How can I make this safer?

[FastCletus]

I am sure this isn’t a single problem for me. I live on a sloped driveway. Often times we use the camper as an overnight lodge so I go about leveling it out in the driveway. Problem is I never really feel safe with how it is. I have the wheels chocked and all four stabilizers in place as well as the front of the camper. I always feel the front stabilizers will collapse forward. Is there a better way to set this up? Also one way where I don’t have to keep stacking and cranking up and down to get it level?

[stateboy]

I'd add a pair of these. I have a sloped driveway. This is the only other thing I have beyond what you listed. It keeps the wheels from turning.

[FastCletus]

I have a single axle. Assume these are for double axle?

[stateboy]

Yep, double axle. I guess I didn't consider single axle. How about a tire boot to keep the tire(s) from rolling?

[RobieMo]

I agree with what Stateboy says about adding the stabilizers that go between the wheels. I hear they keep things real steady front to back.

The only thing I would add is maybe replace those cement blocks with some 6"x6" wood blocks like you have under the screw jacks. Eventually the blocks will crack and fail. You know what "Murphy" says about when....

Rob

***Whoops, right as i pressed submit I saw that you have a single axle.

[RedHorse1]

I’d suggest making a dedicated stand for the tongue. Maybe a tower of 2x4 sections screwed together starting at 24” square and ending at 6x6”.

[Route 66 Traveler]

A good investment would be a power tongue jack, but then you might be a lot younger than me..


I think wood blocks are a good suggestion...those blocks stacked up don't look good to me....especially that you show your location in Napa, which I assume is in earthquake prone California....
That last quake was felt here in Kingman, AZ. Stopped my Grandfather clock.

[oldmanAZ]

I made a rectangular (13"x9") tower of 4x4 lumber, screwed and glued (construction adhesive) together. It is 3 'layers' tall (~11") overall. The space between the layers allows a 2x4 or 4x4 to pass through.

With a 2x4 placed in between the top layers it is ~7" high, or the 2x4 can be placed across the top for ~12 1/2" height, or a 4x4 can be placed across the top for ~14 1/2" height. We take it with us and have used it frequently.

[Jagiven]

Concept wise your on the right idea. Execution is extremely dangerous! Cinder blocks should NEVER be used on their edge. Rocking back and forth will create micro fractures which will cause the block to break! And the tongue will fall. Only use cinder block in the vertical position! Like you see when installed in a wall.

In your lower image on the right side stabilizer. You have the right idea of making a stack! Like a big Jenga game set. However, make sure to be more careful in setting up, the foundation needs to be nice and wide. Be nice and neat stacking.

Find someone who is removing an old fence or deck, ask for their 4x4s and cut the good pieces into even lengths so you can stack them neatly. Watch a show like Maga Movers and see how they stack the lumber when lifting a large load.

[JohnWedell]

I would be really nervous about it rolling if it was my case. I would probably get a 10 foot 4 x 4 put it across the tires where you want to trailer to be. drill holes in each end of the 4 x 4 and into the concrete and put removable rods or long bolts so that it dosen’t move then when you want to leave you can remove the rods and the 4 x 4 take the trailer out. Then when you get home back it up put the 4 x 4 in with the rods so it don’t move and roll the trailer up to the 4 x 4 and at that point I seriously doubt if we’ll go anywhere. Then at that point you can safely use any kind of blocking you want

[Woodworker]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

I made a rectangular (13"x9") tower of 4x4 lumber, screwed and glued (construction adhesive) together. It is 3 'layers' tall (~11") overall. The space between the layers allows a 2x4 or 4x4 to pass through.

With a 2x4 placed in between the top layers it is ~7" high, or the 2x4 can be placed across the top for ~12 1/2" height, or a 4x4 can be placed across the top for ~14 1/2" height. We take it with us and have used it frequently.

Can you post a pick please?

[Woodworker]

I have mine as high or higher. It's in the dirt so I have concrete stepping stones as a base stack a few high then use treated lumber the rest of the way. Since ur on concrete I recommend wood. Criss cross it, screw together what you can an then use lose pieces till u get were u want to be

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by stateboy

snip......It keeps the wheels from turning.Attachment 51635

X-Chocks are a great means of minimizing a rocking dual axle TT, but don't do a very good job of stopping the same TT from rolling down a pitched surface. In some cases X-chocks have 'popped-out' due to the opposing rotational force of the tires.

I agree with the OP's statement...., "Problem is I never really feel safe with how it is". IMO that single axle TT under its present condition is looking for the opportunity to take flight down that driveway, especially when used for overnight occupancy.

Bob

[FastCletus]

Thanks all. My wheels are chocked so its not going anywhere. For those that had some ideas of building blocks, do you have nay pictures of what you mean? I am a waffle house kind of guy, i like the pictures.
I was wondering is there some kind of tripod I can put under the tongue for even more stability? I can weld, albeit it aint pretty but its storng. So any ideas on that. Also maybe some better wheel chocks would be a good idea as well

[eow]

I parked my previous TT and now my FW on our concrete driveway with a 5 degree slope. I use rubber chocks on all wheels and a steel cable on each side to secure each pair of wheels to each other to limit how far it can roll if a chock slips. If I need to remove a wheel for servicing, I hook the cable from the remaining wheel to the frame for the same effect.


BTW: The used a custom wood pad with a 5 degree angle under my tongue jack so the tongue jack pad sat on a horizontal surface. I now do the same with the landing gear with our FW. I need to find or take an picture and post.

[Jagiven]

I have seen a number of versions of these.

For the tongue, I might make a few sets that have a wider base, and then stack up a smaller version on top, just to ensure it does not topple. Also get ride of the wheel! On my board I took a piece of heavy copper sheeting for roof flashing, but scrape of galvanized HVAC duct would work too. I place my tongue directly on the metal. It keeps the jack from digging into the wood.

[travelingjw]

I do not believe in using multiple pieces of anything under any of the stabilizers or tongue jack except blocks that are designed for no movement (like the plastic blocks they sell); but even those eventually crack. If you are going to use wood (and I honestly would never use cinder blocks as they crack so easily) I would either use solid pieces or mechanically faster them together. A hill, and earthquake country; think of the worst possible scenario and design from there.

[MontanaRick]

I have a similar slope, also single axle. I keep it leveled because, when I'm getting ready to go out, I need to pre-cool the fridge. It feels less stable when it's raised up level, but I'm not sure it is actually more likely to have issues. It seems like the weight hasn't changed, nor has the slope, so perhaps the physics are the same (others might correct me on this). I do slope it down a bit during the winter to help snow and snow melt slide off, but not sure it really helps.

I use lego blocks (10 high) under the jack. I replaced the jockey wheel jack with an electric jack, and do not use the wheel (THAT would make me nervous). I leave the stabilizers up. Yes, it does move around a lot when we are in it, packing or making mods, but another thread here convinced me this was the right thing because, if a tire goes flat, at best you mess up some stabilizers, at worst you mess up your frame. This was a hard switch for me, because the trailer FEELS much more like it will stay in place with stabilizers down. But ultimately you are really relying on your chocks.

I do really like the idea posted about a bolted down 4x4. I need to give the implications of that some thought.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by Woodworker

Can you post a pick please?

I will do that when I find out how to get one from my phone to my PC.

I had a longer reply, but deleted it so I wouldn't waste space in this topic.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

I will do that when I find out how to get one from my phone to my PC.

Plug you phone into the USB port on your computer. It should pop up with USB settings on your phone; select Transfer Files. Should put all your photos from your phone onto your computer.



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