Drill to use for Stablizer jacks, How large is required

[RoyBraddy]

I use the 14.4V Dewalt three speed drill. Works great... Dont forget you also have to purchase the correct size socket. I forget what the size is just take your hand crank with you to Lowes to buy one that fits...

[davidki]

Thanks for all the additional comments... once our rig gets here I'm going to try the drill I have, I'm not too convinced i will work well so I"ll probably watch the sales for a stronger longer lasting drill and pick one up for the job... the biggest problem with these battery driven drills is that all the batteries end up dying and to purchase a replacement is an arm and a leg! But, thats a conversation for another day..

Thanks again for all the great suggestions.....

[namusmc65]

I use the 18volt DeWalt drill and it works like a charm. Keep the handle handy, just in case. lol

[rsurfer9]

i dont understand why u need a drill, mine are actually really easy by hand.

[tls001]

Originally Posted by rsurfer9

i dont understand why u need a drill, mine are actually really easy by hand.

x2, i probably spend less than a minute on each stabilizer jack by hand.

[rwstinson]

After a week and alittle settling no battery powered drill will lift. I used a 19.2V Porta Cable 1/2 inch chuck. This sets pretty tight, but raising is a different issue after a time period

[Siamese]

A couple people have suggested that cranking them by hand is just fine. Yeah, I get that.

But, not for me. I like my electric tongue jack, my Anderson levelers, and my cordless drill for the stabilizers. I like to make my setup as quick and painless as possible. Checklists, walkie-talkies, anything that makes us more efficient at making camp.

Of course, my cheap little Black and Decker drill is also a welcome addition to my onboard tool box. It goes in my toolbox (actually one of those nice pails that cat litter comes in) along with a set of screwdriver bits, drill bits, a torque wrench and socket for my wheel lugs, socket set, screwdrivers, a couple crescent wrenches, and a small assortment of pliers. Oh, and a multi-meter and a hydrometer for the battery.

So, I figure the cordless drill does double duty. I'd probably have it in my tool box anyway, so why not keep the stabilizer bit in it and use it?

[Siamese]

Originally Posted by davidki

Thanks for all the additional comments... once our rig gets here I'm going to try the drill I have, I'm not too convinced i will work well so I"ll probably watch the sales for a stronger longer lasting drill and pick one up for the job... the biggest problem with these battery driven drills is that all the batteries end up dying and to purchase a replacement is an arm and a leg! But, thats a conversation for another day..

Thanks again for all the great suggestions.....

It sounds like you're under the impression that it takes a fair amount of power to set the stabilizer jacks. Actually, it doesn't take very much at all. Unless the screw mechanism on your jacks is caked with crud (in which case you need to clean them), it takes very little power to turn them, as they are under no load. They spin freely and easily, well within the ability of an inexpensive cordless drill.

In use, you put the drill on the jack, using a bit you can get in the trailer section at Walmart or online, and spin each jack down at high speed. All you want to do is have the foot plate of the jack touch the ground. The instant the jack makes ground contact, turn off the drill. The corner of the trailer should not rise (well, maybe a quarter of an inch).

Ditto for raising the jacks. They just zip right back to the up position with very little power. Takes about three seconds.

One responder mentioned settling. If you think you'll have settling due to soft ground and/or rain, then it's a good idea to put a square of wood under each jack to spread the load. We carry a supply of squares we cut from a 2x6 board.

[Jagiven]

This is an old post. Over the years, I have decided I do not like the impact drivers, to drive the stabilizers. They are way to noisy, and drive me nuts early in the morning or late at night. About a year ago, evwry time we went out everyone around us had them, and everyone seamed to just crank on the stabilizers to level their tt. It drove me nuts, it was worse than loud tv's and radios.

Drills Andrew nice and quiet. I still do mine by hand. Or maybe I should say by my kid's hands

[jlechmanik]

I use a Milwaukee cordless ratchet drive. Works great. Will also come in handy later as a cordless socket wrench....

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[NOTAHEMI]

My 3 year old lowers our stabilizers with the manual crank. All by himself. I just make sure they are tight.

I don't believe in using a drill and especially an impact gun to lower the stabilizers because the screws jacks are not designed to be run at high rpm or to absorb the kind of shock the impact gun generates. You will wear out the friction surfaces prematurely and end up with the stabilizers creeping down due to vibration.

Besides... my son really likes "helping" me set up the trailer. It is his favorite thing next to watching trains.

[rockaw]

A recommendation from our salesman was also to use a drill.
I use a cheap harbor freight rechargeable drill. I have an inverter in the truck for recharging between sites if I need it or recharge after we set up onsite. It usually lasts me 2-5 set-ups
I use the drill to lower it and then snug it manually, retracting I only use the drill.
Those who use the manual crank to move the jacks, all I have to say is once you use a drill, you'll use a drill.

[Vaquero]

Craftsman 19.2 volt. Low gear.
It rides with me anyway.

[NCMFFD]

Originally Posted by tls001

x2, i probably spend less than a minute on each stabilizer jack by hand.

Another one here for raising and lowering the stabilizers by the hand crank.

[12ptdroptine]

Buy once cry once. Get a good one that the battery will last a few years.

[Danno]

Originally Posted by NOTAHEMI

I don't believe in using a drill and especially an impact gun to lower the stabilizers because the screws jacks are not designed to be run at high rpm or to absorb the kind of shock the impact gun generates. You will wear out the friction surfaces prematurely and end up with the stabilizers creeping down due to vibration.

FWIW, I can assure you that using a drill will not wear out the " friction surface". Not sure where you heard this, but that's false information. The only thing that could damage anything is heat from friction, and a cordless drill will never spin anything fast enough and long enough to hurt anything.

[33 RLDS]

I also do it by hand. I don't care if anybody else wants to use a drill but anybody using as impact and lets it make that ratcheting sound for more than a half second is a jack wagon.

[DocBrown]

My good drill stays home. For the stabilizers I use a cheap Harbor Freight drill. $16, it's 4 years old now. People's kids and dogs make far more noise than a drill makes for the amount of time it's used. Besides, we camp mostly when the kids are in school. There's generally very few people around when we setup/breakdown.

[GScott]

I just have a 18 volt Ryobi that has a Lithium battery. Works great!

[Tunce the traveler]

Come on you " grasshoppers " I'll show you how to do it one handed and a beer in the other. The exercise is good for ya especially at 65 and above. Next year I'm leaving the car home.