Scissor jacks to steady motorhome in the wind ?

Scotty Ian

Scotty Ian

Joined
Aug 3, 2018
Posts
53
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34
Location
Urquhart near Elgin
Funster No
55,347
MH
Auto Trail Tracker FB
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After a few holidays in really windy weather in our MH where the wife was convinced it was going to blow over, I've decided to think about a solution. The cheapest I can come up with is a couple of 2 tonne scissor jacks, under the rear chassis at each side. The 2 tonne ones seem to have enough vertical lift for my Autotrail Tracker (Ducato chassis), on the ground the chassis is 33 cm high, the 1 tonne ones go up about that high but doesn't leave much margin if any for uneven / soft ground, hence I'm looking at the 2 tonne ones, about 45 cm lift.

Has anyone done the same to steady their MH in the wind and where have the placed them.

I have 3 placement options: 1- hard up against the rear wheel, 2 - half way along by a vertical reinforcing strut or 3 - on the 2 corners where the main chassis members join the horizontal cross member. I was going with option 2 as option 1 would be too far forward to account for the length of the remaining chassis / floor area and option 3 might be too far rearwards.

The picture below isn't that accurate but it gives an idea of what I am on about !

All advice welcome as always. Thank you.
Chassis.jpg
 
On our Autofail Savannah we have caravan style legs fitted. They are at the rear almost in position 3 in your drawing. We find we only use them if we are parked for over 3 days or more. Never used because of high wind but with the length of rear overhang we notice the back of the van swaying when one of us moves.
 
When the wind blows the van rocks me to sleep. Technically the suspension allows the van to flex in the wind, I believe. If rigid with stands, perhaps the tempest could blow it over.
 
I used to use em on my first van years ago,, not just for wind but when someone turns over in bed or walks in and out when yor having a snooze...
had me and the kids sticking em under, sat on some thik planks, worked a treat.
Will be even better now we have cordless drills to wind me up instead of long handles.
 
bertiebasset said:
On our Autofail Savannah we have caravan style legs fitted. They are at the rear almost in position 3 in your drawing. We find we only use them if we are parked for over 3 days or more. Never used because of high wind but with the length of rear overhang we notice the back of the van swaying when one of us moves.
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That would be my ideal solution having had a couple of caravans in the past, but with money being tight .......
 
bigtwin said:
How about these:

Caravan Steadies

I think they’d be steadier than scissor jacks.

Ian
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Yes I think you could be right, but then I was going to sit the scissor jacks on a bit of 18mm ply like Papa John suggested. Also they probably take up too much storage room, but thanks for the thought.
 
Scotty Ian said:
Yes I think you could be right, but then I was going to sit the scissor jacks on a bit of 18mm ply like Papa John suggested. Also they probably take up too much storage room, but thanks for the thought.
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Why bother just go with it it not that often the wind's that bad if it is it's goinin to keep you awake anyway
Bill
 
Scotty Ian said:
That would be my ideal solution having had a couple of caravans in the past, but with money being tight .......
Click to expand...
You could pick up a couple from a car breakers for pennies, they kick around the yard, because no body wants them.

Geoff
 
PaulyP said:
www.fiammastore.com

Fiamma Plastic Stabilising Jacks

Fiamma Plastic Stabilising Jacks. Fiamma Jacks safely stabilise your vehicle as they are sturdy and offer a large support surface.
www.fiammastore.com www.fiammastore.com

I used these or similar two up front and two at the rear
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I like the look of them, as they come apart for easier storage. I expect they are strong enough being plastic as they're not jacking the van up, just taking some of the weight ? Where on the rear chassis do you put yours ?
 
Wildbill said:
Why bother just go with it it not that often the wind's that bad if it is it's goinin to keep you awake anyway
Bill
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Your right I wouldn't need them that often but we've twice been on coastal sites where its blown that bad in the morning others are putting their awnings and tents back together
 
I've got a couple of 2-tonne scissor jacks, not got round to trying them yet though! If they work I'm thinking of permanently attaching them to the chassis 'upside down' so that they extend downwards and can then put a plate/pad under them. I will have to do a bit of trial and error first though to find where the 'sweet spot' is for minimising the rocking around etc.
 
We had steadies on two previous vans and never used them. Quite enjoy the rocking motion.

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Scotty Ian said:
Your right I wouldn't need them that often but we've twice been on coastal sites where its blown that bad in the morning others are putting their awnings and tents back together
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Just turn the van around nose to the wind, I've had to do that a few times, worst was on Mount Ventoux (the windy mountain) only two of us left in the morning from the 6 or 8 vans that were 6000 ft up on the mountain. :LOL:
 
Wind rocking the van doesn't bother me but she's petrified of high winds, having had a near miss when an advertising board flew across a motorway and embedded itself in the front of her car. We gave up our trip to Scotland because of high winds.

Personally I wouldn't use scissor jacks, I don't think they're stable enough even with the wheels on the ground. If ever we change the van think I'd go for retractable jacks but for now if I had to I'd fit a pair of caravan steadies which are actually designed for the job.

Just remember that all these solutions have a weight penalty.
 
TerryL said:
Wind rocking the van doesn't bother me but she's petrified of high winds, having had a near miss when an advertising board flew across a motorway and embedded itself in the front of her car. We gave up our trip to Scotland because of high winds.

Personally I wouldn't use scissor jacks, I don't think they're stable enough even with the wheels on the ground. If ever we change the van think I'd go for retractable jacks but for now if I had to I'd fit a pair of caravan steadies which are actually designed for the job.

Just remember that all these solutions have a weight penalty.
Click to expand...
One of the reasons I removed my wind down steddys neve used them and waight
Bill
 
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TerryL said:
Wind rocking the van doesn't bother me but she's petrified of high winds, having had a near miss when an advertising board flew across a motorway and embedded itself in the front of her car. We gave up our trip to Scotland because of high winds.

Personally I wouldn't use scissor jacks, I don't think they're stable enough even with the wheels on the ground. If ever we change the van think I'd go for retractable jacks but for now if I had to I'd fit a pair of caravan steadies which are actually designed for the job.

Just remember that all these solutions have a weight penalty.
Click to expand...
My wife is the same as yours. Caravan steadies are the ideal solution, I'll have to investigate further if they would fit my chassis.
I love this forum for lots of ideas and experiences.
 
If you steadied the van, surely the noise would keep you awake anyway? And windy nights can be very noisy.

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It was blowing a bit last night but slept ok
But I spent years on floaters in sume farley bad wether in the north sea so a bit of van rocking is nothing
Bill
 
steve69 said:
If you steadied the van, surely the noise would keep you awake anyway? And windy nights can be very noisy.
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She can sleep through the noise it's the rocking like a ferry that scares her, doesn't like ferries much either.
 
Before having the AutoLevers fitted, we had Alko-Click steadies at the rear of our Autosleeper Corinium Duo; a must-have due to the large overhang and rear bathroom making the whole thing wobble about - they do make a difference.

We also picked up a pair of aluminium stabilising jacks (from a fellow Funster) which we used for the front, made for a more solid feel when moving about the 'van and I guess a bit more stable in high winds. As mentioned, a decent bit of thick OSB so they don't bury themselves in the ground and maybe some lumps of C16 for the rear (as they are like caravan legs so will bury themselves), both will give a little bit of height too.

Anyway... a pair of stabilising jacks and some OSB around position 2 on your picture, will do the trick and if you want to pay postage or meet up, you can have mine.

20221125_114519.jpg
 
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Great info, and thanks for the offer but I would like 4 of them and can get from amazon for £34 new.

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