Adding a 3rd Set of Jacks

[Draggo]

Hello,

We recently bought a new travel trailer and I have been thinking about adding a 3rd set of jacks somewhere in the middle of it to help take some of the spring and movement out of it when we are set up.

For anyone that has previously done this, how well did it work? Am I wasting my time and money adding them? Any suggestions or advice?

Thanks,
Mike

[donn0128]

First, they are NOT jacks. Rather they are stabilizers. Did that on my 36 foot fiver. It did help some. Nothing will totally eliminate bounce or movement unless you totally take it off the wheels and place it on a solid foundation. You might find a product like the JT strong arms a good alternative.

[Draggo]

Thanks everyone. Although Dutchman Sport brings up a good point it seems the overall thought is that it is a good idea and helps so for less than $100 I'm going to give it a try.

Thanks all.

Mike

[DutchmenSport]

I put 2 extra jacks in the middle of my previous camper (Springdale, 31 feet long). The extra jacks did seem to help a lot WHEN I could get them all properly secured. The problem I found was, the 4 corners would be good and tight. But then when tightening the middle ones, one of the corners would not be tight any more.

So, I'd tighten the corner and then found one of the middle ones loose again. I'd tighten it, and find a different corner loose now. I'd go round and round and round. It seemed the best I could ever get was only 4 of them firmly on the ground evenly. It seemed no matter how hard I tried, 1 or 2 of them was never really snug. Eventually, I just gave up on the 2 middle ones and stuck with the 4 corners only.

When we traded the trailer for our current one, I let the middle jacks go with the camper. I've not missed them at all with our current one (which is even longer by the way).

A little wiggle doesn't bother us any more. We just accept it now.

[Vulcanmars]

I added a pair to ours a few feet before the axles. Best $60 bucks I've spent on this camper. Long frames have a lot of flex, just a little pressure from the jacks helps.

[mosseater]

I have toyed with the idea for a few years. I was going to buy a. New set of jacks and weld a lip and vicegrip clamp on to clamp it on the lower I-beam flange. I could clamp them on solidly at the campground site and remove them for travel. Just haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Lynnmor]

I added a pair just in front of the axles and it helped a lot, I see no need for X-chocks and other measures now.

With just four jacks on the extreme corners it is like a bridge with no support in the middle. The flexible springs and tires don't count as support.

[the_bear_II]

It helps.

On our 24ft travel trailer I used the jack stands like are used for mobile homes. I placed them under the frame at each corner and in front of the front axle. The trailer was rock solid.

[Nosedive]

I did this on our 37' travel trailer. It had quite a bit more bounce than our old 32' did. I put them a couple feet in front of the front axle and helped a ton with eliminating the bounce.