BAL type landing legs much less stable than scissor jacks?

[Harlock]

My Keystone Outback M-27 RSDS has BAL type landing legs rather than conventional scissor jacks, my first time with that type of stabilizer. When I park it and set it all up and deploy the legs on pieces of 2X6 as I usually would do, the trailer is still very wobbly. If our 11 year old rolls over in bed all the way on the other side of the trailer, the whole thing shakes and wakes me up. It is very bouncy. Never had this problem before, my other trailers have all had conventional scissor jacks.

After a few trips like this I went out and shook the trailer with my hand and could see the flexing in the landing leg assembly.

I am considering replacing them with inexpensive scissor jacks from Harbor Freight.

Anyone else have the same problem? Here is a picture of a similar jack to the ones I currently have. It's not as bad as nothing at all, but it's close.

[Harlock]

whitecloud wrote:
Harlock,

Could you post some pictures of the X-chocks and where you put the scissor jacks and how you mounted them? I am facing the same issues.

In a week and a half I'll be doing it again and will take some pics.

-H

[Harlock]

93Cobra2771 wrote:
As you have discovered, the scissor jacks are indeed more stable than the stab jacks.

I added some small jacks directly in front of the TT wheels. It also helps to tighten the stab jacks every day, as I have found they loosen from movement inside the trailer.

That's exactly where I put them, worked great.

[93Cobra2771]

As you have discovered, the scissor jacks are indeed more stable than the stab jacks.

I added some small jacks directly in front of the TT wheels. It also helps to tighten the stab jacks every day, as I have found they loosen from movement inside the trailer.

JT strongarms or steadyfast system should also solve the problem.

I've been kicking around the idea of the steadyfast system on mine.

[bobndot]

Tnx. for the update . Good job , glad it worked out for you.

[whitecloud]

Harlock,

Could you post some pictures of the X-chocks and where you put the scissor jacks and how you mounted them? I am facing the same issues.

[Harlock]

Hi guys. Following up with my experience over the weekend. The X-chocks and two added stabilizers in the middle helped IMMENSELY. I was able to get a good night's sleep despite an 11 and 12 year old being on the other side of the trailer.

By the way, these scissor jack two-packs are a great deal: http://www.amazon.com/Eaz-Lift-48830-Leveling-Scissor-Jack/dp/B00IKKS4W8 I was not expecting good quality for the price, but they are very nice and smooth and all surfaces zinc coated or powder-coated for rust protection.

I am considering replacing all four BAL legs with these jacks.

[mbopp]

The new TT has power Lippert stabilizers and the old HTT had BAL single arm ones. The old BAL stabs were much more stable than the Lippert system.
I did re-locate the BAL stabs so they were perpendicular to the HTT centerline. I figured this cut the side to side movement. And I made my own between the wheel chocks I could screw-tighten to stop the fore and aft movement. Overall this worked out very well.

[GordonThree]

Sometimes small creatures are just annoying. My dog if he lays the right way and pants the right rhythm will shake the entire trailer to the point of making one sea sick.

[Harlock]

For now I've ordered a pair of X-chocks, a pair of scissor jacks for the middle and I'll try the brace trick that goducks10 suggests for front and rear. Thanks all. Will report in after this weekend of experimentation.

[goducks10]

1st off the front tongue jack offers very little in stability. That coupled with the sidewall flex on the tires makes most TTs wobbly. A simple cheap solution is to get a couple Vise grip C clamps and clamp a piece of anything solid like a 2x4 or a piece of angle iron diagonally across the front and then the rear jack.
Clamp it to one of the bases and then to the frame up on the opposite side. Do one for the front and one for the rear. This will take the side to side movement out. Then for the front to back use some good chocks.
If the diagonal braces work then invest in a JT Strongarm type setup.
If you're still getting some bounce then a couple extra scissor jacks near the tires will take care of that.

[spoon059]

OP, I've got a 32 foot camper with the scissor jacks and tons more movement than my old 22 foot camper had. I bought a pair of screw jacks to put down between the wheels and the front stabs. It helps some, but its still got a lot of movement, some of which feels to be side to side. One day I was sitting outside and the wife and kids were moving around inside and I noticed lots of fore and aft motion of the tires.

I plan to make my own x-chock style braces with some pieces of 4x4 and reduce the amount of rotation in the tires. Hopefully that will greatly cut back on the perceived motion inside the camper.

I realize its a camper, its going to have some motion, but when my 3 year old gets out of bed in the morning and the camper shakes enough to wake me up, 26 feet away, something is wrong.

[Harlock]

bobndot wrote:
Harlock, I have used both styles. IMO, the scissors style seems to offer more stability. I also use the X chocks between my tires. Once I snug them up, my TT is solid.

Bob

This is just one brand of tire chocks.
Chocks for tires

Never thought of those contributing significantly to stabilization. Bouncing and side to side movement is more of a problem than moving front to back. But I'll give the RV a good shove and see what it does again. One thing I am thinking of is adding an additional pair of scissors to near the middle, instead of just at the ends. There seems to be quite a bit of flex in this trailer.

[RavensFan24]

When I got my new trailer, I wanted power leveling jacks, but the dealer actually steered me away from it because he said it wasn't as stable. They were designed the same way as the manual one shown above.

I haven't had the need for chocks as we typically only stay places for a couple days, but from what I've read and heard chocks can definitely help stabilize the trailer inside. May be try that before investing in upgrading or adding scissor jacks.

[bobndot]

Harlock, I have used both styles. IMO, the scissors style seems to offer more stability. I also use the X chocks between my tires. Once I snug them up, my TT is solid.

Bob

This is just one brand of tire chocks.
Chocks for tires