Last updated on April 27th, 2009 at 06:47 pm

To optimize the stability of your fifth wheel trailer you need to have a fair amount of weight on the rear jacks. But it’s nearly impossible get much weight on them using the hand crank without breaking your back.

The easiest way I’ve found to save my back is to get the trailer nearly level, but just a little lower toward the front. I crank down the rear leveling jacks good and snug but without straining my back.

Once the rear jacks are down and snug, I raise the front of the fifth wheel to level using the the landing gear. The procedure works very well, you just need to be careful not to put too much weight on the rear jacks. Be conservative the first few times you do it until you have a good idea of the amount of weight you are transferring to the jacks.

Using the above procedure along with a wheel chock between the wheels (the type that ‘clamps’ the tires) and a king pin jack I manage to create a very stable home.
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