Are there stabilizers in the back of 1972 Shasta Compact?

[drsolo]

OK. I know 1972 isnt vintage. But just a couple questions for those who might know. I know the tongue weight on it is something like 170 lbs. Are there stabilizers on/under the back of the trailer to prevent the front rising up if somebody who weights more than 170 lbs is sitting and laying down in the back?

And there is just a pipe for the tongue jack. I would like to put a wheel or caster on the front so it can be rolled since no way can I lift the tongue when positioning it to get onto the hitch. Any recommendations? TIA

[wrenchbender]

My old Shasta did not have any stabilizer, I used a jackstand under the rear bumper which was a 6ft hunk of 4" U channel.The tongue jack had a steel caster wheel.

[drsolo]

mrgreetis wrote:
I do the same as Beemerphile. I get out (quite a few times) and look, then slowly correct my position. Usually, the slop in the drive train will give you some issues in getting in the correct position forward and back. I can't imagine trying to pick up the hitch and pivot the trailer.

Yeah, I am going to accept I wont be able to roll anything. I think a backup camera is my best bet.

[mrgreetis]

I do the same as Beemerphile. I get out (quite a few times) and look, then slowly correct my position. Usually, the slop in the drive train will give you some issues in getting in the correct position forward and back. I can't imagine trying to pick up the hitch and pivot the trailer.

[beemerphile1]

drsolo wrote:
?.. How do any of you back up so perfectly under the tongue without a backup camera....

1. Practice
2. Get out and look
3. Back up camera

I have been hitching for years alone. Usually requires getting out to check two or three times. I just bought a camera but haven't used it yet.

[Caveman_Charlie]

For stabilizer jacks I went to a car junkyard and got some screw jacks out of cars that were originally meant for jacking the car up when you got a flat tire.

If you have only one axle and you put more weight on the back of the trailer then the weight of the tongue then the front of the trailer will come off of the ground. If you don't have the wheels chocked (blocked) the trailer will begin to roll down the hill,,, toward the lake.

Don't ask me how I know this.

[ScottG]

drsolo wrote:
How do electric jacks attach to the tongue? The same way the original jack does.
Do any of these electric jacks come with a wheel? No, I don't think so.
Where does the electricity come from? From the trailers battery.
How do any of you back up so perfectly under the tongue without a backup camera? DW directs me.
I know I cannot lift and move the tongue of this onto the hitch. That's what the jack is for.

🙂

[drsolo]

How do electric jacks attach to the tongue? Do any of these electric jacks come with a wheel? Where does the electricity come from? How do any of you back up so perfectly under the tongue without a backup camera? I know I cannot lift and move the tongue of this onto the hitch.

[beemerphile1]

drsolo wrote:
...I know the tongue weight on it is something like 170 lbs....

How do you know this? Have you weighed it? You cannot trust any brochure numbers. Got a 350# bathroom scale you could use?

drsolo wrote:
Are there stabilizers on/under the back of the trailer to prevent the front rising up if somebody who weights more than 170 lbs is sitting and laying down in the back?

It is highly unlikely that a TT of that era came with stabilizers. Back at that time most used 'stack jacks'. You can buy a set of stack jacks or buy the newer style jacks and mount them yourself. Nevertheless, it is very unlikely that the trailer will lift the tongue due to a person in the rear.

drsolo wrote:
...there is just a pipe for the tongue jack. I would like to put a wheel or caster on the front so it can be rolled since no way can I lift the tongue when positioning it to get onto the hitch. Any recommendations? TIA

Typically you raise the tongue with the jack and back the ball mount under the coupler. You could buy a wheel but you might want to consider a new electric jack.

I can barely push my 1,900# pop up on a perfectly flat and smooth concrete garage floor. No way you are going to move it on anything less than a perfect surface.

[wlstroud]

The Shasta we had did not have built-in stabilizers. We used those aluminum stabilizers with threaded jack screws. Also, you can find wheels for various diameter tongue jacks at Tractor Supply.