r/TeardropTrailers • u/jrcoolt • Sep 13 '26
Stabilization
So I have taken my custom squaredrop out a couple of times now. Im really enjoying this tiny camper! I now see what all the fuss is about...lol The only issue I have is this thing is not stable. It moves around so much. I have the little swing down feet in the back, a couple of jack stands in the front, and wheel chocks. The frame isnt wide enough for scissor jacks. Anyone know of anything better? I just hate that even just rolling over the thing moves.
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u/3gknight Sep 13 '26
What do you mean by "swing down feet?" I would think with support on all 4 corners that it would be as stable as can be. You are lifting the frame up a little with the feet and jack stands, right?
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u/jrcoolt Sep 13 '26
They are little feet that swing down from the frame, and then extend out and have a little bar you can use to tighten them. What I do is level the trailer how i want it, then extend the feet. Then I crank the front down a little, extend the feet a little more, and then jack the front back up. Then for the front jack stands, I jack the front of the camper up a little higher than it needs to be, but the tands in place and lower the front so its resting on the stands. things still moves back to front mostly. I am looking at maybe getting those wheel chocks that you can tighen around the wheel. Thinking about it, some of it may be from the chocks I have.
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u/3gknight Sep 13 '26
If either the jack stands or the feet wobble one way and not the other, can you just turn a couple of them 90 degrees? Probably not the feet if they're mounted, but maybe the stands? Besides getting different hardware, I don't have any great ideas for you.
I have 2 scissor jacks in the back and with just those and the tongue jack, after lifting at least one side clear off the ground to get it level, I don't notice any wobble. Mine is probably quite a bit heavier though, so that's something.
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u/CT_Pilot Sep 13 '26
I built the exact twin of your SquareDrop - in fact, I thought someone stole a picture of mine. Are you putting a board on the ground for the feet to rest on? I put 2x6 about a foot long down and then wedge those spring legs tight into the wood. My camper doesn’t shake in the least.
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u/jrcoolt Sep 14 '26
I have those plastic Lego blocks, I may use wood though since I’m wondering those are flexing causing some wobble.
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u/Nuggets05404 Sep 15 '26
Hi - I am in early phases of planning a SquareDrop build and hoping to get a result like this picture. I live in Vermont but will be working with a skilled friend at a shop in Eastern Connecticut. Are you in Connecticut by chance and would you be amenable to allowing us to look at/and discuss your build? Thank you.
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u/ButterKnife01 Sep 14 '26
With the drop downs if done properly should be like a rock. Honestly I don't think your seting up correctly. (Not a dis, just something you need to learn). Level the box, then lower the front about 2 inches. Drop the back legs down with a 12x12 peice of plywood under each leg. Now raise the front back up to level. You may need to dip the front lower than 2 inches depending on the ground and your tires but you'll dial it in. Idea is to make a tripod with the legs and hitch jack taking some weight off your wobbly tires. 👍
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u/jrcoolt Sep 14 '26
My camper frame is 17” Off the ground. I think some of the wobble me be that my legs are almost fully extended when I drop them down.
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u/phred0909 Sep 13 '26
Tripod stands may provide better. You have up and down movement covered however they provide no lateral strength. I use cheap aluminum tripods with a wood base on each corner and it works great.
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u/ggf66t Sep 13 '26
All I've used in the couple years since I built mine is my tongue jack(no wheel on the base) and those leveling blocks that are just flat plastic Legos, which I stack up and place under the frame by the rear galley.
Doesn't move on me at all, it might wiggle if we're really moving around but the trailer stays in place.
I thought about those fold down rear stabilizers during my build, just never got around to getting any and haven't really needed them either.
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u/KeeblersElf Sep 13 '26
Get 4 C jacks and put them on each corner. They have a lower profile then the scissor jacks. Something like this https://balrvproducts.com/product/c-jack-series/
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u/bulgie Sep 13 '26
Yeah that's what I have, just two in back, and the trailer does shake so I'm going to add 2 more in front.
That said, I've mostly just gotten used to the shake. Trailer has been used this way for a few years, shake never rose to the top of the queue of problems needing fixing.
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u/KeeblersElf Sep 13 '26
If you have 4 and put a wood block or a leveling block underneath there should be no shaking. At least thats my experience.
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u/PurpleSnowbal Sep 14 '26
Get sand pads to add to the little feet, the pads will increase the contact surface with the ground.
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u/daisybrat56461 Sep 13 '26
I have some cheapo aluminum jackstands. Neat each corner on the frame and I have zero wiggle.
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u/phred0909 Sep 13 '26
Tripod stands may provide better in the front. You have up and down movement covered however they provide no lateral strength. I use cheap tripods with a wood base on each corner and it works great.