Question about stabilizers

[scootsk]

Just installed my stabilizers. Love them, eliminated all the "shake" in the fifth wheel. Yahoo. Just one question, I was looking at them the other day and I noticed that when I put up the landing gear the t-handles will hit the frame and prevent the landing gear from retracting all the way. I want to reverse the install and have the t-handles facing down. Has anybody done this? Will this increase my chances of losing a handle during travel?

[Cummins12V98]

I have the 4 point hydraulic landing gear on our Mobile Suites and see no need to add stabilizers.

Could be because they come down at an outward angle.

[PennyPA]

Why do you have to retract your landing gear all the way in the first place??? We never retract ours all the way. Doesn't your fiver have an outer leg that comes down a distance when you push a button and then you lower the inner leg (with the holes in it) to whatever height you want them?

[shadows4]

scootsk wrote:
Just installed my stabilizers. Love them, eliminated all the "shake" in the fifth wheel. Yahoo. Just one question, I was looking at them the other day and I noticed that when I put up the landing gear the t-handles will hit the frame and prevent the landing gear from retracting all the way. I want to reverse the install and have the t-handles facing down. Has anybody done this? Will this increase my chances of losing a handle during travel?

This is one of the reasons I bought the BAL stabilizers, they use the same 3/4" size bolt that my rear scissor jacks use. I just tighten them with the same crank I use on the rear jacks. And the bolt sticks out the side. As to the OPer, I would think it would work fine to flip them over. Saw a post on here where someone drilled a small hole in the t-handle and wired them so they wouldn't come all the way out. Good luck, John

[jims1]

You can drill a hole thru the leg or thru the foot. It won't hurt either to do so.

[scootsk]

I've read that people have had a tab welded to the hydraulic landing gear so that they could bolt the stabilizer to the non pinned leg. I have the Eliminators and believe a vertical tab welded to your landing gear would work fine.

[Halmfamily]

Looking at Scoots picture above his mounts into the holes on his landing gear. Mine are straight hydraulic rams with no holes just a 10" landing pad at the end. Is there a clamp that does around the bottom of the hydraulic ram above the pad?

[scootsk]

How are the legs different on the hydraulic? I don't think it would make a difference as long as the bracket can bolt onto the landing gear.

[Halmfamily]

Do they make to fit hydraulic landing gear? I always see them pictured on the electric type. Any and all suggestions appreciated.

[restlesswind]

No way to modify them to have the T handle on the side?
Mine (SOB) has 3/4 bolt on the side that I can tighten using a ratchet with
an 18" extension. Nice not needing to get down on one knee to tighten them.
I would sure try to figure out some way to modify those that you have,along with fabricating some sort of tool to tighten the T handles.(Or use short bolts in place of the T handles.

[scootsk]

JohnBoyToo wrote:
Is it life threatening if you don't retract all the way ????

Many times I've seen 5er's with them not completely retracted...

I know, I know, it 'could' hit something and understand it if we were going off roading or railroad track climbing 🙂

but that's only a problem if you are not aware of what your are driving over - just like paying attention to height limits, correct ?!?

Why chance it if its not necessary. Putting the t-handles on the bottom is easy, just need to know if anybody has had problems doing this. At 13'4" I do need to worry about height but why would I want to worry about the landing gear, if its not necessary. If I was told that turning the stabilizers over would cause a great deal of grieg, I would leave them alone and worry about my ground clearance.

[JohnBoyToo]

Is it life threatening if you don't retract all the way ????

Many times I've seen 5er's with them not completely retracted...

I know, I know, it 'could' hit something and understand it if we were going off roading or railroad track climbing 🙂

but that's only a problem if you are not aware of what your are driving over - just like paying attention to height limits, correct ?!?

[jjj]

I have the same problem. I am working on changing the way they mount to the frame so the handle will be on the side so it is easier to use.. I think they need to change their design for easier use. They come with those metal brackets that attach to the frame and I am going to drill a hole on the side of it and run the securing bolt through that and attach the stabilizer to it and the handle will change position to the side. I hope.

[ependydad]

I ordered 4 extra t-handles, just in case I lose any- I keep them in my random spare parts bin.

But, the nice part about the t-handles - while nice, they aren't a required thing to enjoy your trip. If you lose one and don't have a replacement, you simply live with some extra shake (unless someone is severely motion sensitive).

[fj12ryder]

I had to put my rear stabilizers on upside down. As long as you don't forget to snug them down before traveling you shouldn't have any problems. And if you lose one it's no big deal, it's just a standard bolt size: 3/8-16 I believe.