cankarla
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1961 Shasta
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Post by cankarla on Apr 14, 2019 16:36:53 GMT -8
My little 1961 Shasta Compact doesn't have anything to stabilize it when parked. Any movement in the trailer causes rocking of the trailer. Would it have come with scissor jacks or stabilizing legs of some sort originally? I can see where I could safely put them in the front because of the steel frame but the back half of the trailer has no steel frame, its wood. I worry that if it was jacked too much by accident or weight shift inside the trailer I might actually compromise the frame of the trailer. Am I being too paranoid? Where do others put them? Do you use something else? Do I need to modify something or this is just the way it is?
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Post by vikx on Apr 14, 2019 22:08:50 GMT -8
Trailers rarely come with jacks. Most of us use "stack jacks" especially at the tongue. That said, it's really hard to find stack jacks short enough for our vintage trailers. You may have to have some custom made. I use 4 on each trailer. 11" to 17" jacks won't work except at the tongue.
Sometimes you can find short vintage jacks at a trailer rally. Very cool but hard to find.
Another option is little twist or wind up jacks, like small bottle jacks. I like the manual type best because they are easier to adjust. Often available at Habitat and thrift stores, about 5 bucks. We use squares of wood to support the base in grass.
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WhitneyK
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'67 Shasta Compact
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Post by WhitneyK on Apr 15, 2019 18:53:37 GMT -8
Another option is little twist or wind up jacks. I like the manual type best because they are easier to adjust. Often available at Habitat and thrift stores, about 5 bucks. We use squares of wood to support the base in grass. I think you may be referring to scissor jacks. Collapse down to a just few inches high, but able to expand to 20+ inches usually. Like vikx said, can be picked up at a lot of different places including auto salvage yards. I actually mounted 2 from an S-10 pickup upside down under the back of our teardrop style camper and just run them down with a cordless drill. Look close and you can see them on the back corners. 
Camping at a Lake Cumberland with the Bluegrass Chapter of TearJerkers 2014 |
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Post by vikx on Apr 15, 2019 20:29:05 GMT -8
I don't like scissor jacks for a vintage trailer, the look is wrong. Discreet is my motto....
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cankarla
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1961 Shasta
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Post by cankarla on Apr 16, 2019 13:06:27 GMT -8
I have a son that is a welder so making the "stack Jack " to fit shouldn't be a big deal. Where at the back is it safest to put the jacks? Under the side part of the frame? The back frame? or move in under to a joist? I'm not sure if thats what you would call it but thats what it looks like underneath. In the front the frame part of the trailer is steel so it is more obvious what will be safe and distribute the weight. There is one steel cross frame right behind the axel but then its only wood structure (joists) to the back.
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Post by vikx on Apr 16, 2019 19:39:12 GMT -8
There is almost always steel frame portions for the jacks, even in the back. The two for the front can be under the tongue runners or under the front frame if they are short enough. I always try to jack under the frame if possible.
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Apr 16, 2019 21:07:50 GMT -8
Since there is usually no need to jack the trailer completely off the springs as weight-bearing, there should be no problem using a jack stand under any of the framing, be it steel or wood framing. I seem to remember that my '68 Compact was set up much the same, with 2X6 wood framing under much of the belly of the floor.As opposed to my 16SC, which is steel-framed throughout.
BTW, the stack jacks are fairly easily available, so there shouldn't be any need to weld up a set. They look like this:
As simple as they are, the screw thread adjustment can be really fine-tuned for level.
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Post by vikx on Apr 16, 2019 21:47:26 GMT -8
Stack Jacks come in two sizes, 9" at the top or 11" at the top of the body. The 9" ones are no longer made and they are the ones that work for low vintage trailers.
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WhitneyK
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'67 Shasta Compact
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Post by WhitneyK on Apr 17, 2019 17:57:56 GMT -8
Stack Jacks come in two sizes, 9" at the top or 11" at the top of the body. The 9" ones are no longer made and they are the ones that work for low vintage trailers. Vikx, Were the 9" aluminum also or where they made out of steel? |
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Post by vikx on Apr 17, 2019 21:40:22 GMT -8
I believe the 9 inchers are aluminum. They are also lighter duty than the bigger ones. I've had some really nice ones home made of steel as well. PM me for my email address and I'll take a photo for you.
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