Electric Stabilizer Jack Question

[M28owner]

Is it better to have the jacks all the way down, or have them resting on some sort of pad? It might seem like a weird question, but im only asking cause I have them resting on a piece of 2X4 that is supported by some concrete bricks. The TT seems to rock more than I thought it would, or should with the stabilizer jacks down. I don't have the scissor type, I have the telescoping kind? I tried to attach a picture, not sure if it went through or not.

Also, I drove the M28 TT from Houston to Midland and set it up. The front electric SJ's won't work, but the rear ones do. Anyone know how to trouble shoot this? Already checked fuses, its on shore power now. Someone told me to swap out the switch, but this is the maiden voyage can the switch already be broken??

 

[Garypowell]

I am not a real fan of these back electric jacks. My thought is the higher you can have them make contact off of of the ground the more stable your rig will be. This is assuming whatever you put under the feet is stable.

I put 4 scissor jacks on my unit (5th wheel) and use a pin jack. Once level and in place I screw the pin jack as tight as possible and same with the scissor jacks in front of the wheels. Then drop the front end a little to tighten these up.

Then I extend the rear scissor jacks as tight as I can make them. Many times I don't use the electric jack.....for sure don't use it if on concrete pad as the others will do the trick. But if on sandy soil will use it sometimes to help.

The crazy thing is sometimes the above technique works like magic and the rig does not more......sometimes it seems as if I have no support at all. My guess is it boils down to what's under the jack system. I mean what type of soil, sand, etc.

But we love concrete pads!

 

[JohnD]

I've found that with the scissor jacks that if I have a block under them they are more stable than if I have them fully extended on the ground!

That said . . . I still have my old screw-up jacks from our old TT and put them on the axles and they make the trailer totally stable!

Also . . . get the X-chocks to put between the tires . . . they also help immensely!

 

[Garypowell]

JohnD thanks for reminding me....after everything is cranked and tight I put the X-chocks on the wheels.

 

[JohnD]

JohnD thanks for reminding me....after everything is cranked and tight I put the X-chocks on the wheels.

I've noticed that the X-chocks usually need to be checked a few hours after arriving at the campground, or at least the next morning (both preferably), as it seems than when the tires cool off, the X-chocks are not tight between the tires.

 

[ram_1955]

Is it better to have the jacks all the way down, or have them resting on some sort of pad? It might seem like a weird question, but im only asking cause I have them resting on a piece of 2X4 that is supported by some concrete bricks. The TT seems to rock more than I thought it would, or should with the stabilizer jacks down. I don't have the scissor type, I have the telescoping kind? I tried to attach a picture, not sure if it went through or not.

Also, I drove the M28 TT from Houston to Midland and set it up. The front electric SJ's won't work, but the rear ones do. Anyone know how to trouble shoot this? Already checked fuses, its on shore power now. Someone told me to swap out the switch, but this is the maiden voyage can the switch already be broken??

Use the manual crank down on the end opposite the motor

 

[hoefler]

Is it better to have the jacks all the way down, or have them resting on some sort of pad? It might seem like a weird question, but im only asking cause I have them resting on a piece of 2X4 that is supported by some concrete bricks. The TT seems to rock more than I thought it would, or should with the stabilizer jacks down. I don't have the scissor type, I have the telescoping kind? I tried to attach a picture, not sure if it went through or not.

Also, I drove the M28 TT from Houston to Midland and set it up. The front electric SJ's won't work, but the rear ones do. Anyone know how to trouble shoot this? Already checked fuses, its on shore power now. Someone told me to swap out the switch, but this is the maiden voyage can the switch already be broken??

On the ones you have pictured, the further they are down, the more stable they are. When you make large trianlges, you make a more rigid structure. With scissor style jacks, the shorter they are the more stable they are. If you extend them to the point the arms are straight up and down, the wobblier they get.

 

[Gary521]

If you stand with your legs straight and then you change position so that your feet are spread apart, where are you more stable. Maybe that will answer your question.

 

[JohnDar]

Probably not the switch, but the thin springs for the motor brushes. The motor casing isn't sealed for shixx and they rust quickly. Mine went after the first season of use. Relatively simple fix is to open up the motor and use half of a ball point pen spring to replace them. Only tricky part is getting the long screws that attach the casing to the gear box back in past the magnets. With a little patience and foul language, they eventually go in.

If you do this repair, be sure to seal the joint where the casing meets the gear box housing. Wrapping it with Rescue Tape a couple of times, including where the wires enter the casing, has worked for me for several years now.