Need more stability

[Indianrock]

We're in a Dutchmen 30 ft Fifth Wheel for several more months while our house is being built. I've done what I can with the stabilizers at the two rear corners and added jacks under the main slideout, but there is still a bit more movement when we move around than I'd like.
I've considered the king pin tripod stabilizers but might test with a 4x4 wood post first to see if it really helps. The four tires are probably not at specification on tire pressure by this time, but don't look especially low.
Hard to know if more or less tire pressure actually affects stability, but then there is the effect on the tire of being under load but at lower pressure ( this RV doesn't move much, will be in this park, then our our lot for a few months, then sold ).

[wandering1]

When someone is walking around inside the 5er it will bounce/wiggle. Rubber tires will bounce, suspension systems are made to bounce. To eliminate the bouncing/wiggling you need to keep the weight from pushing down on the tires and suspension by making sure your stabilizers are tight between the 5er and the ground. Don’t just let them out far enough to touch the ground, turn the crank more to make sure they are tight so they will not allow the 5er to push down on the tires. Use a bipod/tripod under the king pin. Make sure it is tight between the ground and the king pin, don’t just adjust it till it touches, tighten it so the front overhang will not move. Make sure to check the stabilizers and bipod/tripod every couple of days because they will loosen up over time.

Doesn’t make sense spending a lot of money on landing jack stabilizers when the landing jacks are stable and don’t bounce up and down. If you have properly adjusted the stabilizers and bipod/tripod then you shouldn’t have any bouncing/wiggling. This has worked for me over the past 15 years.

Chocks are to keep the 5er from rolling forward or backwards. They do not eliminate the weight of the 5er from pushing down and causing the bouncing/wiggling. If you park on a site that has a incline/decline then you probably want to use chocks to keep your 5er from rolling when you unhitch.

There are a lot of other options out there to “eliminate” the bouncing/wiggling if you have the extra money and want to spend it.

[kohai]

Indianrock wrote:
We're in a Dutchmen 30 ft Fifth Wheel for several more months while our house is being built. I've done what I can with the stabilizers at the two rear corners and added jacks under the main slideout, but there is still a bit more movement when we move around than I'd like.
I've considered the king pin tripod stabilizers but might test with a 4x4 wood post first to see if it really helps. The four tires are probably not at specification on tire pressure by this time, but don't look especially low.
Hard to know if more or less tire pressure actually affects stability, but then there is the effect on the tire of being under load but at lower pressure ( this RV doesn't move much, will be in this park, then our our lot for a few months, then sold ).

Steadyfast is a popular system:
http://www.steadyfast.com/

[larry_barnhart]

The problem can still be because the tires and springs. Before we had the JT Strong arm stabilizers I installed a scissor jack in front of both front tires and attached to the frame because my wife sits over the tires and does needle work.

chevman

[easycamper]

The tripod stabilizer works very well for us. You need to make sure it's actually supporting some of the weight of the trailer for it to be effective. Either really crank it tight, or get it close to tight and raise the landing gear a little.

A 4x4 post isn't going to be a very good indication of how effective a tripod would be.

[Indianrock]

Lots of good ideas. Thanks. I have these stromberg stabilizers under the large slideout on the left rear side, but they sort of "fight" with the on-board stabilizers at the two rear corners -- crank one too tight and it takes the load off the others. I know you don't want to push up very much on a slide, and the concern is that someone might lower that side of the trailer with them in place and damage things. The argument in favor of supporting slides has to do with longer term occupancy and slides not being designed for that.

I wonder if those strombergs could work against the frame near the axles.
stromberg slide out stabilizers
I have the Walmart version of the BAL X chocks on one side of the trailer, but would be willing to invest in a pair of the balx if you all really think the movement is the wheels moving forward and back due to low-tech chocks. Everyone seems to agree the king pin thing isn't worth it.

[BB_TX]

Used a tripod for a year. Helped a little, but really not too much. Installed JT Strongarms and they eliminated most of the movement. Tripod was never used again. Money well spent. There are several other manufacturers similar in design to the JTs.

[firemedic1992]

I installed JT Strongarm stabilizers and my 32' fifth wheel is rock solid!
Highly recommend!, easy install.

[robsouth]

You might want to rethink the slide supports. Most manufacturers do not recommend them and they are not needed.

[garysol]

We have found that the Bal X-XChocks have done more to help us stabilize our trailer than anything else...

[newman_fulltime]

Putting jacks under the slides does nothing for stability the slide is made to move.
You need to block behind the tires to. The frame and can block behind the front legs