One thing that has improved since the Flying Cloud was made in 1956, is the method by which to stabilize and level the the trailer when camping. If you ever traveled or camped, you know what I mean. The standard of the era was the Reese aluminum screw stands. A pain to install, limited in height adjustment, and not able to actually level the trailer, plus with their small surface area, were subject to rocking – and then there was the matter of where to store them while traveling. Not use anything? Having the floor pitch around as you get in and out of the trailer is the result, not to mention spilled coffee or waking your partner up in the middle of the night with a mini-earthquake while you tip-toe to the bathroom.
Solution? The heavy-duty steel scissor jacks designed for RV’s. They bolt on the frame with large lag screws, and can lift the trailer to level if necessary. They tuck up out of sight unless you look directly under the trailer, and while not as convenient as the multi-thousand dollar hydraulic version in motorhomes, they do run up and down quickly with a socket on the end of a cordless drill. I think Wally would have approved…
The 24″ levelers installed on the belly skin right below the frame member
The extra 2.5″ in height from the new axle made me feel secure in installing something hanging down on the bottom of the belly skin. They’re still higher than the axle and the bottom of the tanks, and the rear ones are far enough forward not to strike sidewalks when exiting gas stations.
Worried about striking something with one while backing up ? That is why I recommend the lag screws that come with it as opposed to welding. I’ve seen one of these get ripped off (not mine). It pulls the bolt out without damaging the frame, and you can reinstall with a larger diameter lag bolt.
The front jacks in the up poistion. Here they are mounted to the frame where it starts angling inward towards the hitch.
…and extended (above), and what you see from the side (below).
I found I could actually raise the wheel up off the ground using the two jacks on one side- convienient for changing a tire.
They are relatively cheap for such good quality, only $88/pair with shipping from Amazon