On the road ... again

[JohnB]

This is good advice, but really... bend C-Jacks, which are rated for 3000 to 5000 pounds (depending on extension), with just part of the weight of a two-ton trailer?

Good point on capacity Brain, thanks. Although I believe the capacity would vary depending on the angle that the stabilizers are set at, high or low. I was always under the assumption that the stabilizers were only made for light loads! Not sure where that thought came from, maybe some previous thread on this site?

I do not have access to our trailer right now but I know there is a part of the stabilizer system that got bent somehow. Maybe there is the optional connecting channels in place on our trailer and that could be what is bent.

Anyhow, I just though that it could have been caused by operating the tongue jack after the stabilizers had been lowered to the ground. It was just a guess on my part as I was not aware of it happening till some time afterwards.

So now, I make sure that I do not operate the tongue jack when the stabilizers are down just to make sure I do not overstress the stabilizers.

 

[Brian B-P]

Although I believe the capacity would vary depending on the angle that the stabilizers are set at, high or low. I was always under the assumption that the stabilizers were only made for light loads! Not sure where that thought came from, maybe some previous thread on this site?

The range of capacity values from the manufacturer's site cover models of different lengths. Perhaps even the same model of jack, the further they are extended the lower the capacity.

The same company makes much lighter jacks of a similar design, which are much less suitable for adjustment while under load, and which have much lower capacity (1,000 lb); I have a set on my trailer - Light Trailer Stabilizing Jack. I don't think everyone realizes how much variation there is in these single-leg jacks, so they make overly general statements about them.

I think ETI's choice of the C-Jack - instead of the cheaper and adequate Light Trailer jack - is an interesting statement about Escapes quality.

I do not have access to our trailer right now but I know there is a part of the stabilizer system that got bent somehow. Maybe there is the optional connecting channels in place on our trailer and that could be what is bent.

The C-Jack is intended to be installed across the frame at a crossmember. I thought that the Escapes I've seen have that crossmember in their frame, but the BAL C-jack page shows an optional "connecting channel" to bridge the jacks together if there is nothing but the main frame rails for mounting. If anyone ever used another jack to lift up on that channel, it would bend easily.

This style of jack (single-leg), and especially any design which is relatively narrow (all the BAL models), is relatively stiff and strong in the direction along the jack (across the trailer in the typical C-Jack installation, such as on an Escape), and much weaker in the direction at right angles (front-to-back in this case). I can see bending the support channel or even the jack if the trailer is pushed or pulled while the jack is extended, and more extension would be worse.

 

[CADreamin]

Escape Sightings!!!

Driving south down I5 today (Salem to Medford) we saw an Escape 17' traveling North near Drain, pulled by a dark pickup. Then, about an hour later, near Glendale on the Northbound side, we spied a 19' pulled by what appeared to be a Highlander. I guess with all the Escapes on the West Coast, we're bound to run into a few here and there ... but two within one hour?