Monday, January 29, 2018

This Is How To Stabilize A Parked Travel Trailer

By Ruth Robinson


Traveling is a great way to spend time, but it can also be costly if you have to fly and pay for hotels. One way to avoid that is to drive, and tow a travel trailer with you to stay in. Seeing the country this way means you get to do things at your own pace, and it makes things so much more affordable. But you do have to make sure you know how to stabilize a parked travel trailer to keep you and your travel companions safer.

Stabilizing the trailer is actually not a must, but it is a good idea to do it. If you do not and something breaks or slips, then you could have a minor or even a major disaster on your hands. It also makes being inside the RV much more pleasant, as there will be little to no rocking or instability.

Trailers come in a wide variety of sizes, and the larger ones tend to be much more stable overall, all on their own. The smaller ones are less stable, so if you are using one of those, then you definitely want to get stabilization tools before you start traveling. Thankfully, they are not very big or cumbersome to carry or store.

Before you can stabilize anything, you must park, and that means finding a good spot. If you can find a concrete pad, that would be best, since it will not sink. Campgrounds or RV parks are excellent places to find these kinds of stable pads, and they have water and sewage hookups to boot. However, anyplace that is relatively solid ground can work. Try to avoid muddy areas, as the trailer can sink too easily this way.

The most important tool in your stabilization arsenal is jacks. These are easy to find in any auto parts or big box superstore, and most have them in stock and ready to go. They are also usually very affordable.

Wood blocks are another tool that many people use when stabilizing, no matter what the size of the trailer they are using. The 2x6 size is most common, and easily available in many lengths at your local hardware store.

Some people use both jacks and blocks to make things even more secure. This is especially a good idea if you are parked anywhere that has soft ground, or if the area has recently seen rain or will see rain, which will make the ground even softer.

Though wood is the most common materials for blocks, there are also plastic ones available. These are light but very sturdy and thick, and are easy to stack to keep them in a compact space while driving.

If you do choose to use both, you use the jack the same way you normally would, only you place one or more of the blocks on the ground first. The jack then goes on top of the blocks, allowing for extra safety. The way to use the jack depends on the model you are using, as there are many different types from scissor to basic varieties.




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