Screwed up bad. Bent my stabilizer jacks

doonkin · 08-09-2015, 07:56 PM

I messed up. We got home after a great trip. Trying to be level in my driveway I cranked 1 leg up to high, without the front lifter being connected (I know, I'm a dumb***).
The whole 5000lbs came toppling toward me. Bent 3 jacks - 2 of which I was able to bend back with brute guilt force. The last one has its mount on the frame n there is no way I can yank that back. I intend to buy new jacks for the ones I compromised, but the buckle on the bracket welded to the chassis is beyond me. I'm stupid, I know. You think you got it down then you do a dumb *** classic like this. What do I do. HeLP

SouthCo · 08-09-2015, 08:55 PM

Mistakes happen. Got a pic? I'm not sure what exactly your talking about. If u need new scissor jacks the huskys I bought are great.

doonkin · 08-09-2015, 09:26 PM

Sorry. Tried to take pic but it's dark now n website crashes if I try to upload photo. Will try in the AM.
Basically put full load on front right jack . Back left was down too. 5500lb buckled under weight. Was Able to stabilize w front power leveler.
Front right I was able to bend back (will replace at some point even though it is fine) it was bolted under frame. Later I realized back left bent too BUT that one is bolted to a bracket that's welded to the frame. It's the only one this way. Anyways, it's reasonsblly easy to bend the others back, BUT I bent the bracket on the left back which makes it impossible to straighten.

doonkin · 08-09-2015, 09:31 PM

So the bracket that holds the back left (I realize WELDED)to the frame is bent/ buckled up 30 degrees, so no matter how hard I pull the stabilizer back, there's no way I can bend the bent weld bracket back. And it's up in there w the tank pipes too so it's impossible to get any leverage on

Jagiven · 08-09-2015, 10:10 PM

Sounds like a right angle grinder might be required.

Last summer over the forth of July, a camper behind us did not chock the wheels correctly (teen age grandchild did them back words for the terrain). Trailer rolled off the tongue block and bent the two front electric stabilizers. We un bolted everything we could the bend things back as close as we could.

doonkin · 08-09-2015, 10:16 PM

What's a right angle grinder?
I'm hoping to bend the bracket back to normal, not cut n re-weld.

ctbailey · 08-10-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doonkin

What's a right angle grinder?
I'm hoping to bend the bracket back to normal, not cut n re-weld.

A right angle grinder is a hand held torture device that you a fix diamond grit circular saw blades to, and cut through metal. The sparks will fly at least 6 feet.

You might be better off dragging the whole unit to a local welding shop, with your new stabilizers in hand... And have the pros handle the heavy metal.

Bassdogs · 08-10-2015, 07:34 PM

Painful when something like that happens, but when the dust has settled the damage done is not all that bad. A few years ago, I made a tight 180 turn in a CG to get a different angle to enter a site. Required me to pull off the pavement and thru the grass before popping back up on the pavement. Somewhere in the process the rear of the TT dropped as the TV left the hardsurface and ripped off the triangular skid bar that protects the undercarriage at the rear of the TT. Did I mention that it was a new TT. After kicking myself for most of the rest of the trip, I took the TT to a local welding shop at home. Repair was easy for an expert and I think cost me $25 [nice to live in a small town].

Agree with the other posters, replace the ones that were bolted on and have a welding shop handle the other one. You'll feel good about having a professional repair that will likely cost you 2 or 3x less than taking it to a dealer.

We all screw up so don't beat yourself up. A friend of mine missed a turn and drove into a parking area to turn around. Cut across a ditch with a concrete end and managed to mangle his door, rip off the stairs, before requiring a wrecker to lift the 5er out of the ditch. You and I got off easy [and less $$$$$].

doonkin · 08-10-2015, 09:36 PM

Thx. dealer told me as much. Get replacements then go see a welder w photos see if he'll bend it back.
When I saw my 5500lb trailer collapse toward my flip-flopped mortal ass, I'm glad I was wearing brown shorts!

The only thing I worry about now is I hope bolt holes on the top of scissor jacks are somewhat standardized- you'd think, right

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