strut from side to side for the purpose of mounting to the top of the stabilizers.

Not saying that any of this relates to the OP's issue, but it's worth taking a look at since the kits can only be "universal" to a certain extent ;-)