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TundraTower's avatar
TundraTower
Explorer
Oct 26, 2014

Frame spacer vs. electric stabilizer replacement?

I have an early model 2014 Forest River Cherokee 264L equipped with the Lippert “Electric Rear Stabilizer” jacks on front and back. I bent one of the legs on the front and ordered a replacement from Ultra-Fab thru E-trailer. (Ultra-Fab buys these from Lippert and resells them for lower mark-up, I saved $200).

The units on my travel trailer have a 2” spacer between the stabilizer and the frame. This is needed on the front because the stabilizer mount straddles a ½” gas line (that’s right) coming out under the frame for accessory connections. The rear has no such obstructions but still has the 2” spacers as well. Lippert sells these units with the 2” spacer welded on the assembly under a unique part number. The Ultra-Fab unit I bought does not have the spacer.

I can fabricate the spacer out of 2” thin-wall square tubing easy enough, but being inherently lazy I’m thinking about moving my rear stabilizer with the spacers to the front, and installing the new unit on the back without the spacers.

Anyone have experience or thoughts on having one stabilizer with the 2” spacer and one without? More extension means more resistance to bending on the legs, so if by chance this Ultra-Fab unit is lighter duty that would help that.

Am I missing something?
  • Just to close the loop, I went ahead and moved the Lippert stabilizer with the factor spacer from the back to the front. I bought a stabilizer from UltraFab and installed it on the back without spacers. Seems to work fine.

    The Ultra Fab unit was very weak when installed. I installed the old motor from my bent Lippert unit on the new unit and now it works fine. Talked to Ultra Fab and they are sending me a new motor.
  • TundraTower wrote:

    ...
    Anyone have experience or thoughts on having one stabilizer with the 2” spacer and one without? More extension means more resistance to bending on the legs, so if by chance this Ultra-Fab unit is lighter duty that would help that.
    ...


    Exactly. More extension, less chance of bending the struts. And more clearance.

    Mine has the spacers on one end for the same reason (gas line) but they are welded to the frame.

    Since you are fooling with 2" steel box, you might consider strengthening the arms like this:
    Post on strengthening arms

    The following discussion adds info.
  • Would it be easier to modify the gas line? Ive done that on mine to accommodate stabilizer bars on my jacks. It was a matter of adding two 90s and a couple nipples to redirect the gasline.
  • TundraTower wrote:
    ...
    Am I missing something?
    Probably only about 2 inches of height which can be made up with a couple of wood blocks on the ground under the pads.