Can Forest River R-Pod 180 Travel Trailer Use Electric Stabilizer Jacks

Updated 10/17/2018 | Published 10/16/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Ultra-Fab Power Twin II Electric Stabilizer for Trailers and RVs - 22" Lift - 6,000 lbs

(100)

$1134.22

Scissor Stabilizer Jack - 18-3/4" Travel - 2,500 lbs - Qty 1

(785)

$48.82

Question:

good afternoon I am wondering if you can replace the 4 manual stabilizers jacks with electric leveling jacks on a 2017 Rpod 180. Can the frame handle it? if yes which jacks would work best? Thanks

asked by: Richard

Helpful Expert Reply:

Smaller and lighter camper trailers like your R-Pod 180 typically do not have electric stabilizer jacks but instead use manual scissor type jacks. The main reasons are ground clearance, weight and power consumption. The manual scissor jacks typically need less ground clearance than electric ones and they add much less weight to your towing system. They also do not deplete precious battery power.

Ram 2500-lb manual jack # TJSC-24, for example, has a retracted height of only 5-inches and a set of four weighs only about 40-lbs as compared to a single electric stabilizer like # UF39-941707 which weighs well over 100-lbs. This electric stabilizer also needs a whopping 2 feet of mounting space on each of the trailer's frame rails.

I contacted Forest River's R-Pod division and my contact there was pretty emphatic about discouraging this modification on an R-Pod 180, and for the reasons stated above.

What you might want to consider is using a cordless electric drill with a suitable socket attachment to "electrify" your manual jacks.

expert reply by: Adam R