Class C Stabilizers

[Mortex]

I have a 1998 Fleetwood jamboree, I bought it last fall and have only had it out a couple of times. This maybe kind of a newbie question but I can't seem to find any information. My motorhome doesn't have any kind of leveler but I've found so far I can always find a level spot, but...

When the children wake up in the morning and are moving around the whole thing sways back and forth and makes any kind of trying to stay in bed past 6am difficult. I see on all the rv sales and parts sights class C leveling systems which are quite expensive. I just wondered can i put those cheaper trailer type scissor jacks on the motorhome to stabilize it? I can't find anything saying they can or can't be added. Any help or opinions from people who may have dealt with this before would be appreciated.

[RVWithTito]

Here's my $.02. Our RV used to bounce around quite a bit when the kids moved around in the front. I too was looking for a way to stabilize the rig especially in the rear. Once I upgraded my Anti-Sway bars to Hellwig bars and shocks to Bilsteins, the RV is very solid and doesn't move around much at all. PROBLEM SOLVED! Video on replacing anti-sway bars.

[mgirardo]

Our 2009 Jayco Greyhawk came with heavy duty Anti-Sway bars. It handles great on the road, but when camping with both slides out (one on each side), the camper has a tendency to rock side to side, especially if someone is walking into the camper or getting up off one of the bunk beds, which is on a slide, or the couch which is on the other slide.

I bought these stabilizer jacks to see if stabilizing the corners of the camper would help without spending a lot of money. I bought ours from Walmart, but I couldn't find them on Walmart's web site. They work really well, but they do sink on soft ground if you don't put a block of wood or paving stone under them. The sinking does require they be adjusted.

I do not put them on the frame, as the suspension isn't the real issue. The first couple times we camped I put them on the frame and it didn't help much at all. I put them on the edge of the coach body, 2 towards the rear corners and 2 on the front corners. That helped a lot with the rocking side to side.

They do need to be made as tight as possible. I keep checking each corner to make sure they haven't loosened as the others get tighter. They are hand turned to raise the stabilizers, so I don't think it would be possible to lift the RV with them - which is a good thing because lifting the MH by the coach body would most likely cause damage. I just turn them until I can't turn them anymore.

-Michael

[ron_dittmer]

Think about this. If your motor home significantly rocks side to side when people move around inside, it must surely sway much worse when being driven.

Consider investing in heavy duty front and rear anti-sway bars also called stabilizer bars, instead of stabilizer jacks. If your results are like ours, you won't need jacks for what little motion remains when parked. You will also benefit with the handling while driving. The rig will be so much easier to keep in a straight line, and will have much greater control on mountain & canyon roads. So safe and comfortable for your passengers too.

Hellwig makes nice heavy duty sway bars at a reasonable purchase price, and many people install them by themselves. There are a number of do-it-yourself youtube videos. I especially like the Tito series HERE.

And yes, check those shocks too.

[enblethen]

I would not be welding to some frames as they could be hardened. Some of the jacks designed for MHs use factory bolt holes.

[Mortex]

Thanks for all the information. I'll check and see what kind of condition my shocks are in, and if the seems decent still I'll probably take the suggestion of welding some scissor jacks to a bar. I might get used to it, but with three early rising little ones I'd rather not have to.

[ksg5000]

When I replaced the cheapo OEM shocks on my rig I found that I no longer needed any additional support to stabilize the rig when camping. Given the age of your rig I suspect your OEM stocks are probably overdue for replacing so you might give that a shot. I purchased Bilstein's for my 92 Class C - made a world of difference in driving/stability.

[EMD360]

We started out using the scissor jacks every camp out. Just under the rear crossbar, near where our door is located. Kept the rv from rocking going in and out at least. But we soon got used to the motion and since we stow the scissor jacks in the rear compartment, we got tired of wrangling them in and out. So now we seldom use them unless we are parked for several days which has been seldom. A pair of them are about $60 or so. The drill attachment is maybe $8. We use an 18 volt cordless drill in the RV and have a charger for the RV.

[Kit_Carson]

Mortex, I did exactly what you are questioning. I had a welder run a length of metal square tubing the width of the motorhome and weld it to the chassis. Then he welded the stabilizers (scissor Jacks) to that piece. I use a battery powered drill to raise and lower the jacks. As PghBob posted, DO NOT use these jacks to level the unit, just to stailize it. It works good for me. Happy travels.

[PghBob]

You might want to consider buying some leveling blocks for the times you are in an un-level campground. Many state, national, and local parks are au' natural, and you want to be relatively level for the sake of your refrigerator if nothing else. I bought ours at Walmart.

However, I don't think this type of block will prevent the movement of your rig from family members frolicking around. The scissor type jack could work to stop this movement. But I emphasize, I would NOT use the scissor jack to level the RV per se, use the blocks or appropriate jack system to level. Use the scissor type only to prevent unwanted movement once leveled.

Good Luck

[enblethen]

Yes, this type of jacks are made for some class motorhome. There is some that have electric motors to operate.
T type stabilizers
electric operated version
Ultra fab

This type is for stabilizing and not much for strength to level the rig.