JT Strongarm installation - easy, but customer service?....

[kep5niner]

I just completed the installation of JT Strongarms to firm up my 42' fiver. Start to finish was about 2 hours. I began the process by thoroughly reading, reviewing, high-lighting, and underlining the instructions from the kit. As I've seen other reviews describe, the instructions are very poorly written. Very poorly. But - alas! - the instructions read several times that if you have any questions, simply give them a call. I assembled several explicit questions and gave them a call before I began.

I described my questions to the technical support at LCI, identifying inconsistencies and inaccuracies in their instructions, seeking clarifications. To my surprise, the gentleman on the phone became short, providing snarky responses such as "now I'm going to use a big word like triangulation..." disregarding my questions, and simply concluding that if I deviated at all from their (poorly) written instructions, it would void all warranty. Was I speaking to their technical support or their legal department? I concluded the conversation with none of my questions answered, and that I can read between the lines and I'll just figure it out. Which I did. In only 2 hours.

I guess my point is this: their instructions are not explicit and have conflicting information, their technical support was not very technical nor supportive, and with some analysis and preparation, one can figure out the system to have an effective product installed upon completion. We're not splitting an atom here, just trying to get rid of unnecessary movement in the trailer.

I'll be sure to follow up in this post with pictures and maybe some tips, as my previous searches did not yield many results for the questions I had. If I can be of more help to a fellow RVers than LCI, I'd be more than happy to assist.

[TXiceman]

When I installed mine, pretty simple and no problems with the instructions.

Ken

[JW_of_Opechee_S]

When I did mine on my last fiver, I went to YouTube and loaded the video on the laptop, brought it out with me and started the video and stopped it at each step before proceeding. Made the installation a breeze.

[tvman44]

Had mine for almost 8 years and when I installed I called about a problem I ran into the gentleman was very helpful telling me how to solve my problem. Very happy. Would do again. 🙂

[BB_TX]

Ed9824v wrote:
..............
I only did the front arms and still have the ones for the rear that I may do in the future.

Here is an easy way to attach the rear stabilizers without any welding to the frame. 2" x 2" sq tube cut at 45 degrees on each end. Very sturdy.

[ACZL]

Son and I did ours last year and I forgot the length of time it took us. Want to say as well I spoke w/ LCI as I had a couple questions and response seemed okay. Like OP, figured everything out myself by looking at pics and re-reading things. Had to take coach to a metal/fab welding shop to have a piece of angle iron welded on between rear frame rails so rear arms could attach to center. As it turned out, was unable to use the "T" handles on rear arms cuz they would hit, so had leftover bolts for kit, they fit, so just use a 9/16" wrench on 'em.

[Ed9824v]

I had just the opposite experience, I bought a set of JT strongarms used at the swapmeet. no instruction, I believe I found them on the internet and had some questions because I had a screw on foot on one leg for leveling that I did not want to get rid of, the girl I spoke with was very helpful and clear. install then was very simple. I only did the front arms and still have the ones for the rear that I may do in the future.

[BB_TX]

It has been 7 years since I installed mine. And I do remember the instructions being less than ideal. But I read all the info I could find on the web and did not need to call them. But in doing the research, I did find multiple people speak about how good their tech support was. Things must have changed. I think they were bought by Lippert after I installed mine.

[lee_worsdell]

We did mine in around the same time. I used impact gun and 3/8 self taping bolts went right thru the frame like nothing. They have never come lose at all.