Jacks for leveling

[ADV__Scott]

I have a WW 2100FK. The only leveler/stabilizer it came with are the two cantilevers mounted in the rear. I currently use those and add two pyramid jacks up front to stabilize it. I use Lynx-style blocks for mot of the leveling.
I have been looking at the scissor-style jacks and have a question. If I mount one on each corner of the trailer (yes, I will beef up the are where they are welded) can I use them to level the trailer instead of driving up on blocks? Of course I would still try to find a "flat" spot, but would like to be able to adjust the level and stabilize at the same time without the hassle of using Lynx-style blocks.

Thanks

[beemerphile1]

The concern isn't really the jacks, they are inexpensive and easily replaced. The concern is the torque exerted on the frame. The weight is engineered to be on the frame at the axle, not at the corners.

[nayther]

dedmiston wrote:
I used to use my kids to deploy and retract our stabilizers. Once the last kid went off to school, we upgraded to a bigger rig with 6-point auto levelers. It takes some of the sting away when I start to miss my children.

yea, same here but instead of paying $$$$$ for a new trailer I bought a cordless 1/2" impact for the stabilizers.

[dedmiston]

I used to use my kids to deploy and retract our stabilizers. Once the last kid went off to school, we upgraded to a bigger rig with 6-point auto levelers. It takes some of the sting away when I start to miss my children.

[1320Fastback]

JAC1982 wrote:
What others have said, they're not good for actual leveling, just reducing a bit of "bounce" when inside.

Side note, we used a power drill with socket to crank those things down and up in the old camper, way better than doing it by hand 🙂

3/4" fits mine 😉

[JAC1982]

What others have said, they're not good for actual leveling, just reducing a bit of "bounce" when inside.

Side note, we used a power drill with socket to crank those things down and up in the old camper, way better than doing it by hand 🙂

[ADV__Scott]

Wow, I'll consider this unanimous. Thanks for the quick replies everyone. I'll keep doing what has been working so far.

[dedmiston]

Definitely don't do it. WW specifically warned against using the stabilizer jacks for leveling.

Use something like Anderson Levelers to level from side to side. If the slope is too big, dig a hole on the high side and use the Andersons on the low side. Then use your tongue jack to level front to back. The stabilizer jacks are just to prevent shaking and rocking once you're parked.

Anderson Levelers

[1320Fastback]

Don't do it, the frame isn't anywhere near strong enough.

[Y-Guy]

Scott I'd advise against it. Generally unless your frame was designed to be leveled like that you risk tweaking it out of alignment or worse. The corner jacks really are to stabilize the trailer not level it. I wanted to change out the jacks on a previous trailer and when I talked to a tech he explained why it was a bad idea.

[fj12ryder]

I wouldn't do it if it were mine. That's a lot of stress at the corners, and maybe too much unless you reinforce the frame from front to rear.

Pick up a piece of sheet metal 4 feet long and just support it at the corners. See how it bends in the middle...that's the same thing your trailer will try to do. That's how I feel about it anyway.

[DutchmenSport]

No. Sorry.

Those scissor-style jacks are not strong enough or sturdy enough for lifting. They will raise your camper a little, but not strong enough to actually lift it. Besides, those jacks are hand cranked. I've tried cranking mine several times to actually "lift" the camper, and I just can't get enough "umph" to turn the handle after it reaches a certain point.

I have lowered the tongue jack, tightened the rear scissor jacks, and then raised the tongue jack to give an "extra" bit of tension to the back of the camper for more stability. But not enough to lift it.

I have also been on campsites that were so uneven, front to back, my tongue jack was not long enough to raise the front end of the camper to make it level. In those situations, I'll extend the tongue jack as far as I can, then tighten down the scissor jacks, then crank up the tongue jack and the scissor jacks will be holding the camper up on the front. I can then put more lumber under the tongue jack making it higher, then lower the tongue jack again to continue raising the front. For those few moments, they held. But I wouldn't trust them to support the camper at all for more than 30 seconds!

Answer to your question.... "no."