How to Stop Your Travel Trailer From Wobbling With a Simple DIY Stabilizer
If you’ve spent much time in a travel trailer, you probably know the feeling.
You’re lying in bed or sitting comfortably on the couch when someone gets up and walks across the trailer.
And the whole thing moves.
Our travel trailer had the same annoying wobble. We already had the standard scissor-style stabilizer jacks that came with the trailer, but we still noticed quite a bit of movement inside.
Then Ed came across an idea for a simple DIY stabilizing system made with 2×4 lumber and ratchet straps.
It was inexpensive, lightweight, easy enough to make — and it made a remarkable difference in our trailer.
Here’s what we did.
Why Do Travel Trailers Wobble?
Travel trailers are designed to be mobile. They’re sitting on tires and suspension rather than a permanent foundation, so some movement is inevitable.
Stabilizer jacks help, but they’re exactly what their name suggests: stabilizers.
Even with all four stabilizers down, we could still feel movement when one of us walked around inside the trailer.
We found that keeping our scissor stabilizers from extending too far seemed to help. We used blocks underneath them so the stabilizers didn’t have to open as far.
But we still wanted the trailer to feel more solid.
Our Inexpensive Solution to Travel Trailer Wobble
Ed found an idea online for adding diagonal braces to the trailer.
The concept is wonderfully simple.
Instead of relying entirely on vertical stabilizer jacks, we added angled wooden braces between the trailer frame and the ground. Ratchet straps pull the braces tightly into position.
Those diagonal braces help resist the side-to-side movement that we were feeling inside the trailer.
We made four braces so we could use one at each corner of the trailer.
Materials You’ll Need
Our version was made with basic materials.
We used:
- Two 8-foot 2×4 boards
- Four pieces of attachment hardware
- 1/4″-20 bolts
- Fender washers
- Lock nuts
- Ratchet straps
You don’t necessarily have to use exactly the same attachment hardware we found. An eye hook or similar sturdy attachment point may work for your particular design.
The important part is creating a secure connection for the ratchet strap while positioning the wooden brace firmly against the trailer frame.
At the time we made ours, the entire project cost us less than $50, including the lumber.
Prices have obviously changed since then, but this can still be a relatively inexpensive DIY project compared with some commercial RV stabilization systems.
Measure Your Own Trailer
Don’t simply copy our measurements because every trailer and campsite setup can be different.
Our trailer was already leveled from side to side and front to back before Ed measured for the braces.
He measured from the trailer frame toward the ground at approximately a 45-degree angle.
For our particular setup, that worked out to approximately 38 inches.
Your measurement may be different.
The goal is to create a diagonal brace that fits between the trailer frame and the ground when your trailer is set up normally.
Cutting the 2×4 Stabilizer Braces
The ends of our wooden braces were cut at approximately a 45-degree angle.
And no, living in an RV doesn’t necessarily mean you’re carrying a workshop full of woodworking equipment!
If you don’t have the tools to make the cuts yourself, you may be able to have the lumber cut where you purchase it or find someone locally who can make the cuts for you.
Ed used a wonderfully simple trick for estimating the 45-degree angle.
He folded a square piece of paper diagonally to make a triangle and used that as his guide.
Sometimes the simplest solution works just fine.
Adding the Hardware
Next, Ed added the hardware that would provide an attachment point for the ratchet straps.
One important detail from our setup was the position of that hardware.
Rather than placing it directly in the center of the board, it was positioned closer to the lower end of the brace. The idea was to create leverage when the ratchet strap was tightened.
Again, the exact hardware you use may vary depending on how you build your braces.
Whatever hardware you choose, make sure everything is strong enough for the job and inspect the braces, hardware and straps regularly for damage or wear.
Installing the DIY RV Stabilizers
Once the trailer is properly parked and leveled, the braces are positioned diagonally between the ground and the trailer frame.
We use one at each corner of the trailer.
The ratchet strap is then attached and tightened so that the wooden brace is held firmly in position.
Ed likes to get ours pretty snug.
The idea isn’t to lift or level the trailer with these braces. We use them after the trailer is already leveled and supported normally.
They’re simply an additional stabilizing system intended to reduce movement.
And for us, that’s exactly what they did.
Did the DIY Stabilizers Actually Work?
Yes.
That was the part that surprised us.
After installing all four braces, the difference inside the trailer was immediately noticeable.
The annoying wobble when one of us moved around was dramatically reduced.
We had been using the stabilizers for about two weeks when Ed made the original video, and we were thrilled with the results.
Then we got another test that we hadn’t planned on.
They Even Helped During Windy Weather
While Ed was away one day, we had some fairly heavy wind.
Normally I would have noticed the trailer moving around.
But this time, I realized something:
The trailer wasn’t wiggling around the way it usually did.
That made me appreciate our little homemade stabilizers even more.
They’re not intended to secure an RV against dangerous weather, of course. But under the conditions we experienced, the trailer simply felt more stable than it had before.
Lightweight Matters When You’re RVing
One of the other things we liked about this solution was the weight.
When you’re traveling in an RV, everything you carry adds weight.
We’ve seen other stabilization ideas involving additional jacks and heavier equipment. We didn’t really want to haul around a collection of heavy equipment every time we moved.
Four pieces of 2×4 lumber and some ratchet straps are comparatively simple to carry.
For full-time RV living, little things like that matter.
DIY Stabilizers vs. Commercial RV Stabilizers
Today there are several commercial products designed specifically to reduce travel trailer movement.
Systems such as JT’s Strong Arm, SteadyFast and BAL Lock-Arm stabilizers use diagonal bracing based on a similar general principle: reducing movement by adding additional support between parts of the RV’s stabilization system.
A commercial system may make more sense if you want something permanently installed and specifically engineered for RV stabilization.
Our homemade version appealed to us for different reasons.
It was:
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Removable
- Made from readily available materials
- Simple enough to build ourselves
Most importantly, it worked well for our trailer.
We’re not suggesting that our homemade setup is the only way to stabilize a travel trailer. It’s simply an inexpensive solution we tried and had very good results with.
Would We Build These Again?
Absolutely.
This was one of those little RV projects where the improvement seemed much bigger than the amount of money and effort involved.
When you’re living or traveling in an RV, even a small improvement in everyday comfort can make a big difference.
We spent less than $50 at the time.
The braces were lightweight.
They were simple.
And the wobble was dramatically reduced.
That’s a pretty successful RV modification in our book.
A Few Important Safety Considerations
Any homemade RV modification should be approached carefully.
Our wooden braces are additional stabilizers only. They are not intended to replace proper leveling equipment, wheel chocks, the trailer’s factory stabilizers or other equipment recommended by your RV manufacturer.
Never crawl beneath an RV that is supported only by stabilizer jacks or homemade braces.
Before trying a modification like this, consider your particular trailer’s construction and manufacturer’s recommendations. Avoid placing pressure against plumbing, tanks, wiring, underbelly material or other components that aren’t designed to support it.
Inspect the lumber, straps and hardware before use and replace anything showing signs of damage or deterioration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will stabilizer jacks stop all travel trailer movement?
Our standard stabilizer jacks helped, but we could still feel the trailer move when someone walked around inside. Adding diagonal braces made our trailer feel considerably more solid.
Why put blocks under RV stabilizer jacks?
We found that our scissor-style stabilizers seemed more effective when they weren’t extended all the way to the ground. We used blocks underneath them to reduce how far they needed to extend.
How many DIY stabilizer braces did you make?
We made four and positioned one near each corner of the travel trailer.
How long were your 2×4 braces?
Ours were approximately 38 inches long based on the height and setup of our trailer at the time. Measure your own trailer rather than relying on our dimensions.
Do the DIY braces level the RV?
No. We level the trailer first. The wooden braces are simply additional stabilizers designed to reduce movement after the RV has been properly parked, leveled and stabilized.
How much did the project cost?
When we originally built ours, we spent less than $50 on the materials. Current lumber, hardware and ratchet-strap prices will vary.
Are homemade RV stabilizers better than commercial stabilizers?
That depends on what you want. A commercial stabilization system offers a purpose-built solution and may be permanently installed. We wanted something inexpensive, lightweight and simple, and our homemade braces worked very well for us.
Watch Us Build and Test Our DIY Travel Trailer Stabilizers
If you’re tired of feeling your travel trailer shake every time somebody walks across the floor, you can watch Ed demonstrate exactly how we made and installed our stabilizer braces in the video.
Sometimes the best RV improvements aren’t the expensive ones.
For us, a few pieces of lumber, some inexpensive hardware and ratchet straps made our travel trailer considerably more comfortable.
Less wobble. Less movement. And less than $50 at the time.
That’s an RV project we’d happily do again.
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