Set-Up & Tire Boards

[dudleydo]

Hi Everyone,
My wife & I are starting a new adventure in retirement having purchased our first RV, a Big Sky 5th wheel. We'll pick it up soon and bring it to a campground for the season and would appreciate any advice/suggestions when it comes to proper set-up. I've noticed most units at the place have placed boards under the tires. Is this necessary or just something everybody does because everybody does?
We expect to take it to FL next winter for a couple of months so no permanent solutions please.
Thanks all.

[NCFischers]

I cut two 2X8 boards and tapered one end of each. They are long enough so both tires will sit on them. I use one or both if the site isn't level from side to side. If I need more than that, I'll move. Most sites are pretty level and so far, I've only needed one board just a couple of times.

[steves]

Same as Jim's comments....boards are for leveling purposes.

[KTManiac]

I use 2x10 boards. The extra width makes it a little easier to make sure that both tires "footprint" is completely on the board. It's not good for the tires belts for them to be partially hanging off the edge of the board.

I carry one 8', one 6', and one 4' long with a chamfered end on each one. With this combo, I can stack them and compensate for 5.250" of side slope.

Most folks probably don't need this much range, but we boondock in some pretty crazy places.





In most "civilized" campsites and RV parks, I can usually get level with just one 2x10. ...and sometimes one board is too much. For those times I also carry 10"x10" pieces of treated plywood, two each of 4 different thicknesses, from 1-1/8" down to 3/8".

That pretty much covers my leveling needs.

[indy roadrunner]

I use to carry 2 x 10's that would be long enough for both axles. But I have since learned that by cutting them in two I can put one board under axle for 1/2 bubble level or put one under both axles for 1 full bubble lift to level. Have been times that it required two boards under one axle but not very often but I do still carry a couple of spares "just in case".

[H. John Kohl]

quote:Originally posted by dudleydo

Hi Everyone,
My wife & I are starting a new adventure in retirement having purchased our first RV, a Big Sky 5th wheel. We'll pick it up soon and bring it to a campground for the season and would appreciate any advice/suggestions when it comes to proper set-up. I've noticed most units at the place have placed boards under the tires. Is this necessary or just something everybody does because everybody does?
We expect to take it to FL next winter for a couple of months so no permanent solutions please.
Thanks all.

If you are on soft ground the boards help distribute the weight and keeps the tires from settling down into the ground.

The tire guys needs to answer if the broads helps prevent tire rot when sitting on dirt for 3 or 4 months.

[PapaBeav]

I use the same type boards everyone else has stated for leveling and I also have a set that I leave on the ground at the storage facility to park the rig on so that the tires are off of the ground.

[Imp]

We use the plastic stacking blocks for leveling. Less weight and they don't absorb moisture like wood does.

[Les]

I carry 2ea 2X10 and 1 1X10 each about 4 foot long. I can level on most sites with these.

[Mudchief]

I use the plastic ones and only use them if the site is really uneven.

[TLightning]

I carry a set of plastic levels and a set of boards. I cut the boards (2 x 10 wide) to fit just one tire, that way I can be flexible and they are much easier to carry...I carry four.

On edit...our 3400RL, sits left side low...almost all the time.

[KathyandDave]

We level side-to side with the orange plastic lego-style blocks. The chocks lock into them, too.

[Bill-N-Donna]

The plastic stackable blocks are also what we use. Most of the time I can find a site that is level enough without needing them.

[tim43]

I use boards also, they are cut short for individual tire use which reduces the length of travel forward and back when pulling up or backing on to them.