5ver Stability - RV-Dreams Community Forum

mward3 · RV-Dreams Community Member

5ver Stability

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

The only thing you have not done that a lot of people say works, is a set of "JT's Stabilizers". CW sells a similar device. It forms a triangle of all your stabilizers, from front to rear and side to side. I have a pin stabilizer I would give you if you come get it. They are the next thing to worthless.

go to http://jtrv.com/our_products.html or http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/the-eliminator-strut-stabilizer-system-set-of-6-struts/35782

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

I do not have the JTS Stabilizers 53 Merc speaks of but I would think that would be the best solution. Four points of contact with the ground stabilized by triangles should make a pretty solid configuration. I am no structural engineer but I do know that a deck is made solid by providing triangle bracing between the deck post and floor joists.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I built a tripod for the king pin out of square tubing. It is strong enough to support the 5th wheel while the landing gear is raised.

I get the 5th wheel level and then raise the front a little, put the tripod in place and then lower the front until the chain running between the feet of the tripod tightens and I'm back to level.

I push on the side of the 5th wheel to try and rock it, if it won't move I know I'm stabilized.

I use the lock in place wheel chocks between the tires.

I use crank down stabilizers at the rear and a bottle jack on each side to stabilze the frame next to the rear tires.

This makes the 5th wheel as stable as possible, you'll still feel someone walking by you but won't feel someone moving around if you're in the upper bedroom and they are in the rear kitchen for example. Unless they are being aggressive (jumping up & down because you ate the last piece of apple pie).

Eventhough the 5th wheels have some impressive frames (ours has 12" steel I-Beams) there is a lot of flex due to the lightweight construction of the beams to save weight.

The movement we get isn't forward to backward, it's more of an up & down motion caused by the softness of the subflooring, flex of the frame and springs/tires. I do find the tripod makes the area at the front of the 5th wheel nearly rock solid.

If I remove anyone of these stabilizers then the movement increases a little more. For example if I don't use the wheel chocks, we get forward to backward movement, no tripod and the upper bedroom area moves a little, no rear stabilizers and the back end really bounces.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a thought, but it might require buying more jacks. Our Mobile Suites is equipped with what is called Level-Up, which are hydraulic cylinders just in front of and behind the axles on each side. Those and the landing gear hydraulics are all that is in play other than the wheels on the ground and one scissor-style chock between the tires on the drivers side.

We get no real movement except when the washer is in spin cycle. However, the four cylinders are designed and set at a 5 degree outward direction, so that might by the main reason for the stability.

If you could stabilize the frame in a similar fashion, you might find a similar result. Of course, if you don't have four jacks, you might have to see if you could borrow some for a trial period.

Terry

GSF63 · RV-Dreams Community Member

The JT Srongarm staybilizers really help and also I put a jack in front of the tires on each side. I use wheel locks to stop front to back motion.

tworootless · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just 'pretend' we're living on a boat. wink