JT Stabilizers or King Pin Stabilizer?

First topic message reminder :

One thing that I will be purchasing this year (as opposed to adding it to the list and hoping for it) is a stabilizer system for the cat. Wondering what everyones preference is. I'm leaning toward the stabilizers that attach to the WC and the landing gear, but wondering how much that can actually help. Anyone have any experience with one or both of them?

Was looking at the JT Stabilizers also. I ran across the BAL Lock Arms that look very similar for about 2/3s the price. Anyone have any input on these?

[url=http://www.norcoind.com/bal/products/consumer/stabilizing_products/lockarm.shtml]

I have them on the rear of my Cat and they work great. I will probably adding them to the front this year for more stabilization. They don't have the T handles but the same 3/4" socket for the rear jacks works on them also.

Thanks for the response Lograf! That was the one thing that I did notice. It doesn't seem such a big deal to use the crank to snug up the bolts. I think I'll start on the front and if I don't get enough stability add the back ones.

I have stabilizers on the front and have the electric jacks on the rear. Using just the front ones I would say our movement was improved by 90%, But it took a few setups to not be afraid to lower the front on to the stabilizers to make them solid to prevent any movement and to add a little extra umph on the rear to settle the front. If I do any thing else I am going to put another set of electric jacks like the ones on the rear directly in front of the tires to support the middle and help remove the suspension bounce. I think that taking the remaining flex out of the middle and tire area will stop the remaining very minor movement.

The reason I put them on the rear first is I have a King Pin tripod up front. With kids in the bunks in the back we felt quite a bit of movement. Adding them to the rear help tremendously and after seeing the improvement I think they would help in the front more than the tripod does. Plus I wouldn't have to haul the tripod around and store it.

I started out with the KP stabilizer...wasn't all that impressed. Soon after, had the JTs installed all the way around. Just about as rock steady as a house foundation when set correctly, IMO.

TC

For those who have installed these themselves, for the very front ones. Did you go right through the floor of the front trunk?? Just curious because i can't go much more forward of that. I wasn't sure due to the fact the floor of the front doesn't seem too thick but am thinking it is thick enough for this install??? Any insight and photo's would be Awesome. The side front ones seem pretty straight forward. Not too sure about the back ones yet either on our Cat, thinking if i drop the insulation a bit i will see a place to mount these as there isn't too many options. Thanks for your help once again Cat Owner's. Mark

I too am interested in how the front stabilizers have been installed. I am planning to install two sets up front as soon as the weather warms up. I have been looking at the front storage area across the front and the bottom is pretty thin. Seems like it will have to be beefed up. How did you brace the front or did you? Any photos of how you installed or had them installed would be great.

Sean made his own and installed them. There may be the pics you need if you search his posts. Others as well have installed them at home.

Also, check out Shooter's post in this thread. The links show an extension plate he had to add.

http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/t973-jt-s-strong-arm-stabilizers?highlight=stabilizers

Lograf wrote:I too am interested in how the front stabilizers have been installed. I am planning to install two sets up front as soon as the weather warms up. I have been looking at the front storage area across the front and the bottom is pretty thin. Seems like it will have to be beefed up. How did you brace the front or did you? Any photos of how you installed or had them installed would be great.

Here are some picts of how I did mine
On this center bracket there is also a inside plate 1/4" thick the same square as the bracket.