RV Stabilizer Comparison!
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- Опубліковано 20 лис 2021
- Today I wanted to share a test of 3 RV Stabilizers from a DIY homemade stabilizer vs XChocks vs Steady fast which is similar to JT Strong Arm. After the test, there are some clear winners and I have my plan for how I want to stabilize my RV and minimize the shake. RVs can have shake and wobble when setup and stabilizers can get rid of it or at least minimize it. This test should help you with the information and a few options to help your RV be stabilized and not move as much.
Steady Fast Auto Level.is out of stock JT Strong Arm Is the same idea
JT Strong Arm. amzn.to/48QB7gF
DIY. Ratchet Straps. amzn.to/2Zap8wL
Eye Bolt. amzn.to/2ZeUna0
XChocks. amzn.to/3HKJJsL
Power Stabilizer amzn.to/3nFkTmo
C Stand amzn.to/3CFgl3A
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I should have mentioned the performance of the Valterra RV Stabilizer because when we tested that a few years ago it was similar stability to the DIY one we made in this video. Here is the link to it. amzn.to/3czYbWd
Always informative. You always provide so much info pertaining to RV maintenance,etc. Thanks for everything.... Larry
24 ft TT, and we used just the 1/2-scissor jacks at the 4 corners for the first few years. Bought some wedge blocks (same concept as the X-chocks) one trip.
Our test was whether we would feel the kids rolling over in their bunks at night... and we were amazed what a difference these made. The corner jacks took out side-to-side jiggle, but the wedge blocks took out pretty much all the fore-aft jiggle. The unit now now feels incredibly solid with the 4 jacks and 2 clamps.
I remember the last time you did a test like this, I got the JT strong arm, after watching and qhat a huge difference! I run jt strong arm and x chalk, love it! Keep up the great videos! Been watching for years!
Great timing! I was just considering constructing the "Home Made" stabilizer for our rig and your video gave me the proof that I needed. I will be constructing one for the rear side to side and another to minimize front to back movement.
Great comparison! - My 2014 26' Rockwood Ultralite came with the factory electric stablizers - they were totally useless.
I added the common sissor-jacks they were somewhat better.
Next, I added the X-Chocks, which I think may have added a little bit, but not much.
Finally, I added four adjustable jack-stands from the frame to the ground in all four corners - this was a game-changer, and made my RV rock-solid! Also fairly inexpensive.
Thanx. I love all of your videos. I'm an old guy; a veteran RVer, if you will. I've not ever heard anyone say, nor read anything that would indicate chocks are intended to provide any type of lateral stabilization (side to side), only longitudinal movement. (front to back). I particularly enjoyed the DIY diagonal braces. Good work on those.
XChocks are best for roll resistance, either in high winds or a potential seismic event. I have had plastic wheel chocks blow away in the Mojave Desert. The tongue jack on my trailer almost slipped off its 4x6 wooden support block. That would have stranded us. Now, whenever I unhook, I always deploy the XChocks. Remember to release them before hooking up again, to relieve strain on your axles and landing gear.
I really like the way you tested these. Great job and very informative (as always)!
Thank you!
As I will be moving my RV hopefully only one more time and keeping it in one place I am so going to be going with all 3 of these... and as money is tight I will be starting with 2 sets of the homemade ones first... thank you so much for this info...
Thanks, we will probably try the homemade set up for our camper!
I use the screwchocks in between the wheels as a safety measure rather than a steadying measure. I still put down one regular chock on each side in addition. We have the steady fast system and it works exceptionally.
we enjoy all your videos, we have been looking for more stabilization. We use the X chocks and exisiting stabilizers. Still have alot of shaking in our 35' travel trailer. Thank you so much for this info, will definitely be putting the steady fast on our to do list
Glad it helped!
JT Strong arms on my 2008 Coachman Chaparral 340qhs. With a front bunk house fifth wheel any time the kids moved in the front we could feel it throw out the RV. Added the JT Strong Arm kit to it in a few hours and stopped all movement. Amazing system completely surprised us how well they worked even with the rear jacks being scissor jacks.
Yes they add a lot of stability.
Travel Trailer vs. 5th wheel might have been worth mentioning as the jack locations and physics of stabilization differ quite a bit.
On our travel trailer the single tongue jack can "sway" quite a bit in all directions, and the full scissor jacks on the corners only welded to a single point on the frame do an adequate job of lifting to polish level and remove vertical bounce, but little for front-to-back, side-to-side, or rotational (back moving left makes front move right).
The X Chocks brought the rotational and front-to-back movements on ours WAY down, which makes the perception of side-to-side appear less as well. This is done because the left wheels can no longer rotate 1/4 of a degree while the right wheels rotate 1/4 of a degree in the opposite direction. They do nothing however for real side-to-side as they are under the suspension. If I load up the scissors pretty tight I can bring that down, but the next step is triangulating support at the corners where the scissors are (DYI or steady fast or replace with stabilizer or...). I bring this up because I haven't noticed the same rotational movement issue in 5th wheels where they have a sturdy 2-jack system up front (also a much larger percentage of total weight on those jacks vs. travel trailer).
With 5 LARGE kids way in the back and our heads at the absolute front while sleeping (why didn't they stay small???) we need the X chocks every time, and for more than a night or 2 triangulating the corner jacks side-to-side as well.
I made those “home made” stabilizers and it definitely makes a difference, I also made a set for the front which really helps
Good video, love your measurements, I was going to get one of the stabilizers that connect to your landing pads but I have a 6 point system and adding them to it was a pain so before I went that route I got the “Universal RV Stabilizer” from CW under $50 I first had one but got a second one and use one on the back and one on the side and it does work I have not done the measurements like you did but I can noticeably feel the difference when my wife moves around and I am sitting at the back of my RV. It is similar to your home made one but it has a piece that connects the 2 legs and the legs can shorten or extend depending on your clearance in the back or front of the RV. Very much worth the expense and the storage is minimal and weight is much less than the 2x4
Yes those work well. We tested them a few years ago and they definitely do help.
Thank you for the video. We're getting a new 5th wheel. Will consider the steady fast.
Check out JT strong arm. Little cheaper and covers all 4 corners of your RV way better setup. RV is like a rock!
Great job Jared 👏, I also have a grand design 303rls and I installed the steadyfast and man what a difference. I don't use any wheel chocks or wheel jack s anymore.
Thank you
Thanks for another great video!
My pleasure!
We have a 31’ ultra life trailer. We could feel every time our kids would roll in bed. That was with x-chocks only. A year ago I added the wood/ratchet strap technique in the front and back. Night and day difference. Virtually all movement eliminated. You don’t notice any movement unless you are sitting in the slide out.
Very solid practical solution!
We own a Coachman 2758RB that came equipped with the oddly mounted ( at 45 degrees ) scissor jacks. Made two sets of the home made stabilizers which was a great improvement. The key was a third set mounted longways under the steps to stop lateral movement. I put down the jacks, put in the stabilizers medium tight, and bump the scissor jacks snug again. We are solid people, so to speak, and there is almost zero movement in the camper. Probably have 60 bucks invested.
I love cost effective solutions that work!
Good content. I've had our 26' TT for two years. I made two sets of the 2 x 4 homemade stabilizers. We use them at both ends of the trailer every trip. They work great for lateral stabilization but not enough longitudinally. That's where your Steady Fast system really shows the difference, I'm sure. I was also wondering if, during your test, you had the Steady Fast system at all four corners. It would have been a truer comparison with the homemade ones if they were on all four corners as well. For the cost and weight difference, I'm going to stick with the 2 x 4's/straps, but add one more set for longitudinal stability. One thing to add for those who may be interested in making a set of the 2 x 4 style; make sure you prop them inside the lip of the trailer frame C channel, and not against the floor decking.
Good tips, it is impressive how much they add.
Excellent review!
Thanks
I made two sets with the 2x4s and it reduces about 90% of movement. They look janky, but are so functional.
Didn't realize the Steady fasts were that affordable. I thought they were closer to $500.
---
Update: I bought the Steady Fast system and it's only about 75% as effective as using two sets of 2x4s. Surprisingly disappointed that they don't reduce movement more and will be bringing the 2x4s with us going forward.
The two sets is a very solid combo.
I’m just running to x chocks on my travel trailer I’m looking at the lippert cross brace that goes under the rear bumper
I worked great!!! Thanks
I made the 2x4 style and use at front and back. No movement at all. And the price can't be beat.
It's great there is such an effective DIY solution.
I have a 27’ Tt and I have the 2x4 setup front and back and it made such a huge difference
The best 25 bucks I’ve ever spent
They make a big difference!
We use X-Chocks for the front to back motion and Valterra RV Stabilizer under the stairs. I kinda want to get another of the Valterra to put under the bump also.
Yes the Valterra RV Stabilizers do a good job, similar to the DIY system.
X chalks with my stabilizers down on all 4 corners works great for me almost no movement. It also depends how extended your jacks are.
Agree with prior comments. x-Chocks are meant to keep wheels from rocking front to back and vice a versa. Not really an apples to apples comparison with the two stabilizers.
I agree the X-Chocks didn't have a chance. I did try shaking the RV front to back as well and couldn't get any measurable or noticeable difference between the X-Chock and our standard chocks on the RV. I didn't want to intentionally do a poor job of chocking the RV just to make the X-Chocks appear better. I included them because I have been told by many people they make the RV more stable and makes it feel solid inside, it's a very common recommendation I come across, it's also the first thing on the box that it stabilizes the RV. I had to buy them and include it to test and see how they did kind of like when I ran over the RV drain hose with my truck because they claimed you could. Thanks for watching, I hope that explains why it landed in this comparison test.
I’m glad to see the X-chocks were brought up not to be a side to side stabilizer. This should have been mentioned on the video. I believer they are an amazing front to back stabilizer. Especially with a smaller sized RUBBER chock for initial setup.
We have a 26' 5th wheel. Most of the time I don't even bother putting down the rear scissor stabilizers. The only test it usually fails is the Bed Bounce Test, and when that is in progress we don't care. lol
I have seen the ones for the wheels. Always thought they were for parking brakes
Is the key to the 2X4 steady fast braces, getting the legs at a 45 degree angle? If so, you could need different lengths of legs depending on how level your new site is.
Maybe it's the size. I think many people who have shorter pull behinds, like we do, are happy with the four scissor stabilizers their unit came with, plus two wheel chocks. We have been. Interesting video, anyway. I really liked the Craftsman version.
Thanks
Just a thought, on the dyi set would would using 2x6 verses 2x4 improve the stability? More surface on both the ground and up against the RV.
Jared, I became a full time RVer just about 3 weeks ago and have quickly come to realize that I need to have better stabilization. I have narrowed my search down to SteadyFast system or JT StrongArm. I am in a 36' Keystone Outback toyhauler TT (324CG) with electric stabilizer jacks. I like the harder handles on the SteadyFast system, but think that the JT StrongArm 6 bar system may offer more stability for my TT. Do have any thoughts, comments or suggestions that may assist me in making my decision?
I have a 30’ tt. I have electric stabilizers and I use the X chocks as well. About a year ago I bought 4 scissor jacks. I space them out along the length sides between the bolted on electric ones. Two per side. It may be extra set up time (~15 minutes) but seems to help a lot. I think tt’s are prone to more jiggly than 5er’s by nature of weight. The X chocks may not add much but they also keep the tt from rolling.
Look into JT strong arm stabilizers
@@rapierce99 TNX. I've been kicking it around for a couple of years. Just not an easy DIY on my trailer. Do you have them on a tt ? If so did they work ?
I have them on 5th wheel
My buddy has them in his TT.
We have the SteadyFast system installed on our Outback 324CG and it did help a little but not fully. Unfortunately the problem is in the way Keystone installed the electric stabilizers on these "drop" C-channels instead of box tubing or directly to the I-beams. the C-channels allow the stabilizers to flex a lot, so until you can weld those closed, the performance just isn't great. To be fair, it's not the SteadyFast system, it's Keystone.
I wonder if I could just add the Eye bolts to my rear electric jacks and us the strap.
The 4 stabilizers on our TT do a great job but once we put the x-chocks on we felt a significant reduction in fwd/bwd motion. We still can't eliminate the teeter tottering effect of the bunk house in back and the master up front, but comfy beds keep people from squirming a lot. If we were full timing I'd spend more for the fancy stabilizers.
We typically retighten the jack after a hour or 2, and seems to help
@@timgarrity3985 I appreciate that. I can't seem to remember that tip so I hope I can next time.
We just got a new TPO roof. What do you recommend for us to carry for sealant in case we need some?
Very interesting!
I'm going to have to agree with a lot of the comments. X-chocks are not for stabilizing the house. They stop the wheels from rotating, the forward/backward motion and maybe a little pivot motion. But the RV is still on top of the leaf springs, the suspension. Without a stabilizer from the frame to the ground you are not stabilizing the RV. It's still sitting freely on springs designed to move. All that said, I love your videos and I watch/like as many as I can! Keep it up!
Thank you! I included it in the lineup because it's first thing they have on the box and I have been recommended by so many people to use them for stability.
I've not tried any of these systems on my 34' Blackstone..never been sold on XChocks for a trailer this size but after my 3 month trip I put this issue on my check list. So I'm going to throw on the Steady Fast and will be interested to see the improvement. What tips me to this solution is I move a lot and it's quick, and I have limited storage space.
I'm with you when you move a lot you don't want to spend time and space on something like this, the Steady Fast is a great solution.
If you are doing the 2x4 method, screw the eylet through the 1/1/2 inch side not the 3 1/2inch side. They are much stronger in this direction.
I used X chocks on my 35 ft 5th wheel and when I used the auto leveling the wheels came up a little and the X chocks collapsed. No longer useable😟
Hey hey! This was a great video. Thanks so much. Make your own solution and sell that crap out of 'em!
Never heard of using xchocks for stabilization. Only to keep if from rolling away.
I made some “x chocks” for mine...meh...the home made ratchet strap rig you did are cool in that they can double as “camp carpet holder downers”
Good stuff
Thanks
i use the X chocks, not for stabilization at all, I use them because I use the Anderson leveling blocks and it is hard to get proper chocking with them. They are a chock not a stabilizer
Why not use the stabilizer jacks that come with the rv
With our 30’ bumper pull, we had way too much movement with factory jacks. I researched and ended up with the Steadyfast system. Still too much movement for my wife. (Her laying on the bed and me walking into the trailer was the best test.) We leave our unit parked year round in our camp area, so we have the ability to use tree stumps. Steady fast took out 80 - 85 % of the movement compared to factory options. The 4 stumps took it to 98%++. Don’t even use the Steadyfast anymore. Highly recommended if it is workable for your situation.
I'm curious how you use tree stumps to steady the trailer.
I'm curious how you use the tree stumps to steady the TT?
Stumps are probably the wrong word. Log would be more accurate. When the trailer is level I measured the distance from the frame to the ground on four corners of the trailer. I then went and cut four logs, the biggest diameter I could find (16”) for stability, and cut them probably an inch or 2 inches longer than my measurement. This will take a lot of weight off the wheels. I then lowered the tongue of the trailer down to bring the back end up and then slid those stumps underneath the frames. And then jack up the front of the trailer past level to get those stumps underneath those members and then lower it down. There is some playing around to get it level, but shaving off a little bit on some logs but they steady the trailer amazingly well.
There are some campgrounds I go to so that’s all the long-term residence use is this system.
Um compare a jack to a chock???
Leave the backend of trailer still sitting on springs.
My take, a commercial for Steady Rest. Great hack with 2x4 though. Might put that one to work.
This was really interesting. Guess I’ll chuck out my X-Chocks. Lol
I've noticed a difference with/without the x-chocks. they help with front to back motion and not side to side.
I tried out the X-Chocks and really didn't see or feel any difference. Next trip I'll save a little weight and leave the X-Chocks in the garage.
The X Chocks are to replace tire chocks and prevent rotation of the tire not stabilize the RV.
I agree the X-Chocks didn't have a chance. I did try shaking the RV front to back as well and couldn't get any measurable or noticeable difference between the X-Chock and our standard chocks on the RV. I didn't want to intentionally do a poor job of chocking the RV just to make the X-Chocks appear better. I included them because I have been told by many people they make the RV more stable and makes it feel solid inside, it's a very common recommendation I come across, it's also the first thing on the box that it stabilizes the RV. I had to buy them and include it to test and see how they did kind of like when I ran over the RV drain hose with my truck because they claimed you could. Thanks for watching, I hope that explains why it landed in this comparison test.
I have a GD Momentum G31 TT that has rectangular stabilizer jacks. The Steady fast will not work. Any other suggestions?
We had the same scissor jacks on our last RV and used the Steady Fast, it works great. They have a kit that has foot plates that bolt to the bottom of the stabilizers.
amzn.to/3l2Wllo
You should try the home made in the back and the steady fast at the same time and report back
Never mind, continued watching your video.
I only use the X chock as helper ONLY to my wheel chocks ( HELPER ONLY ) Not a substitute to chocks.
I agree since you shouldn't use them until after you level the RV and I wouldn't want to not chock the RV after disconnecting from the truck
Excellent. :-)))). :-))))
Taking the trailer suspension out of the mix is where you get the most difference thats why the wheel locks dont help all that much
My camper came with the style of stabilizer legs that deploy at an angle, kind of like your homemade legs. They do a fantastic job of stopping side to side sway and rocking. In my case, the X-Chocks actually make a surprisingly large difference since they dampen the front-to-back movements. With both systems the camper has practically no movement at all, it's a big difference from early on when this thing shook if you so much as tapped your foot
Does anyone use jacks (not stabilizers, real ones) so the trailers suspension is taken out of the equation? I assume with 4 jacks at 1/4 and 3/4 of the length of the trailer - it should be “rock solid” and only flex would be the floor and walls… wonder if anyone tried.
I would expect there would still be some movement, because trailer frames aren’t stiff enough to be supported only at the ends.
I used automotive jack stands when I knew I'd be in one place for a long time. It was pretty solid. I wouldn't completely lift the tires off the ground. I'd just relieve a lot of the weight on them so half of it was on the jacks.
I can see how X-chocks could dampen front to back motion or perhaps some of the rotational motion around the center of gravity of the camper. I have sometimes noticed front to back motion in my camper when one of us walks in that direction. It didn't seem that you tested front to back shake at all. Also the homemade stabilizers might not help with front to back motion.
For any improvement in rotational motion, the side to side force would need to be in the front or back of the camper - away from the camper center of gravity. You didn't show where you were pushing on the camper to induce the movement. This could be important.
QUESTION: Ok. I got it on stabilization. But do the c-chocks work well as “chocks” to keep your RV from rolling down a grade? Never considered buying x-chocks for anything besides “chocks” work.
I use xchcoks for the front to back stabilizer and also c chocks as you call them to prevent any possible rolling away.
I always use a solid chock, I think the ones we use now are made of rubber. I like a standard chock because you aren't supposed to use the X-Chock until after you level the RV and I wouldn't feel comfortable disconnecting my RV from the truck until it was chocked.
Some time ago, I suggested a idea for trailer safety being tail lights being seen by several cars back . I call them “ high rise tail lights”. I have picture if you send me your email? I did not ever hear from you.
Walk like a ninja instead of a rhino helps a lot! LOL!!
Haha if only I could get my teenage boys to do that.
Once I put the steady fast on I quit using the x chocks.
It is a great system.
This is why you use combination not stabilizers. Xchcoks are not meant to be used alone or stop the side to side movement. I personally use xchock and JT strong arms cause the offer 4 corner stabilization.
JT Strong Arm does a good job on stabilizing.
i wonder how the valterra stabilizer compares
They are very similar to the diy ones. We used them a few years ago and they do help but at the time the steady fast won out.
How about rocking the Wifes world
Bet nothing stops that movement
What about applying a stabilizer under the slide? I feel more movement when I am sitting on our sofa with the slide out.
The problem with jack-screw stabilizers on the slides is the tendency to actually lift the slide, inducing unanticipated stresses on mechanisms and creating air-gaps on the weather seals.
Good questions/points. I did try shaking the RV front to back as well and couldn't get any measurable or noticeable difference between the X-Chock and our standard chocks on the RV. I didn't want to intentionally do a poor job of chocking the RV just to make the X-Chocks appear better.
Seems like much ado over nothing. I often don’t even lower the stabilizers on our Airstream. Might matter if we were using a washing machine inside, but a tiny bit of movement is just not an issue.
I think putting the x-chock in this comparison is not a good fit. They are not designed to prevent the type of motion in this test. They will add zero side to side stabilization. They add some front to back stabilization. They would be more equivalent to testing your diy solution in the opposite direction (front to back). A good test would be to set up your tape measure and camera on the side and test front to back rock with and without the x-chocks.
I agree the X-Chocks didn't have a chance to show as well as the other two but I tried shaking the RV front to back as well and couldn't get any measurable or noticeable difference between the X-Chock and our standard chocks on the RV. I didn't want to intentionally do a poor job of chocking the RV just to make the X-Chocks appear better. I included them because I have been told by a many people they make the RV more stable and makes it feel solid inside, it's a very common recommendation I come across, it's also the first thing on the box that it stabilizes the RV. I had to buy them and include it to test and see how they did kind of like when I ran over the RV drain hose with my truck because they claimed you could. Thanks for watching, I hope that explains why it landed in this comparison test.
On TT too ?
All these can be used on the travel trailer as well.
You want to test movement? Have your wife sit in a recliner and close the recliner! Now that’s movement!!! Lolololol! Please don’t tell her I said this!
Why would you only test these on one end? Without testing on front and back it is a useless test. The x chock make a huge difference on our tt for front to back or twisting motion when compared to just the 4 scissor jacks.
Must have taken forever to edit this vid. We watchers are are the winners!
Thanks!
weird that you tested the x-chocks for this. They're chocks, not stabilizers.
I agree that they would be better as just chocks but I have often been told to try X-Chocks to stabilize the RV for movement from other RVers and it's one of the first things on the box of X-Chocks. Many reviews and recommendations out their say it makes the RV feel more stable, I had to buy some and test to see what I found. I have even seen some say they are not wheel chocks but RV stabilizers. You could say they add stability comparing no chocks to X-Chocks but I didn't want to intentionally do a poor job of chocking the RV. I hope that helps why they were in the lineup to compare.
Unless you're stable to the ground you're gonna have movement.