How To Set up Scissor Jacks on a Journey Trailer

Some light-weight campers have solely two stabilizing jacks, just like the Coleman Lantern LT 17R and its bunkhouse counterpart, the Lantern LT 17B. Others might not embody them in any respect. Stabilizing a trailer with solely two jacks is tough, and also you’ll wish to degree and stabilize your RV correctly each time you attain camp. 

That is very true for those who’re tenting with children, as everybody’s motion contained in the camper will trigger your trailer to rock and sway. Stabilizing jacks also can break over time. A few of the frequent causes embody: 

• Improper use (i.e. utilizing them to LIFT and never simply to stabilize)
• Corrosion
• Injury from contact with highway particles
• Lack of upkeep (i.e., making certain the threaded rod stays clear and correctly lubed)
• Failure to maintain the framework clear. This will require periodic repainting with rust-resistant enamel. 

Whether or not you’re searching for to switch broken stabilizing jacks or complement your present jacks, you’re in the precise place. Let’s learn to set up scissor jacks on a journey trailer.

These are the frequent instruments you’ll want to put in scissor jacks on a journey trailer: 

Technician Tip: Consult with the proprietor’s handbook that comes along with your new scissor jacks for suggestions on the right instruments required for a profitable set up. The precise instruments required might fluctuate based mostly on the producer’s really useful set up technique.

• Energy drill
• Ratchet wrench
• Drill bit (sized for suitable mounting {hardware})
• Socket and/or nut driver (sized for substitute mounting {hardware})
• Paint marker
• Heart punch
• Chopping oil
• New jack(s)
• Handbook crank deal with
• Leveling blocks (to assist help the brand new jack if working alone)
• Security glasses (you don’t need metallic shards falling into your eyes!)

Technician Tip: Scissor jacks are both bolted or welded to an RV’s body. These which might be bolted are straightforward to switch. In case your jacks are welded to your body, we advocate visiting a Tenting World Collision Heart to have broken jacks eliminated and changed.

How To Set up Scissor Jacks on a Journey Trailer

Listed below are the 4 fundamental steps to put in journey trailer stabilizing jacks:

Step 1: Purchase the Proper Scissor Jacks

You’ll want to accumulate scissor jacks that can work along with your journey trailer. You’ll want the next data that can assist you make the precise choice: 

• The burden score of your present jacks. 
• The extension peak in your present jacks (normally 24” or 30”, however some trailers are outfitted with 20” or 28” jacks).
• The size of the mounting plates that safe it to your RV’s body.
• The format of holes within the mounting plate.

Technician Tip: Except you improve all jacks, stick with the identical make and mannequin as your present jacks. This ensures the identical stroke, gear ratio, capability, and operation technique. Tenting World Retail Specialists may also help you discover suitable substitute or supplementary scissor jacks on your trailer. Have your trailer’s 12 months, make, and mannequin prepared whenever you name to inquire about scissor jack stock at your native retail retailer. 

Discover Tenting World’s full collection of RV stabilizing jacks.

Step 2: Take away Previous Jack(s), if Wanted

Along with your new jacks prepared to put in, begin by utilizing these steps to take away your previous scissor jacks: 

• Use your socket and drill to take away the broken jack’s mounting {hardware}.
• In case your previous jacks are secured with self-tapping screws, you could want an influence drill with a nut driver or socket and ratchet wrench to take away them.
• Chances are you’ll want a second set of fingers (or one thing to carry up the jack) to maintain it from falling whenever you take away the {hardware}.

Step 3: Put together to Set up the New Jack(s)

We advocate utilizing new mounting {hardware} over repurposing the previous {hardware} if changing a broken scissor jack. If putting in new jacks the place others weren’t beforehand mounted, you’ll have to pre-drill mounting holes into your RV’s body.

Earlier than drilling, measure the space from the surface of the body to the mounting areas on present jacks (if that’s the case outfitted). Scissor jacks are usually put in close to the body’s periphery. 

You also needs to observe the method and departure angles utilizing a string higher than your trailer’s size. Place the string underneath the tire and pull one finish tight to the underside of the rear bumper. Pull the opposite tight to the underside of the entrance coupler. Then confirm the brand new scissor jack received’t lengthen previous the spring when within the retracted place. This ensures you received’t drag the jacks off in transit. See the picture beneath for a visible instance: 

Prolong the brand new jack into the specified place and use a marker to mark the outlet areas (normally 3-4 areas) based mostly on the mounting plate format. Then retract the jack sufficient to maneuver it apart. 

Drill mounting holes utilizing your energy drill and a correctly sized drill bit. It received’t harm to middle punch your gap areas earlier than drilling, as you’ll probably be mendacity on the bottom for this step, making it tougher to use stress to the drill bit to maintain it from slipping. Chopping oil additionally helps when drilling the mounting holes on your new scissor jacks. 

Step 4: Set up New Jacks

Now use these steps to put in scissor jacks on a journey trailer:

• Set your new jacks again into place underneath the pre-drilled mounting areas. 
• Prolong the brand new stabilizing jacks so that they maintain themselves in place towards the body. 
• Set up mounting {hardware} utilizing a ratchet, wrench, and the correctly sized socket. Use not less than one nut, bolt, and washer set throughout set up versus all TEK (self-tapping) screws. 
• Make the most of a crank deal with to check the operation of your new jacks and guarantee they’re totally retracted earlier than transferring your RV. 

Technician Tip: All the time guarantee you may have a handbook crank deal with that matches your jack. Learn the proprietor’s handbook that comes with the jack to find out whether it is okay to make use of an influence drill to function the jack. By no means use an influence driver.

For those who’re unsure of the precise stabilizing jacks to decide on on your journey trailer, your native Tenting World specialists may also help you discover what you want. And our service division may even full the set up for you. 

Discover the Tenting World location nearest you. 

Have you ever put in scissor jacks on a journey trailer? Share your suggestions and recommendation within the feedback beneath.