Playing the big stack

It doesn't happen very often but yesterday while playing at FleetStreet I built up a large chip stack. Then I started to get patient and wait for big cards or was not hitting my draws when going in with suited connectors or small pocket pairs (everytime I went in I raised 3X BB). Finally by the time it got down to $ bubble time I was struggling to hang on. This is really frustrating as literally I get a big chip stack maybe 1 out of 15 or so tourney's I play (OK maybe that is not accurate but it feels that way)
My thinking during that time was:
I really want to avoid doubling anybody up, because sometimes you put yourself in a situation where you raise and they come over the top and you have to call, so you really have to have a decent hand. I wasn't going to stop stealing, but the point is I never want to double up a really good player at my table.
In general the players there are not very strong (with some exceptions- sorry if you play there ).
Any suggestions on what I could have done differently. For once I would like to take my chip stack and ram into the $ without worrying.

BTW i finished fifth for $37.50 and almost 10,000 points (it was a 500 points freeroll)

If it's a freeroll you gotta keep playing strong. limp in with the 6,7 suited call a small raise with 3,3 just try to keep hitting flops. Then, if you can't hit anything, wait til you get around the tournament average to start taking it easy and only playing big hands.. At least that's always worked for me.