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Old 11-15-2017, 09:29 AM   #1
mtlakejim
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self level doesn't want to work right

Our new 381th has the 6 point electric leveling system. It doesn't want to work at all if the 5th wheel is backed into a site that is even slightly off level. It will level sorta close with the front and back jacks but always gives an error and won't drop the center jacks at all. Some have suggested that I need to run the wheels up on boards to get close to level left to right before starting self level. Seems silly that the self level system would be that limited.....
 
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Old 11-15-2017, 09:57 AM   #2
scottz
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No, you do not have to get it close before the auto level procedure. If the parking site is too far out of level, the system will still try but tell you "out of range". I would call Lippert and discuss it with them. (866) 524-7821
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Old 11-15-2017, 02:38 PM   #3
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Well, our first time out to the nearby camp on the lake just a mile from home for the trial run. Found out something strange about the 5r, our 2 week old 3791RD. The Level Up just could not do its job. The site was much lower to the south towards to water. I did not measure but maybe 10 inches front to back (~50'). The display would show "Grounding Jacks" and raise the front jacks into the piston the max until it hit bottom and keep grinding all the time flashing "please wait" and "grounding jacks". Then error would show and require my input to reset. It would not level up - other four jacks never moved.
Had a friend look and help. He said others parked there with no issues - many 5r and MH all okay there. No Joy! Drove to dealer, got passed around service advisers. One went back to shop for help. Answer was no help.
I decide to go to Lowes and get some 2x8 boards. Went by the house - cut in half 45 degree. Moved 5r forward and backed up onto staggered boards - 2 on back 1 on front. Unhooked. Unit level up worked just fine now.
It seems that the first matrix in the software on our new rig is to lower the front to level, then readjust all six to reset and to anylyze. After that all okay. Not sure why others in this spot had no issues.
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Old 11-15-2017, 03:09 PM   #4
mtlakejim
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First time out we had to rezero the system to true level. We eventually got the unit to work at least partially. We have tried using blocks to shorten the stroke on the jacks so we don't get "out of stroke" error message and also running wheels on the low side up on boards but nothing seems to get the unit past the "anylyze" phase of leveling. We did get the middle jacks to come down once but that was it.
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Old 11-15-2017, 10:18 PM   #5
MARK A
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The trailer MUST be nose high when you start the auto level sequence. Maybe you knew that but maybe not. ;-)

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Old 11-16-2017, 06:51 AM   #6
bethandkevin
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Originally Posted by MARK A View Post
The trailer MUST be nose high when you start the auto level sequence. Maybe you knew that but maybe not. ;-)

Mark
The system must also be able to drop the nose BELOW level or it will not attempt to complete AUTO LEVEL. The system does have limits. Too much unlevel side to side and the system will not attempt to AUTO LEVEL. I have encountered this twice in 6 years and it is the only time I have had to use blocks to reduce the extension of the rams to level.
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Old 11-16-2017, 08:14 AM   #7
jcurtis934
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So is the system electric or hydraulic levelers? Big difference between the two.
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Old 11-16-2017, 10:09 AM   #8
mtlakejim
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As I mentioned electric. And it won't work even with the trailer fairly close to level. I have made sure that there is travel in both directions (up and down) for the jacks using leveling blocks as necessary. Someone has mentioned that it might be an issue if there is a fair amount of difference between how far the jacks extend one vs the other?
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Old 11-16-2017, 11:16 AM   #9
BuilderBob
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You do need to get the 5th wheel some what level side to side and 6" high in front before
you start the auto level or it will through codes and not work it does have limits to what it
can start with.

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Old 11-16-2017, 02:56 PM   #10
Ram Montana High Country
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I borrowed a friends driveway - good slope from front to back. he had mentioned problems leveling his 5er there. So to unhook, I did not drop the front feet far out of the jacks after backing the rear axle onto crescent rocker/levelers and adding 4-2"x12"x12" boards under rear jacks - hit it first time ... I think that agrees with others have said, system has limitations and start with nose high and leave room for it to drop below level. Maybe, thoughts?
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Old 11-16-2017, 04:41 PM   #11
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I don't know if you have viewed this Auto Level troubleshooting guide, if not it might be of some value to you in determining what is happening or not happening.

https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...ting_Guide.pdf

Good luck
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Old 11-16-2017, 06:58 PM   #12
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I have same unit. I have heard that front needs to be low, I have found it does not matter about the front. What I have found is that the jacks will max out quickly, if I think they will extend more than about 6", I will put blocks under rear, and middle. After starting to do this stopped having error messages.
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Old 11-16-2017, 08:03 PM   #13
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I have only had 1 leg out of stroke twice. When unhitching the pin is left about 1/2" high. I turn on the system and if any legs are blinking I check to see if they are over a low spot and add a lego or 2. Then hit auto-level and have had no problems with any of the 6 legs. I do put a piece of 2x8 under every leg to keep them clean or from denting asphalt.
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Old 11-16-2017, 09:40 PM   #14
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We have the hydraulic system, and in five years, have only had a couple times where the rig was too far out of level to do the auto level thing. The way I've come to solving this is, manually bring the rig close to level with the system in manual mode, either front to rear or side to side, then hit the auto level button, and it will level itself the rest of the way. Not sure if this is in any documentation, but it worked for me. Also, don't know if the electric system will do this.
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Old 11-17-2017, 11:47 AM   #15
cw3jason
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jsh View Post
I have same unit. I have heard that front needs to be low, I have found it does not matter about the front. What I have found is that the jacks will max out quickly, if I think they will extend more than about 6", I will put blocks under rear, and middle. After starting to do this stopped having error messages.
The very first step the auto level does is lower the nose, this is why they tell you to start nose high, so you do not run out of stroke. I don't know where you heard to start nose low, but that was bad information.
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Old 11-17-2017, 08:54 PM   #16
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The very first step the auto level does is lower the nose, this is why they tell you to start nose high, so you do not run out of stroke. I don't know where you heard to start nose low, but that was bad information.
X 2. As it comes off the truck has always worked for me.
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Old 11-19-2017, 02:48 AM   #17
jeffba
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We have a 379RD with electric levelers. I have only got it to level twice with out it losing its mind. Granted the first time the nose was down, because the tech doing the PDI said "just raise the nose 2 inches after you unhitch". What he should have said was " 2 inches above level". Even following that I find that I have success 2 out of 7 times getting it to level hitting Auto level the first time. it is always the right rear and left middle that have errors Of course the dealer cannot find anything wrong.......
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Old 11-19-2017, 12:28 PM   #18
CaptnJohn
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We have a 379RD with electric levelers. I have only got it to level twice with out it losing its mind. Granted the first time the nose was down, because the tech doing the PDI said "just raise the nose 2 inches after you unhitch". What he should have said was " 2 inches above level". Even following that I find that I have success 2 out of 7 times getting it to level hitting Auto level the first time. it is always the right rear and left middle that have errors Of course the dealer cannot find anything wrong.......

Call LCI. They will walk you through getting everything in sync again. It is not hard or time consuming.
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Old 11-22-2017, 08:55 PM   #19
masterdrago
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Thanks IRLPGUY. That bit of documentation was not included in my stack of manuals. Also starting from nose high only helps if the rear is not so low that when the front jacks fully ground the unit is past level nose low. That's why adding the 2bys under my wheels got it to perform.
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