Aluminum Camper Forum

Livin Lite Forum => Camplite and Bearcat Travel Trailers => Topic started by: Chappy133 on June 09, 2019, 11:43:18 AM

Title: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Chappy133 on June 09, 2019, 11:43:18 AM
Throwing this one out to great collective mind here at ACF. Both our rear scissor jacks when cranked down back off and loosen up and do not remain in contact with the ground. As soon as you get them snug and remove the jack handle they reverse spin right in front of you.  Any repair ideas, stop oiling them or just replace?  TIA.
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: tbwrench on June 10, 2019, 08:23:17 PM
Same happened to me. I had to wash all the lubricant I'd put on them off. At the end of the day, I tried harder to level using the wheels and tongue jack. Not sure if it's normal. I've never had a car scissor jack lower while changing a tire. Thought it was odd. If anyone has ideas let me know too please!
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: ADR on June 11, 2019, 10:30:40 AM
That's just weird-  I've had plenty of scissor jacks and never had that happen-  I'm thinking some offshore supplier won the cheap bid and put the wrong pitch on the threaded rod and coupler.   
If pitched fine enough they cannot be forced to close without turning the rod.
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Merlin on June 11, 2019, 10:29:41 PM
Quote from: tbwrench on June 10, 2019, 08:23:17 PM
Same happened to me. I had to wash all the lubricant I'd put on them off. At the end of the day, I tried harder to level using the wheels and tongue jack. Not sure if it's normal. I've never had a car scissor jack lower while changing a tire. Thought it was odd. If anyone has ideas let me know too please!

Whether or not your scissor jacks are self-loosening, you should not be using them to level the camper. They are for stabilizing, once the wheels and tongue jack have the camper leveled. The corner stabilizing jacks and their supports are not rated to hold the full weight of the camper if used to fully support it for leveling. They can. but if used consistently for that over the years, eventually they will deform and/or support welds will give way. Get a set of Andersen levelers for side to side leveling and use the tongue jack for front back leveling. In an ideal campsite setup, the stabilizer jacks should all be supporting an equal load and just tight enough to keep the camper from rocking. Of course, only level paved camp sites are ideal, so some minor variation in stabilizer jack load is ok.
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Merlin on June 11, 2019, 10:36:04 PM
Quote from: Chappy133 on June 09, 2019, 11:43:18 AM
Throwing this one out to great collective mind here at ACF. Both our rear scissor jacks when cranked down back off and loosen up and do not remain in contact with the ground. As soon as you get them snug and remove the jack handle they reverse spin right in front of you.  Any repair ideas, stop oiling them or just replace?  TIA.

How about a couple of cheap lug wrenches with a 19mm (3/4") socket? After you get the jacks set with your regular jack handle, slip one of these on the jack nut and it won't be able to make more than a part of one revolution before the lug wrench handle hits the ground to prevent further rotation. One on each rear jack would do it.

https://www.amazon.com/EPAuto-Telescoping-Wrench-Wheel-Sockets/dp/B071FV7XVM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=19mm+lug+wrench&qid=1560303116&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Title: Re: Scissor Jacks
Post by: Chappy133 on June 11, 2019, 11:22:11 PM
Merlin,  I am not leveling I am just wanting them to be snug to the ground.  They just back off.