Ever since the 1920s and the days of “tin can tourists,” Americans have enjoyed travel by trailer. Whether embracing a vagabond lifestyle or choosing to live in a minimalist and ecologically sound home, travel trailer owners are willing to invest time and effort in the maintenance of their homes on wheels and frequently turn to each other for troubleshooting advice. One popular question in travel trailer forums is how to keep the trailer stabilized when it is parked. Often stabilizing Trailer Jacks in North Dakota don’t prevent all movement.
Why A Trailer Shakes
When a parked trailer shakes or rocks from side to side, there can be several explanations. First of all, a trailer is only as stable as the surface it is parked on. If the vehicle is parked on sand or uneven ground, it is very difficult to create a level surface even with blocks and boards. Even if a level plane can be measured and obtained, the weight of the trailer is likely to cause the ground to shift. The movement of people around and in and out of the trailer will exacerbate this problem. Another explanation for a shaky trailer may be too much flexibility in the stabilizing jacks. Most types of jacks, including scissor jacks, “c” jack stabilizers, telescoping jacks, and hydraulic jacks, have built-in vertical or horizontal flexibility and will allow the trailer to shake.
How To Fix A Shaking Trailer
According to veteran travelers, there are a few ways to eliminate most if not all movement in a parked trailer. First of all, it’s important to use multiple stabilizing jacks. The number may depend on the length of the trailer, but a minimum of four is recommended. Secondly, the jacks must be installed on a hard and level plane with a large surface area. Using multiple small blocks on an uneven or soft surface and placing 2×4 wooden boards underneath the jack pads can increase stability considerably. Of the different jack types, the scissor jack is the best choice to minimize up-and-down movement. These jacks are best placed a few feet in from the front and rear ends of the trailer.
In addition to Trailer Jacks in North Dakota, jack pads and wheel chocks are two other tools to help keep a trailer still. For more information about these and other automotive products, check out Website Domain.
