Leveling Scissor Jacks

apackoftwo · 11-09-2010, 09:20 PM

Amazon.com: 2 - Pk. Bal® Leveling Scissor Jacks: Sports & Outdoors: Reviews, Prices & more

Anyone using them? My rig is in the shop getting a new stat and I thought I might add these or something similar although BAL seems to specialize in leveling systems.

Just seems like it would be sooo much easier than using boards....especially for a newbie

jaybird1016 · 11-09-2010, 09:43 PM

i put 4 ultra fab brand jacks on my sunline model t 2590 this summer just like the bal brand you are looking at and they work great easy to install and use the ones i got are rated @ 6500 # per jack

**JohnB** · 11-09-2010, 09:53 PM

Yes, we have them and they work well for stabilizing although on my heavier TT they unscrew on me. I do not know where the length spec is but Sunline has them on many of the medium sized and up campers. My T2499 had them and it was almost 27 feet long. However they where an option. If the dealer did not order them with the camper when new from Sunline they would not come standard. At least in 2004 anyway.

You mentioned not using the wood, The Bal stablizers (aka Ball jacks) have limited TT leveling ability. I do not believe you will totally get out of the wood or plastic lego blocks under the tires.

Good luck

John

**Sunline Fan** · 11-09-2010, 10:04 PM

Joan, to add to what John said, these jacks seem to stabilize better the less they are expanded, so having something under the jacks to keep the spread to a minimum will help with movement too. I'm not saying you need a bag of lego blocks per jack, but two blocks or so is a good start for each jack. I usually use two of those or a 2x6, depending on my mood and my leveling situation (I use the legos under the tires if it's that off).

Jon

apackoftwo · 11-09-2010, 10:22 PM

Are you talking about something like this? DICA - RV Jack Pads

And my 1950 is fairly light weight, doesn't that help with stabilization if the jacks are rated at 5,000 for a pair?

Joan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

Joan, to add to what John said, these jacks seem to stabilize better the less they are expanded, so having something under the jacks to keep the spread to a minimum will help with movement too. I'm not saying you need a bag of lego blocks per jack, but two blocks or so is a good start for each jack. I usually use two of those or a 2x6, depending on my mood and my leveling situation (I use the legos under the tires if it's that off).

Jon

apackoftwo · 11-09-2010, 10:27 PM

Or this too...Save at RV Partscenter - RV Parts and Supply

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

Joan, to add to what John said, these jacks seem to stabilize better the less they are expanded, so having something under the jacks to keep the spread to a minimum will help with movement too. I'm not saying you need a bag of lego blocks per jack, but two blocks or so is a good start for each jack. I usually use two of those or a 2x6, depending on my mood and my leveling situation (I use the legos under the tires if it's that off).

Jon

**Sunline Fan** · 11-09-2010, 10:33 PM

I have the Lynx levelers. They come in a pack of 10 blocks. I have three bags just because I got them with my last trailer. You can get the caps for them like you show in your last post, but they aren't required.

There was a time I had to use all three bags, but that was only once... Besides, I probably could have positioned it a little better so I wouldn't have needed all of them. BTW, it took me almost three packages to build a platform of them two tall, one wide, and the length of the two tires on one side, and then have two for each jack.

I also carry a trusty set of 2x6's that I've carried for years, well before the Lynx Levelers. I don't put the tires on them, they are strictly for putting under the jacks.

Jon

Poppy & Nana · 11-10-2010, 07:51 AM

Camping World has leveling jacks on sale for 49.99 - don't know what Mfger but the price is right.

Joan, we do the same as Jon & John....we carry 2 bags of 10 Lynx blocks and we carry wood for additional needed height.....

I don't think you'd ever get away from carrying wood or blocks....

henryj · 11-10-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Anyone using them? My rig is in the shop getting a new stat and I thought I might add these or something similar although BAL seems to specialize in leveling systems.

Just seems like it would be sooo much easier than using boards....especially for a newbie

Joan, they still aren't leveling jacks regardless of what the ad says. There's no way you can crank enough on these things--and most of us have exactly what is in your link--to lift a trailer. All they do is stabilize the trailer, but that is still very important for your comfort. There's no harm in not using them--just walk around in the trailer and see if you could tolerate that long term. We don't use ours if it's raining as I get good and wet putting them down, but otherwise they are part of the normal set up routine.

Henry

apackoftwo · 11-10-2010, 09:34 AM

Well that's good to know because I can't see spending the money if blocks are still required and it does have stabilizer jacks

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryj

Joan, they still aren't leveling jacks regardless of what the ad says. There's no way you can crank enough on these things--and most of us have exactly what is in your link--to lift a trailer. All they do is stabilize the trailer, but that is still very important for your comfort. There's no harm in not using them--just walk around in the trailer and see if you could tolerate that long term. We don't use ours if it's raining as I get good and wet putting them down, but otherwise they are part of the normal set up routine.

Henry

Steve Collins · 11-10-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apackoftwo

Just seems like it would be sooo much easier than using boards....especially for a newbie

The advice about leveling the trailer side-to-side by driving it up onto boards while still attached to the tow vehicle doesn't change regardless of how you stabilize the trailer after you drop it and level it.

As several have pointed out, the corner jacks are stabilizing jacks only. The manufacturer may call them leveling jacks but they are not strong enough to actually pick up a corner of the trailer.

Leveling side-to-side is usually quick and easy unless you're on a really sloped campsite and it is something that you can practice in your driveway.

I prefer 2x8 boards to the plastic blocks, but that is just personal choice. I have a bunch of them cut to length so that they will just fit in between the tandem wheels. When I cut them, I set the saw to a 45 degree angle so it's easier to drive up onto them.

It would seem easier to just have a board or two that are 4 or 5 feet long to span both tandems. The downside of that is that if a tire catches the board and sends it flying, it can wedge up under the trailer and do some serious damage to the TT. By using boards that are only a foot or so in length, you pretty much eliminate that problem completely.

It is possible to level the trailer with an 8 ton bottle jack, but you still need the wheels resting on a solid base unless you are permanently siting the trailer with blocks under the frame. For camping, leveling with a bottle jack is a lot more effort than driving it up on leveling blocks or boards once or twice.

pwb01 · 11-16-2010, 07:01 PM

I agree that you won't get away from the 2x8's but one quality in "leveling" jacks to look for is stabilization front to back. Just walking in the trailer will drive you crazy if the jacks won't stop it. I use the jack between the wheels for that which locks them together. One works just fine.

emam · 11-23-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

As several have pointed out, the corner jacks are stabilizing jacks only. The manufacturer may call them leveling jacks but they are not strong enough to actually pick up a corner of the trailer.

We had a 3rd set of jacks added right in front of our front set of wheels on the 2499 TT

I use them to really calm any sort of wobble and it really makes a difference to have the 3rd set. Noticeable as soon as you lower them.

What we've also found is if we have a blow-out on either of the tires, I lift the tires right off the ground to do a quick change. I wouldnt recommend doing this for any length of time, but I've changed multipel tires on the side of the road this way and it works great.

All I do is raise the Leveling Jack right in front of the wheels and the Leveling Jack on the same side, but in the back and it lifts the entire trailer off the ground