Slide Jacks

khosier · 10-23-2020, 07:14 AM

Just looking for advice on whether or not jack stands on the slides help with the rocking of the unit. Pros and cons. I have heard don't do it but not sure why.

travelin texans · 10-23-2020, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khosier

Just looking for advice on whether or not jack stands on the slides help with the rocking of the unit. Pros and cons. I have heard don't do it but not sure why.

If you check with the manufacturer you'll likely find using jacks under the slides will void the warranty & won't help the stability either.
If your rv settles with the jacks under the slides it can/would put undue stress on the slide boxes. DO NOT put jacks under the slides!
Not familiar with your 5th wheel or if it's equipped with stabilizers or electric/hydraulic levelers but with either the less they can be extended the more stable you'll feel. By adding some sort of blocks under each jack or stabilizer so they are as short as possible will be very helpful.

khosier · 10-23-2020, 07:37 AM

Right now my trailer is on a concrete site. So settling should not be a problem. I do have the self leveling Jack's and I have those red Jack buckets under them to keep them short. I also have x bracing on tires and stand under the hitch. Not sure what else to do.

**JRTJH** · 10-23-2020, 07:46 AM

Slide Jacks (actually slide braces or blocks) were conceived waaaaay back when slides were called "tip-outs". They were hinged at the bottom and "tipped out" of the main trailer body sidewall. The blocks were installed under the tip-out to prevent it from extending too far and to help keep it from ripping the sidewall out of the "then often wooden framed trailer body".

Evolution changed those slide blocks to slide jacks which were adjustable so users didn't have to "use wood blocks or rocks/bricks to adjust their height to get the tip-out floor level.

Then along came "trailer slide-outs"... They eliminated the need for tip-out blocks, but the manufacturers "evolutionized" or "revolutionized" the "tip-out blocks" and marketed them as "slide jacks"... It's all a "money thing" more so than a "necessity thing"...

Modern slides don't require blocking/bracing/jacking to keep them stable and any such device can cause much more damage than it can provide stability...

Save your money for another barrel of "adult beverage".....

**flybouy** · 10-23-2020, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khosier

Right now my trailer is on a concrete site. So settling should not be a problem. I do have the self leveling Jack's and I have those red Jack buckets under them to keep them short. I also have x bracing on tires and stand under the hitch. Not sure what else to do.

What happens if a tire deflates? Stabilizers will not support the frame to compensate for a flat tire. I'd suggest you walk around the campground and take a look. There's a reason that no one uses them.

khosier · 10-23-2020, 10:18 AM

Thanks for all of the feedback I think I will take your advice and save my money for beverages

travelin texans · 10-23-2020, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khosier

Right now my trailer is on a concrete site. So settling should not be a problem. I do have the self leveling Jack's and I have those red Jack buckets under them to keep them short. I also have x bracing on tires and stand under the hitch. Not sure what else to do.

Sounds like you're as good as it gets! After all it's a home on wheels, will never feel as stable as a house.
Some notice a bit of movement much more than others. We sat ours up basically the same as you have & if there was movement it apparently didn't bother either of us enough change anything. From my experience the x chocks nor the tripod under the hitch made any difference. Used the 3-4 of the Lynx Levelers under each jack (more on the low side if needed) which made it so there was about 6-8" of ram on each jack extended.
Next time after auto level try relevelling manually lower than the auto level process, then from that position recalibrate the system (read manual for how to), this should then level the coach lower the next time. May have to use something shorter than the red buckets to accomplish this though.

wiredgeorge · 10-23-2020, 11:56 AM

OK, why do some 5ver owners put those tripod things under the pin box? Never quite saw any sense to these things...

**sourdough** · 10-23-2020, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

OK, why do some 5ver owners put those tripod things under the pin box? Never quite saw any sense to these things...

You know, I'm not sure I know the answer to that question George. I did however buy one of the tripods to try on this trailer...for one reason. There had been so many instances of the frame cracking at the front edge of the nose portion, and my trailer is the biggest MHC with a 10" frame before it goes to a 12", AND since DW wanted a 250lb. washer/dryer set stuck up there in the nose figured I would try one out. Used it a bit and it doesn't do anything for wiggles but I'm still debating if it is doing any good supporting all that weight (and keeping the stress of the frame welds).

wiredgeorge · 10-23-2020, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

You know, I'm not sure I know the answer to that question George. I did however buy one of the tripods to try on this trailer...for one reason. There had been so many instances of the frame cracking at the front edge of the nose portion, and my trailer is the biggest MHC with a 10" frame before it goes to a 12", AND since DW wanted a 250lb. washer/dryer set stuck up there in the nose figured I would try one out. Used it a bit and it doesn't do anything for wiggles but I'm still debating if it is doing any good supporting all that weight (and keeping the stress of the frame welds).

That is good theory and perhaps the reason. I guess I have seen enough cracked fiver front frame members where that might be the answer.

travelin texans · 10-23-2020, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

OK, why do some 5ver owners put those tripod things under the pin box? Never quite saw any sense to these things...

My dealer gave me one that the bolts were missing when they opened it, $12 worth of bolts and a year of lugging that heavy awkward to lift/store thing that made no difference that we could tell with/without using it, I gave it away to the 1st person that said they'd like to have one for their 5th wheel.

khosier · 10-23-2020, 02:19 PM

Traveling Texans how do you like that place your at? Thinking about moving to a little warmer climate.

Mikendebbie · 10-23-2020, 05:52 PM

We had a 2017 Laredo 330RL trailer. Dealer talked us into stabilizers for the two big slides...said they would help with trailer shake. I snugged them up under the outside corners of the living room slides and the trailer was much more stabile. I put a piece of 2x4 in the U-channel top support so that I had a flat surface to snug to the bottom of the slide. Read that again...I SNUGGED them up not wrenched them up tight enough to lift anything. I’m not an advocate - I’m just sharing my experience. The things are over-priced in my opinion...but DW was happy with the results. We traded the Laredo for our current unit and I sold the slide stabilizers on eBay...somebody got a deal! Don’t need supplemental stabilization with the Lippert hydraulic slides!

**chuckster57** · 10-23-2020, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

OK, why do some 5ver owners put those tripod things under the pin box? Never quite saw any sense to these things...

On my previous fiver, it actually made the front bedroom more stable. I still use it because I don’t have autolevel, and I’m too cheap and lazy to put strongarms on. I haven’t had any frame issues for over 14 years now using it.

You may also like: