Stabilizing Jack Choice

[COArgosy78]

Hi Everyone: wondered if anyone might give brand of stabilizing jacks they use when camping? Saw on CW site a brand called Olympian (set of 4) but review wasn't super favorable. Maybe this is no big deal, but before we buy - thought we might compare notes with those with knowledge. Thanks, Leigh

[john hd]

leigh,

i have bal brand jacks on my excella, they were installed at the factory.

here is the site bal jacks

john

[smily]

Anyone know where I can get an original stabilizer from the seventies?

It is silver and made of cast metal.

I will post pic soon.

Thanks,
Smily

[Silvertwinkie]

Check these out. A set of 4 is $24.95+shipping. I've used these for years. Very light, durable and storable.

https://www.rvpartsoutlet.com/newsto...BDE3D9CBA29AD2

Regards,

Eric

[Chas]

Do yourself a favor and get the BAL jacks.

They are what originally came on your Minuet and all 70's A/S's. I had originally replaced the ones on my ex 78 Minuet with a set of the Camping World Taiwan made scissor jacks which are a little cheaper but took them back and got new BAL's. The scissor jacks flex too much making your trailer rock as if it had no jacks at all! The only thing is, to make it easy, especially on the rear set, try to get the set that comes in a unit, a continuous steel beam that has the jacks at each end. There is not always sufficient and properly placed framing beneath your bellyskin to mount the individual jacks.

Chas

[john hd]

get the landing pads too!

you won't need wood blocks except for the really muddy sites!

john

[john hd]

here is a pic of a jack stand that was under a 68 ambassador.

very light!

john

[Silvertwinkie]

Great minds think alike John. Those are almost the exact ones I use. Very good and very inexpensive. I have not used my on my Bambi yet, but did on the Jayco. Since the frame on the A/S is not really exposed, is that the best place or only place to place them in front?

Regards,

Eric

[overlander64]

Greetings Leigh!

My Minuet also was delivered without the optional factory installed stabilizing jacks. My plan is to utilize the rather typical aluminum jack stands like those in John's photo. I generally use four - - a pair in the rear where the bumper mounts to the frame - - a pair in the front under the point where the "A" frame hitch meets the front frame. The most typical problem is having enough clearance in the rear for the stabilizer jack even on its lowest setting as the Minuet is already fairly low to the ground.

My plan is to go with a set of the permanently installed BAL low-profile jacks similar to those in current use on Airstreams. I am putting this installation off as a set for the front and rear of my '64 Overlander ran in excess of $600.00 installed at my nearby Airstream dealer.

My biggest complaint with the aluminum jack stands is that there isn't a good place to store a set in the Minuet; and my plan to tow with the '75 Cadillac means that there will be precious little trunk space for the various "must carry" items in the trunk.

Kevin

[john hd]

Originally posted by Silvertwinkie
Great minds think alike John. Those are almost the exact ones I use. Very good and very inexpensive. I have not used my on my Bambi yet, but did on the Jayco. Since the frame on the A/S is not really exposed, is that the best place or only place to place them in front?

Regards,

Eric

that certainly looks like the best spot. can't imagine they would be much fun on uneven ground!

i really like my bal stabilizers on my trailer. when i camp at my friends farms finding a level spot is rare! with the landing pads they work well.

john

[InsideOut]

Ours are the lightweight "vintage" type, but we purchased them new as our trailer didn't have any when we got it.

We place them two in back and two in the front like overlander64. No problems so far...

Shari

[Silvertwinkie]

Thanks for the info all.

Eric

[Phil and/or Sue]

The 4 jackstands supplied by the PO on my 1961 Tradewind are labeled Reese. Here is a picture being "installed":

[59toaster]

I really like the idea of the Bal Mounted jacks but my concern is they would be under the bumper and likely to get dragged. How much of that abuse will they take?
Right now I have 5 of the reese alumium stands. Working so far but due to my unlevel drive I did not have enough room to get one of them under the rear frame. I have been using the odd 5th stand under the frame at the wheel to get rid if the bounce in the suspension. as you walk accross the floor. I'll probably get a 6th so I can evenly suport the camper or I might concider a Bal style if I can find one in a Salvage yard. That way I won't feel so bad if I destroy one.

[overlander64]

Greetings 59 Toaster!

There are two basic styles of BAL permanently mounted stabilizing jacks.

The less expensive style is a scissors arrangement that does significantly reduce the road clearance in the rear - - I had a set of these that were installed on my '64 Overlander by Camping World shortly after I purchased the trailer in '95. These scissors style jacks worked well enough, but drug on virtually every driveway until they were so badly bent that they were no longer functional, and then the curbside unit was drug off entirely as I departed the driveway at my farm in 2001 on my way to the WBCCI International Rally.

The more expensive BAL low-profile stabilizing jacks that are similar to those used on new Airstreams produce far less reduction in clearance, and on my '64 Overlander are very little lower than the skid bar near the rear bumper. There are several models of the low-profile BAL stabilizing jacks so I trusted my Airstream dealer to select the ones that would work best with my rig and I wasn't disappointed. The installed price of the low-profiel BALs on my '64 Overlander was approximately $600. The earlier scissor type BALs were less than half that installed.

Kevin

[Silvertwinkie]

Phil,

The screwdriver adds a nice touch!

Eric

[COArgosy78]

Thanks Everybody!!! Good info. Eric, we are going with the Camco $24.95 set of 4. For the price and the time frame we are looking at, it looks like our best bet. The installed BAL brand look to be the best for long range, but we need these now. Glad to have the pictures showing the same basic triangle type also (for placement) I have concerns about breaking the skin of trailer so glad to have some direction there also. Thanks, Leigh

[Silvertwinkie]

Glad it helped. BTW, I just looked at the Bambi, they placed the LP gas line under the tongue's left side of the "A". Right side (drivers) won't be a problem.

Any other suggestions on where to place it?

Regards,

Eric