Keeping it Level

[exav8tr]

OK, Now that I got it, how do I level it????

[JH Sechelt]

Hi Phil,

I carry a couple of 5' 2X10's and drive or back up on them (put how ever many needed)under the low side of the trailer to level it from side to side. You can then use the front landing gear to level front to back. Bingo... you're done.
Been doing it this way forever. Oh yea I use a 9" torpedo level on the floor just inside the door to check for level.

J&D

[indy roadrunner]

I too carry a 5 ft 2 x 10 but I also carry a couple of 2 ft 2 x 10's. I have found that if I am only off half a bubble from left to right I can but the short board under the front tire of the low side. I know it is strange but if I put it under both wheels on the low side it will go half a bubble the other way.

This is only my opinion and not intended to offended anyone or to be argumentive.

[Illini Trekker]

I use pressure treated 2x8s & 1x8s cut just long enough to fit between the two axles. I have may be 8 or so of each to be used under the axles and the front jacks. Any wider the boards seam to cup with the weigh of the trailer.

I use a torpedo level, mounted level with the trailer near the front jack switch. I also carry a 2" level in the basement to use as my side to side leveler.

Back it to your camp site use the two foot level to get your side to side level, then use your board to back up on to gain your side to side level. Drop off the TV and use the torpedo level to gain front to back level.

[Connorsmom]

Ummmm...whats a torpedo level?

Jan

[Charlie]

I use a 4"x6"x5' tapered with a chain saw with the last one foot length being the full thickness of the board, use it as a ramp.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

A 12" level, narrow at both ends.

[Hemlockusa]

Paramore, don't get nervous about leveling. Many will back me up in saying that in a pinch - if you are within a half a bubble everything will work fine, and you won't roll out of bed.

[exav8tr]

Thanks everyone. Guess I need to go to lumber yard. Sold my house and left all small pieces of lumber there..

[Dave e Victoria]

You can also carry the orange blocks sold by many including Wally World. As I recall, they are about $30.00 for a pack of ten that come in a neat little carrying case. I havve two sets and have never needed more. The blocks interlock like legos so you can use them about anyway you want. Infact, I have been in some soft conditions where I used them to make a pad for under the jacks. For me, they are handier than chunks of wood and store away neat and clean. Then again, it was a $60.00 layout. Thats almost three liters of Jack Danials. Oh well, there are always trades.

[exav8tr]

got it to within a half bubble and said good enough.....actually the site was pretty level. After I changed the one landing gear to agree with the other it went to within a half bubble.

Dave, I do have those yellow blocks I got from CW. Three are now under the legs of the kingpin tripod.

Thanks everyone, glad you are all here to help a newbie.....

Phil

[sreigle]

Some prefer long boards, some short. I'm in the latter camp. Mine are 12 inches long so they fit between the wheels.

In case you didn't know, putting a single board under just one wheel will raise the rig half the height of the board. Putting equal height boards under both wheels on a side raises it the height of one of those boards. Sometimes I'll have one board under one wheel and two (or none) under the other, to get the right height. As Hemlock said, if you are comfortable in the rig, so is the refrigerator. Half a bubble won't hurt these newer refrigerators. Or so I'm told. But we like it as level as we can get it.

[Jim Jarvis]

I have a question about the front jacks. I do ok side to side but I am not sure what to do with the front landing jacks. Do I just drop them to ground and then level up or dowm or do I count the notches, apply shims under the jacks before I raise or lower for level. Hope you can understand what I mean. I've had just two trips in a 5er.

[padredw]

Jim, after leveling the trailer side to side (I use short boards as several have mentioned above), just drop the landing gear to the nearest "notch". That will keep the trailer level side to side--one leg may be extended longer than the other but the effect will be to level the trailer. That's all there is to it--no counting, no adjusting, no shims (though I do use short boards in gravel, grass, or dirt as base for the pads.)

After disconnect the legs may be raised or lowered to level the trailer front to back. The side to side level will not be affected by this final adjustment.

That's my practice over 15 years, three fifth wheels, and too many different site conditions to enumerate.

And that's my opinion; others are free to differ in theory or in practice.

[Jim Jarvis]

Thanks a lot David.

[capn chris]

Jim,
If the front end of the rig is high, you may need to run the gear legs down a bit before dropping the legs. This will give you some extra play after unhitching, as you may have to lower the front end to get her level.

[Jim Jarvis]

Thanks Chris, I ran into that problem yesterday and didn't think of that. Thank you for your suggestion.

[kdeiss]

I carry 2 4x4x8 to put under the front landing gear I level the 4x4 first than drop the landing gear and you are right on!

[mtheo]

I carry 2 4x6x8" blocks for the landing gear, but I also carry a piece of 1/2" plywood. The holes in the legs are 1" apart, I use the plywood if the legs aren't even when I drop them.

[rldriver]

After I get the back as level as I want I will lower the front jacks about 3" and then drop them onto the blocks that I have for the front. That way I am pretty sure that it can be lowered to level. I cary a 1/2" shim and use it to keep the front jack pads the same height.