Stabilizers and storage

Tampakayaker

When you store your T@B for a month or so, between trips, should you have the stabilizers down? Will it harm the trailer?

Bayliss

@Tampakayaker, I do not currently store my T@B with the stabilizers down, but it is in a gated and covered storage facility with video surveillance.  However, I have considered lowering the stabilizers, because it has been suggested by others that it would slow down a thief who may not be able to easily/quickly raise them.  I cannot see any harm in storing your T@B with them lowered.  It's a good idea to lubricate them occasionally to protect against rust/corrosion.  A good type of lubricant would be one that does not attract dirt and dust, like the dry lube they sell for trailer slide-outs.

Verna

I always put the stabilizers down when I put it in storage (either commercial storage or in my driveway) or when the truck is not hitched to the 400. 

Mouseketab

Mine sits in my garage, and unless I'm going to be working inside a lot, I do not put down my stabilizers

DougH

Is flat-spotting an issue?  Do most folks storing their campers use jacks and leave the wheels off, or just jack up both sides to keep the weight off the tires? Or is that just when storing for the whole winter? 

Sharon_is_SAM

Some members exchange their wheels for garage storage due to clearance issues, but, I don’t know of anyone that uses jacks to prevent flat spotting.  We store ours at an indoor facility that houses expensive, collectible cars.  They only use carpet pieces under each tire.  If it’s good enough for a Lamborghini, it’s good enough for our TaB.  They request that the stabilizers remain up in case they need to move it.  @Tampakayaker, you may want to consider putting your stabilizers on plastic jack pads to help prevent corrosion down the road.  

ScottG

I lower mine onto wooden blocks when parked. Partly to make it more difficult to steal, partly to keep it from tipping backward when I'm crawling around in it.  :-)

dCliffhanger

Based upon Nucamp documentation, the stabilizers are not designed to carry full weight of the camper such as for changing tires. So, I would speculate that, though having all 4 down could relieve some weight from the tires, I'd speculate that they shouldn't be used to lift it off the ground.  I may be in a minority but for myself, I've yet to find a need to put them down at all. The unit has seemed quite stable without them. Though cranking them through their range of motion and adding dry lubricant once in a while does sound like a good idea.

atlasb

I have questioned this and recently read through some Dexter axle information.  They say to for long term storage to jack the wheels off the ground to relieve pressure on the axle components.  I am considering this as ours is stored in our shop and always have the stabs down so that I may work inside at times. Plan on raising on jack stands on the axle mount but not on the actual tube.  Still need to clear the roof of the shop.  400

Homebodyatheart

I always put them down, even in my locked storage shed next to the garage. It’s cheap insurance. I also have @Dalehelman ‘s mod, replacing the rear stabilizers with 5000# scissor jacks. The instructions are on this forum including the metal plate needed between the trailer and the jack. With these the floor is more stable and I can do a three point level between them and  the tongue jack. Good luck with yourTab!

Denny16

You can lube the stabilizer jack threads with any good paste wax used in wood working.  
Cheers

GatorEgg

Ours sits in our garage with stabilizers up on its own tires.

PNWtabber

ScottG said:

I lower mine onto wooden blocks when parked. Partly to make it more difficult to steal, partly to keep it from tipping backward when I'm crawling around in it.  :-)

Oh Scott, I am so with you here.  My side yard slopes steeply just behind where I have my T@B parked and I am always scared it will slip down the slope (whether or not I am in it).  Seriously thinking of installing a curb!!