Community Forums

timjet · 03-25-2023, 03:58 AM

I'm having my Vanleigh 42' Beacon 5th wheel delivered to our house today. So a couple of questions.

First, I will never tow it. It will be professionally towed this summer from our house in Fl to Michigan where it will stay at a lot we own in an RV park. I will have it towed to and from nearby storage each summer.

It will reside at our house in FL for 3 months before being moved to Michigan. It will be sitting on sand and dirt. Do I need chocks and if so which do you guys recommend. I intend to keep it level with the jacks and the AC on during its stay at our house. Once we move it to Michigan it will be on a concrete pad.

Do I need a tripod? I've seen some 5th wheels that have a tripod but they have generally been on location for some time. Any need for a tripod? When in Michigan the 5th wheel will be on the same spot for 4 months at a time.

Thanks for your guidance and wisdom.

MtCamper · 03-25-2023, 04:53 AM

I see no value in a tripod, especially on a concrete pad. You may find it valuable to add additional jacks along the frame if you have too much bounce in the trailer.

Skilletface · 03-25-2023, 05:59 AM

[QUOTE=timjet;6454894]I'm having my Vanleigh 42' Beacon 5th wheel delivered to our house today. So a couple of questions.

First, I will never tow it. It will be professionally towed this summer from our house in Fl to Michigan where it will stay at a lot we own in an RV park. I will have it towed to and from nearby storage each summer.

It will reside at our house in FL for 3 months before being moved to Michigan. It will be sitting on sand and dirt. Do I need chocks and if so which do you guys recommend. I intend to keep it level with the jacks and the AC on during its stay at our house. Once we move it to Michigan it will be on a concrete pad.

Looks as if you are going to be in the long term storage category. For me when storing or parking for more than three months;

I use four jack stands one each under leaf spring U bolts, get the wheels barely off the ground so they can be rotated occasionally, keeping the bearings evenly lubed and moisture build up between the tire and concrete/ground. In your case on sand a section of 12 x 12 inch board would act as a platform for the jack stand bases.

traveldawg · 03-25-2023, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timjet

It will reside at our house in FL for 3 months before being moved to Michigan. It will be sitting on sand and dirt. Do I need chocks and if so which do you guys recommend. I intend to keep it level with the jacks and the AC on during its stay at our house. Once we move it to Michigan it will be on a concrete pad...

gosh - florida - sand and dirt - not such a good combination for holding up a big rig. Assuming it doesn't sink in the ground when parking it I would suggest some boards under the wheels and jacks.

When you are using it in MI I think a tripod would help stabilize it. So would blocking under the jacks so the jacks only extend down a bit; I think the longer the jack extension the more movement you may experience.

egwilly · 03-25-2023, 04:24 PM

We bought a tripod for our ORV fifth wheel and used it a few times.

Was not worth the cost. Low bang for the buck.

DR60 · 03-25-2023, 04:47 PM

My parents were both heavy, and when they got in bed the whole trailer moved and creaked. A tri pod under the pin stopped that. That was in an early 90's 5'er.
DR

timjet · 03-26-2023, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by traveldawg

gosh - florida - sand and dirt - not such a good combination for holding up a big rig. Assuming it doesn't sink in the ground when parking it I would suggest some boards under the wheels and jacks.

I worried about that and did place boards under the jacks and wheels. Hoping it is sufficient.

MandK · 03-26-2023, 03:35 PM

Setting up long term sounds like maybe you have a washer/dryer. Does your trailer have a washer dryer in the front? I don’t and I don’t have a tripod. I don’t see a need for it in OUR trailer but I have heard that a tripod will help with the shaking from laundry spin cycles. Maybe someone with washer/dryer could comment on that.

Tdave · 03-29-2023, 07:49 AM

Believe it or not, shaking at the front can be dramatically reduced by stabilizing the furthest point at the rear.

Think of it as a leverage arm. The movement at the rear is amplified by the length of the unit, making it seem more noticeable at the front. Address the shaking at its source.

When I added electric stabilizers directly in front of my rear bumper on my 43' 5th wheel, it reduced shaking at the front master bedroom more than the JT Strong Arm manual stabilizers I had added on the front of the unit.

My rig also has 6 point leveling/stabilizing.

X-chocks on the wheels also make an improvement, more than I imagined they would on a rig with levelers. I only use them when I am staying for more than one night.

**Camp CA** · 04-01-2023, 10:10 AM

Do I need chocks? No, if your lot is level.

Do I need a tripod? No, your trailer is very heavy......I no longer use one with my new heavy fifth wheel trailer.