Eliminate RV Movement and Swaying While Camping!
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- I get it. RV'ing is amazing. But I also understand how bad it sucks to be laying in bed at night while your travel trailer rocks side to side because somebody else is walking around. For me, it's enough to make me motion sick. In this video I show the Lippert JT Strong Arms and RV Stabilizers that I use to eliminate 99% of all rocking in the RV while it's set up for camping. Affiliate links for the two stabilizing methods are below!
Lippert JT Strong Arms (Travel Trailers) - amzn.to/348dUYb
Lippert JT Strong Arms (5th Wheels) - amzn.to/3hUlN8f
RV Stabilizers with Ratchet Straps - amzn.to/2FLIM8J
Great video. One thing to note (and test) is if you use same method (lower tongue jack, extend rear stabilizer, raise tongue jack, lower front stabilizer, lower tongue jack a bit). Since this methodology basically reduces load on the wheels and the suspension it would reduce vibrations a lot even without the extra braces. Most of the rattling around is because even when stabilizers are down (and extended by hand) most of the weight still sits on the springs which are designed to be flexible so the camper isn’t trashed when hitting a pothole.
The big downsize is that putting weight on stabilizers (either by using power tool or by lowering/raising tongue jack) puts a lot of weight on the stabilizer jacks and most factory jacks are not designed for that much weight so can collapse. Some claim it might damage the frame but I doubt it as same weight with same frame is supports entire camper on the wheels and is supposed to sustain shocks while driving on road so one would need to put a LOT of weight on stabilizers to impact the frame.
Impact with 3/4 or 19mm Socket much faster for Lowering and Raising the jacks
While it's definitely faster, it's also a great way to round off the nut on the jack. Then you're in trouble.
I noticed your driver side, front scissor stabilizer jack is missing a mount bolt on top the jack to the RV frame. Ya may wanna mount the jack with all the mount bolts. If you lose the only one while going down the road you're going to lose the scissor jack and the JT strong arms while towing.
I’ve been a fan of JT Strong arms since 2002! Awesome .
I have the exact same MPG travel trailer (2800QB) and we love it. Like you mentioned, I too hate all the rock and sway. I now understand what I need to do to eliminate the problem! And I like the idea of raising the back slightly then lowering the scissor Jack's and raising the front back up to take weight off the tires. Thank you for an excellent video!
Thanks for the comment! Glad I could help! Just be sure to not put too much weight on the scissor jacks. That's why I do a quick 5 count. Otherwise you will end up stressing the jacks and potentially the frame.
Great video! I’ve been looking for this strong arm system for some time and could not remember what they were called. You’ve just saved me from hearing about Princess being ill from the sway. For that I’m super grateful 😅
We're still using them every trip and they're going strong!
This was an extremely helpful video. Thank you. My husband and I are moving full-time into our fifth wheel in a few weeks, and we both get motion sickness....this will really help.
Thank you for the comment! These will definitely help! Good luck!
Strong Arm for travel trailer now $250. Valterra or Beech Lane versions of ratchet strap unit are essentially $50 each.
The RV stabilizers you recommended are now $109 each on Amazon! So now they are much more comparable to the Strong Arm. Very good video. I appreciate the information!
Check around for them. I believe camping world still has them for far less than that.
This was one of the most informative how too’s I’ve found on getting the wiggle out of your RV thank you! Regards Mike!
Thank you very much!!! I'm glad you found it helpful!
Been thinking about these strong arms for myb34ft wilderness and from watching this, I am purchasing these now.
They are definitely worth it
Cool, I was wondering what those bars did when I saw them on Amazon.
Another thing that helps a LOT, are the RV Stabilizer Wheel Chocks scissor jack things. Those things are awesome.
I'll have to check out the X Chocks (or whatever they're actually called.) My old trailer couldn't use them because the wheels were too far apart but they should work like a champ on this one!
@@dontburnthehousedownvideos I just gave my old ones away with my last trailer and ordered new ones. The new ones came and don't fit... These ones fit for sure though: BAL 28012 X-Chock Tire Locking Chock
So I grabbed a pair of them just now.
I'll check them out. Thanks!
I just use the stabiliser legs that came with & attached to the caravan. They are not scissor jacks either and are also light weight construction.
They are the older lighter wind down types from 2008, not the heavier drop down legs on recent vans.
You just shouldn't need all this extra cost, extra heavy hardware.
There is no rocking ever.
But, hey, I'm in Australia, could this be why?
I got those JT Strong Arms for my rig and they make a HUGE difference.. Been RVing my whole life essentially and have always had the rocking and rolling with any kind of stabilizers.. Sure, they take the bounce out, but the rocking was always there..
I have all six bars and only had time to put the side to side ones on (4), and figured I'd see how they worked before putting the front to back ones on... I'll be putting the other 2 on before our next trip out.. Easy enough to do as a DIY job.. Just need a good drill and drill bits and measure several times and drill once! :)
I had to tap the rears on my Rockwood, but the fronts and the additional 2 I'm going to install, I can just drill into the "I" frame and bolt them up.
I do like those ratchet strap ones too... I looked at those, but did not think about using them in addition to the arms... Thanks and I just subscribed!
Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoy the strong arms also. They are such a great invention and I get asked about them constantly at the campgrounds.
Have a set for NY 5th works better than expected
Outstanding video. I wanted to know how they work and now I'll get a set. Thank you
You're welcome! They really are the best. Enjoy them!
Awesome, extremely helpful and just saved me from drilling unwanted holes in my frame. Thanks, 2 thumbs UP.
Thank you for the comment! I'm glad it helped!
What a great video, straight to the point and packed full of relevant information. Thanks so much for posting. Subscribed as requested. Greetings from the UK
Thank you so much!
Thank you so so much! This is exactly the information I was needing as I begin RVing! Thanks again
I'm glad i could help!
Subscribed, From: Lac Seul , Ontario, 🇨🇦 plus I am thinking of putting scissors on my Pioneer27BH , thanks for the inspiration! Happy camping and most of all stay safe !!🙏
Thank you very much! Happy camping!
I've seen those stabilizer jacks used incorrectly to lift a camper. All four jacks buckled. Thought the camper was going to end up on its side. Stabilize yes lift NO!!!!
Love your video's, they are very mature and to the point. Congratulations on the subscribers!
My rv Jack's won't lift. The screw comes out of the rear side of the jack. It's as if the stop lock is missing
Never never put a support under a slide out pushing up on the slide will bend parts in your slide
The support is under the frame where the slide is located. It is not under the slide.
@@paulsylvester1394 sorry about that I thought you where putting them under the slide.
That weight you are putting on your stabilizer jacks are not what they where made for. I watched some take the weight off their tongue to the stabilizer jacks and they both broke. Please be careful.
I have a 28ft TT I level side to side. Then I put on xchocks between the wheels before I remove the TT from the truck. Than I level front to back and put stabilizers down and a 4x4 under the steps and I have minimal sway.
thank you for this video i just recently got into camping and i love it. was looking for stabilization ideas
Thanks for stopping by!
Can you put two on each side of the back and one one each side of the front or do you have to have two on each side of the front
You can put them wherever is going to be most effective for you. If you're going to do four on the back, you'd want to (on each side) put one on beam that runs left to right and one on the beam going front to back. This can help with the twisting that the rig experiences when stationary. If you have a bunk house or something similar, it's not a bad idea
Weight on wheel should’nt be removed. Joints may crack or fail prematurely
Dude! The bolts are missing on your front stabilizers at the camper frame!
No, they're good. Where in the video does it look like they're missing?
Where the jack rides on the frame, there are only screws on one side of the jack look under the trailer. Thanks for the video I thoroughly enjoyed it.
At exactly 9:02. Front jack is loose, very loose.
Nice catch!
Totally missing bolts. Need a trip to Lowe’s! Stabilizer is steadily moving where they should be bolted
Very good information, I have not seen these before.
Thank you for the comment!
So where did you exactly put the braces? Ones under the steps and the other in front of the slide out? I have the strong arms but Forrest river angled to front one … I think I need the most help in the rear of the rv..
The braces are on the frame directly behind the steps and on the frame under the slide out. That placement along with the strong arms keeps it pretty rock solid.
Excellent video, and very informative.
Thank you!
Great video. Thanks for all you do!
Thank you!
Excellent information!!
Thank you!
That is awesome I will be buying some of those
Thanks for the video. We just got back from our first trip in our new (to us) Jayco x213 and the sway was REALLY bad. Have you experimented with just the ratchet stabilizers and not the strong arms? We're looking for something cheap/easy for this season and might invest in something more next season.
You can definitely try just the ratchet stabilizers but I would get 4 of them. One on each side and one each on the front and back. That will be the absolute best bang for your buck.
Really helpful, thanks!
What's the best rv link for rv stabilizers?
Right here for the JT Strong Arms
amzn.to/3ChMznK
And here for the ratchet stabilizers
amzn.to/3J37a2R
Very Interesting, I have in the past just cranked down the stabilizers to hold but not support the weight of the camper because of the disclaimer not to use them as a jack to lift the camper.
So when camping on gravel or ground you will still need to loosen the strong arms and retighten the stabilizers due to settling. Does that mean I need use the tongue jack to pre-load the back stabilizers and the reverse for the front? I would think you would need to do the same for those Valterra stabilizers which look good but what does it not bounce by the fact that the ratchet straps under tension will stretch? I would love to read your answer as I have said if I want to sleep in a boat I would have bought one. :) One last question . Is it better to extend the stabilizers more or less and just use more blocks as a base?
If it settles you will definitely need to give them a few extra cranks. However, if you are using blocks or pads under the jacks they hopefully won't settle too much. But yes, I would use the tongue jack to take the weight off the rear and then re-load the weight after you crank it down a bit. The goal for the scissor jacks is to keep them extended up to 50%. The more you crank them, the more they will wobble. So if you happen to be parked on an incline and the front or back jacks need to go further than half way, use more leveling pads.
I discussed this with the maintenance manager at the camper dealership and he emphatically said " never use a stabilizers as load bearing NEVER and for the most part any site with sod or gravel base will not be stabil enough even with support pads. Constant tightening will be required.
JT Strongarms are $221 on Amazon.
Perfect! It's been a while since I purchased mine.
Awesome video!
Thank you!!
Very cool
How do these working sand base
You'll want something to distribute the weight across the sand like a board. But if you do that, they should still work OK. You may need to tighten your jacks up a few times to account for settling.
Best way. Is take tires off and drop it on dah!! Ground. With batterie operated drill this is fast.,but someone took my tirez when sleeping. Donts. Let this happen capen??... and put a block under steps. Duh!! Lolz
Just remember to lessen the T bolt😂
How long are the JT arms at full extension?
They are advertised as 58 inches but I've never really measured.
Do you recommend these over Xchocks? Or are Xchocks fine?
Xchocks are great for keeping your rig from moving once you park it but they have very minimal effect on the camper rocking when you're inside it. It's my understanding that they simply replace standard wheel chocks.
I have x-chocks, and they don't replace wheel chocks, they do make a noticeable difference. Putting blocks under your stabilizers so they don't extend past 90° is the real key.
Don't bother knocking if this trailer is rocking
If this trailer is rocking with all the stabilizers, I'm doing something right!
Those T-nuts will rust into the legs. Have fun with that. Do NOT screw those in, it doesn't make the camper sway any less.
Are you referring to the T bolts on the Strong Arms? That's literally what they're made to do. Locking down the t bolts is what stops the swaying. And yes, they work extremely well. I've had them on two trailers and they worked great for both.