Stabilizer jacks

[gkooris]

Just took delivery on our 2108ds trailer. Everything is first rate with one glaring exception. The stabilizer jacks are pretty rinky dink, and they have to be hand cranked, you can’t use a drill fitting! Has anyone else found a work around or replaced the jacks?

Thanks,
Geoff in CT

[Teamfoxy]

Stabilizers are not meant to lift and level the trailer. Use Lynx blocks under the tires to level side to side and the tongue jack for front to back. After you have the trailer level, the stabilizers dampen the movement when people move around in the trailer.

It just takes getting used to. After we had our trailer a while, I could be level with stabilizers down faster than most people that had electric jacks.

[gkooris]

Originally Posted by Teamfoxy

Stabilizers are not meant to lift and level the trailer. Use Lynx blocks under the tires to level side to side and the tongue jack for front to back. After you have the trailer level, the stabilizers dampen the movement when people move around in the trailer.

It just takes getting used to. After we had our trailer a while, I could be level with stabilizers down faster than most people that had electric jacks.

Teamfoxy,

With all due respect, I think you may have misread my post. I'm acquainted with the concept of leveling vs stabilizing. I know what these jacks are meant to do. As I said, I was surprised that Winnebago used a single leg instead of a scissors jack, and even more surprising that they have to be hand cranked. I still have a couple of these jacks from when I used to work on teardrop trailers. Before I cut the end off of the supplied crank to use in my drill, I was curious to se if anyone else had swapped out these jacks. I've done it both ways. I much prefer using a drill.

Thanks,
Geoff

[Teamfoxy]

Winnebago is pretty good about saving weight in construction which gives you more OCCC than its competitors. I found, in 6 years of ownership, that single leg stabilizers, do a great job at their intended purpose of dampening motion. As I said, they are not meant to be jacks, so why would you need scissor jacks that are likely twice the weight? But if that is what you want, I'm sure that you can cut the stabilizers off and weld scissor jacks on.

As far as power accessories go, its just one more thing to go wrong and I usually prefer manual anything to power.

[gkooris]

Dunno, just really like the scissors type. As far as cranking, I have a physical issue with my knees, which is why I prefer to use my drill rather than hand cranking. Easier for me. I’m just going to cut off that end and use it in my drill.

[4x4van]

The type of stabilizer is irrelevant; scissor or single leg, the OP simply wants to operate them with a cordless drill rather than hand cranking all 4; faster, easier, etc. Nothing wrong with that, and I too would cut the crank off in order to do it. Have a large nut (or allen bolt head) welded in place, and you're good to go.

[gkooris]

Yup. Found a spare crank, already cut it. Welding a bolt on this weekend.

Thanks,
Geoff