QUICK & EASY DIY - Stabilizing the Camper! We are Amazed at the Difference!!
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- We have always struggled to make the camper stable. We did replace the stock stabilizers with the Eaz Lift ones and that made a big improvement but when someone came in the door, the camper would still shake. We started doing research and came across this easy, inexpensive and quick to set up DIY that makes such a vast improvement! While it will never be as steady as a house, we were amazed at what a difference a simple mod could do.
It required some 2x4's, eye hooks and ratcheting straps. It is quick to fabricate - less than 30 minutes for both a front and rear set (a chop saw or circular saw that can do 45 degrees was needed). We had the ratcheting straps already (orange to match the camper!) but Harbor Freight is a great place to pick them up. The eye bolts were purchased at our local hardware store. We did purchase the 5" below but could have gone a bit shorter. This was what was in stock at the time. All in (including if we had to buy ratcheting straps) was about $30.
www.lowes.com/pd/DuraSteel-3-...
Setting up takes less than 10 minutes and for us, definitely worth the time! We also recommend retightening the stabilizers and the mod the next day as everything settles.
And having some 2x4's and ratcheting straps while camping is always a good idea! We have seen more than one camper have to use straps to secure a damaged awning (never leave them out if wind is coming!) So we typically carry these anyway. Now, they have a second purpose.
In this video, we show what we purchased, how we made them and how we set them up. Then we do some fun comparison testing showing the difference between no stabilizers at all, just the Eaz Lift stabilizers down and then the DIY and stabilizers together.
Let us know if you have ever done this DIY and what you think. Or if you have any other tricks to keeping the camper steady - leave it in the comments.
As always - thanks for watching and happy camping!
*This video is for entertainment purposes only as we are not RV experts. We are sharing our thoughts, modifications and ideas based on our experiences but we always recommend doing your own research, and coming to your own conclusions on your camping and RV needs and modifications!
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Our Eaz Lift Stabilizers - we chose the 7500lb ones.
amzn.to/3CFuFv3
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction
0:13 - The Upgraded Stabilizers
0:40 - The DIY - Tools and Supplies
1:17 - Fabrication and Setup
2:08 - Setup
3:46 - Comparisons
4:50 - Wrap Up 
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Great video. Concise, complete, and confirmed with proof. Brilliant visuals. Thank you.
Thank you! And thanks for watching - appreciate!
Excellent idea. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks
Thank you for watching! Let us know now how it works for you!
Simple, cheap and works great!! Thats a rare thing in the camping world! Great video work showing the split screen with the level!
Hi - thanks for watching! Yes - very rare 😂. And thank you - we thought that really captured the difference! Happy camping!
Another great idea Troy ! Thank you.
Thanks Ken - as always! Unfortunately can’t claim all the credit - someone smarter than us originally thought this up! We saw it online and it worked so well, wanted to share!
This is an excellent idea, I will definitely be doing this.
It is crazy how much of a difference for an inexpensive and easy diy! Thanks for watching!
wow, that's amazing!
Hi - hope all has been well this summer for you! We are amazed at the difference - it will never be as solid as a house haha but definitely a vast improvement! Thanks for watching!
@@WinesPinesandCanines I gave away two aquariums and all the fish, chemicals, and accessories today. Step one toward my "get an RV to live in goal." :)
Brilliant! Thanks for sharing. I have always thought that my rig moves around so so much with the stabilizers down. Now that I have figured how to use ratcheting straps like a pro, I am definitely try this DIY!
Hi! It really helps with the side to side. And chocking the tires tightly will help with the back and forth. It is nice not to get seasick while camping haha!
Great idea. I was amazed at how well it worked. Makes sense.
I've seen this basic idea under slide out to help stabilize. But never thought of same principles for entire trailer.
Thanks for sharing. Great idea, give yourself a pat on the back.
Thanks for the views! Wish we could take all the credit lol but as we mentioned in the video - saw this one originally online. So someone far smarter than I thought it up haha. But it worked so well, wanted to share the process and results! Happy camping!
Excellent idea! Going to try them next season. I came across your channel while looking for info on my 2019 GeoPro 19QB and have found the information very valuable. The door blind mod has been my favourite as it solved a problem I had with the design and was a quick and easy fix. Thank you for this!
Thank you for the views - much appreciated! And glad you find them helpful! How are you liking the 19QB? That was our second choice.
@@WinesPinesandCanines So far it’s been great but I got it at the end of the season so it hasn’t been used much yet. I purchased a lift for it from Dexter that raised it up almost three inches to give me a little extra clearance as I will be using it off road primarily. I also like that I can sleep North/South in it by only pulling the mattress down a few inches from the front (I put a couple of larger pillows in the front to fill the gap) and don’t need to do the plywood mod that I saw you do. I’m 5’10 so it works fine for my wife and me.
The hubs is a wiggly sleeper & we already have two of these exact ratchet straps from our move. Totally gonna try this!!
Yes - very inexpensive if you already have the straps! We are on our third trip now with them and are very pleased. Find going around the next morning and retightening the stabilizers and the straps (if they have loosened) really helps as well. Let us know how it works!
Guess what I'm doing today? LOL, great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Ha! Hope it worked for you! Thanks for watching!
I have tried these twice and they work. I am going to a more unlevel camp site in two weeks and will see how they work there, but so far, worth the time and investment.
Excellent! Glad they are working well for you as well. We have had three trips out so far. Two of the sites were slightly unlevel but worked fine. Thanks for the watch!
I did this about two months ago. I used stainless steel hardware instead of black and I intend to apply some 'barberpole' reflective tape on them for visibility...yes, they can be a tripping hazard!
Great tip on the barberpole tape! At night would be easy to miss. Thanks for watching!
I always look forward to your presentations! I respect your knowledge. I have a 2021 GeoPro 19FBS with 18K miles.. I don't do any social media so using these comments to ask a question/request. I'm wondering what preventive maintenance I should be doing on my wheels/bearings. I've had no problems but want to be proactive. Burnt out bearing on side of road would not be fun... I've been getting conflicting recommendations. Have reached out to Forest River but have gotten nothing conclusive back yet. How and how often do you check your wheel/bearings. Do you pull the cap to check the grease or what? Thanks, would love to see a U-Tube on this topic.
Hi David! Sorry we took a bit to answer! Taking some time off for holidays and family. Hope you are having a good 2023 so far!
So, general consensus is 1 year/10,000 miles to change out the grease. The Ez Lube system was pretty straightforward - we did it once right after starting the channel. Weren’t comfortable doing a detailed “how to” at that point lol. We watched a few you tube videos specifically by Dexter / Forest River that were very helpful. Look for “ Dexter E-Z Lube System” - it was just over 2 mins long but gave a great tutorial that we used and had no issues. We do have plans to film next time but - this video was very helpful for us the first time!
Hi guys! I actually changed out our stabilizers a while back, like you did, and the difference was phenomenal! Someone else also recommended adding several stackable leveling blocks under the jacks as this adds more stability when the jacks don’t have to extend as far. We found that to be a major improvement too. Your DIY is shockingly different from the stabilizers alone. Just curious, what exactly were to doing in the trailer to make it rock so much? And no, I’m not going into the gutter with that question. ☺️
HAHAHA! First - agree on the stabilizers. They made a big difference from the stock ones. What stackable ones are you using? Looking for ones that are big enough for the foot of the stabilizer that don't sink into the dirt.
We were shocked on what a difference it made once we did the testing for the video! (its Linda) For what we were doing haha, Troy was inside rocking side to side. Just forcefully, feet planted, rocking side to side to see if it would move. We find it amusing to come inside now and shimmy with our feet to see if we can get it to move! Three trips in, 2 more planned in the next two weeks. Curious how it does on a variety of surfaces and degrees of level.
And we are probably going to stay them a dark ebony color to blend in better and a comment was made that some reflective tape at night might be good as they do stick out a bit. Not so much we have tripped or even almost tripped but you never know! Hope you guys are doing well!
What would you do if your not level? All sites aren’t the same. Love the idea and will definitely try.
Hi! If really unlevel - not sure (if we knew ahead of time, may bring a longer set). But we have tried it out at three sites so far. One required no leveling and the other two required leveling. Worked fine on all three!
Thanks for the video! We have a 2019 FBS as well. When you replaced the stabilizers did you need to drill new holes or did the old stabilizer holes match? Also what size EAZ-Lift did you purchase? I hope Desi is ok
Hi Steve! We purchased the 7500lb ones - cheaper than the 5000lb for some reason at the time. We were able to use the old holes but the trick was to feed the bolts in from the top, line up the new and then tighten everything up. We tried initially to put the bolts in from the bottom and wouldn’t work.
Desi is doing well - thank you for asking. He is going in for a followup cardio appt in a few weeks and we will know more but for now, he is still living his best life - begging for a bit of a snack as we speak lol.
Thanks for watching!
Wondering how they are working out now several months after doing this? (did the door shade mod yesterday, want to create this tomorrow...)
Hi! They are working still working great - take them with us each trip. One thing - they aren’t as great on loose gravel as they are on concrete/hard packed dirt. The gravel moves as we move around each day so the supports need retightening. But we always found the stabilizer supports to move around on gravel as well. And we definitely notice if we are just parked for the night and don’t set them up!
But what do you do if your camper is higher from the ground than the length you made the boards? Some spots I’ve been in there was as much as a foot difference!
Hi! So, we have camped in a number of different campgrounds since making them and no issues. They do have a bit of play to adjust out or in but the spots were relatively level. If the spot was really unlevel - like some boondocking spots! - we could plan ahead and carry a second set with a longer length. Worst case, we could always just use the normal stabilizers and rock a bit lol. Thanks for the watch!
Wow! lol.
Thanks for watching!
Using the new stabilzers, how was the mounting procedure? Did you have to re drill the mounting holes?
We did not need to drill new holes but there was a trick. We pushed the existing bolts down through the top into the new stabilizers and left them loose until all 4 were lined up. If we tried to tighten each as we put them in, they wouldn’t line up. We are 3 years in and they still look like new (well - when we wash them haha!). Thanks for watching!
@@WinesPinesandCanines those are next on my list!
One more tip - have a full set of tools! The ones up front weren’t difficult but it is a tight space so I do remember I had to use some different wrenches/sockets to get in there.
@@WinesPinesandCanines I have plenty of tools, I'm a Harley Technician!
Great mod
Thanks and thanks for watching! Third trip out - all have been on gravel and has worked well. Looking forward to seeing how it works on concrete (thinking this will be a brick!)
We can’t do that with ours, but what a great idea. Looks like it works on the same principal as the Airstream ones. Much better stabilization in the end.
Thank you! Yes - not sure what the airstream has but there is one that can be purchased for trailers called JT Strongarm stabilizers. Works the same way but this is so much cheaper 😂
Some people need to RELAX!!!!!stop being so fussy and enjoy camping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But how will people know not to come a-knockin’?
Hahahaha! True! Thanks for the watch!