How Much Tension on Stabilizers

[masterdrago]

Got the new camper home and level. As I dropped the stabilizers, I realized I had no idea how much to let the drill drive them into the pad. Think I just got it right by only allowing enough to just barely put some flex on the frame. Just a tad.

Thanks for any comments on this.

[Hoopy Frood]

I always run mine down until it looked about right: the trailer would rise an inch or so. Our last trailer had the electric stabilizers in the rear and I run those down until they stalled.

[NB Canada]

Use the crank just to snug them up
I only use a drill to lower them down to just touch

Still 95% plus use an impact gun though but I don’t care what damage they do
I just laugh at that annoying sound

[masterdrago]

Crank? Is that the odd looking tool that I had to use b4 I purchased the 3/4 socket to fit the small battery operated drill? I thought I would run out of steam. LOL

[masterdrago]

I'm (just today) lowering them down to touch the thin rubber pads I bought to avoid slippage. Have the drill set on lowest torque/ratchet setting. Seems to start ratcheting as they firmly hit the pad. I don't want to re-level the camper or flex the frame unnecessarily much.

[Hoopy Frood]

They aren't going to do much of anything if you don't compress them some. Just past touching doesn't do much of anything, they do need some pressure to work adequately. You're not re-leveling, but you do need some tension to stabilize.

[masterdrago]

Thanks Hoopy.

[Hoopy Frood]

FWIW, I think using an impact gun is a bad idea. The gears and such on these are not especially strong, and the pounding of an impact drill does them no favors.

[uwskier]

Impact gun, no. 20v cordless drill, in low gear, yes. That just spins the screw without hammering. I use a cheapie from HarborFreight for that and my ProPride and it works great.

[Hoopy Frood]

Yeppers, I used an 18V cordless drill, not hammer drill, to run my stabilizers. And run up the roof on our old popup.