Autolevel - Montana Owners Club

Razrbk · 10-02-2019, 07:19 AM

For the autolevel to work properly, does it require the front of the fiver to be above level?

Mikendebbie · 10-02-2019, 07:36 AM

I think I always notice that the first motion is "down in front"...no matter where the front is (high or low) when I push the button...so I usually make sure it has room to go down.

Cindy and Ray's Grand Tour · 10-02-2019, 08:19 AM

Mine always goes down first, so make sure your truck has been pulled far enough forward. I learned the hard way and it dropped on my truck rails. No real damage though so I got lucky.

WeBeFulltime · 10-02-2019, 08:59 AM

On our 2012 3585SA it wan not necessary for the front to be high but on our current 2018.5 3791RD it is necessary. Go figure!

richfaa · 10-02-2019, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razrbk

For the autolevel to work properly, does it require the front of the fiver to be above level?

Yes....If not the front will go to the ground. It is usually above level when taken of the hitch but make sure before you start auto level,

**Carl n Susan** · 10-02-2019, 12:03 PM

On my 2012, and most others I know of, it doesn't matter if the pin is above or below level. Autolevel doesn't care. It does its thing regardless. The hitch in the giddy up comes when you want to hook back up. Normally you press the Left and Right buttons simultaneously to return the pin to the height it was at when you unhitched. This only works when the pin was above level at unhitch time. If the pin was below level you get a "Feature Disabled" message and have to set the pin height manually.

richfaa · 10-02-2019, 02:29 PM

Do this test. Unhook the RV from the truck. Move the truck away from the RV. Lower the front if the RV till it is below level. Hit the auto level button and see what happens.

Chef · 10-02-2019, 04:42 PM

I have a 1 week old Montana 3130RE with hydraulic levelers. The manual states you must have the front higher than level before starting the Auto Level sequence. As noted earlier, the first move the system makes is lowering the front.

Chef

ChuckS · 10-02-2019, 06:20 PM

The six point Lippert hydraulic leveling system won’t.. in most cases be able to auto level if nose is below a “level” condition when auto level is pressed

The algorithm is... nose dips below 0.0 to find a negative value. This is determined by the front compartment control module AND remote rear sensor located behind last axle.. centered.. up inside on a flat mounting plate... colorplast hides the remote sensor

Once a negative value is found then the unit raises to 0.0 value front to back...

IF during auto level sequence the TWO F/B sensors can’t detect a less than 0 value because unit was already below 0.0 when auto level was started most of the t8me the front of the fifth wheel will continue to lower and error out

To clear error raise front of fifth wheel to just above level in manual mode at re select auto level

All of this is stored in eprom on the front control module....that’s how the system works

mazboy · 10-02-2019, 07:08 PM

no. just push the auto and go.

Route66Rambler · 10-08-2019, 12:35 PM

Yes, it must be above level to start and then it will go below level and start the auto level sequence. If it is not above level to start then the auto reconnect feature will be disabled.

Daryles · 10-08-2019, 02:54 PM

Good to know. Thanks Chuck

Razrbk · 10-08-2019, 08:36 PM

Interesting. Sounds like it depends on the year and model —- autolevel functions fine regardless of whether or not it’s above level on some; and for others it needs to be engaged above level to function properly. My 2015 3100rl needs to be above level....

richfaa · 10-09-2019, 08:51 AM

It does in most cases need to be above level also inmost cases it is above level when unhitched and the truck moved forward

Arkware · 10-09-2019, 09:29 AM

Most of the time we just un-hitch and hit the auto-level and it works.
2 or 3 times this has resulted in the wheels being off the ground.
When this happens, we will retract the rear legs and lower the front well below un-hitch level and then hit the auto-level and usually get a 'better' level.
Of course it mostly depends upon the site.
Its is just a machine, sometimes you just have to manually tell it what you want.

BuilderBob · 10-09-2019, 10:22 AM

In most cases you are already above level in the front when you take the weight off the hitch to pull out. You shouldn't have to adjust any thing for the auto level to work properly. I do it all the time and have never had any problems.

richfaa · 10-09-2019, 11:04 AM

Easy to check what you have after unhitching and moving the truck away lower the front till it is visually below level the hit auto level if the front hits the ground you now know.

Trailer Trash · 10-09-2019, 01:20 PM

We have a 2018 High Country and since purchasing it last year new we’ve had several problems with the auto level but nothing major. One of the rear jacks did fall out on a trip but we got past that. Since I’ve had to reset or “Home” my system several times I’ve started levelling the unit as much as practically possible in all directions including using levelling pads under the wheels. It’s a bit old school but now when I hit the Auto Level it does it’s thing but it hasn’t kicked out any errors since. The issues seem more like programming glitches than significant technical design problems.

laverdur · 10-09-2019, 01:46 PM

Yes. According to Lippert, the starting point for auto-level is with the nose high.

skypilot · 10-09-2019, 01:47 PM

On my coach I always lower the front until almost at the bottom. If I don't my unit lowers the front an inch or two and then starts the leveling process, many times leveling so high that the tires (or a tire at least) is off the ground. By lowering the front end in advance, I've not had that situation occur.

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