It has occurred to me that if I was to set the front electric leveling jacks with one touching the ground and the other a few inches from touching, the touching side would begin to level the unit from side to side before both jacks make contact with the ground.Is this an acceptable way to set up the rig? It almost seems better than putting blocks under one set of fifth wheel wheels because then the pin would not be into the hitch jaws quite right. How do others adjust for side to side leveling with their rigs?

Side to side, level with boards under wheels. Front to back, level with jacks. Nice to have independent jacks but if not, compensation is made with blocks so that they rise together.

I would highly discourage you from doing this. What you are doing is putting the entire weight on the one landing gear leg. By doing this you run the risk of stripping a shear pin and the 5th wheel dropping. You could also possibly tweak/bend the frame of the rv. I have always and will continue to shim under the low side wheels until rv is level, chock wheels on both sides of rv, then proceed to raise the camper off of the hitch. I have been in some very unlevel spots and have always been able unhitch/hitch. Tim

I agree with 2-MTnesters, don't want to warp your frame. Bad things for the slideouts when you do that.Your concern about the pin not lining up correctly is valid. That's the justification for a 4 way hitch head that has a few degrees tilt side to side.

Thanks for your quick answers. I have a lot of things to learn, and appreciate the responses. Yes, the hitch does indeed tilt in 4 ways. I had forgotten about that.

2-MTnesters wrote:I would highly discourage you from doing this. What you are doing is putting the entire weight on the one landing gear leg. By doing this you run the risk of stripping a shear pin and the 5th wheel dropping. You could also possibly tweak/bend the frame of the rv. I have always and will continue to shim under the low side wheels until rv is level, chock wheels on both sides of rv, then proceed to raise the camper off of the hitch. I have been in some very unlevel spots and have always been able unhitch/hitch. TimXX2 The landing gear won't take very much abuse... use the boards under the wheels...

Levelling on uneven ground | Good Sam Community

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Jan 28, 2015
Thank you all for answering. Indeed, our B&W Patriot hitch will tilt to one side to accommodate the rig and it's pin out of level as it contacts the pin plate. All answers are appreciated. It's a learning curve, and I have a lot to learn with this one.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jan 28, 2015
rhagfo wrote:
DutchmenSport wrote:
....

Sorry answered that question lower part of first page.
If the hitch head doesn't swivel east west then you would also need to block the rear axle of the TV. If it does no issue.

Thank-you.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 28, 2015
DutchmenSport wrote:
I don't have a 5er, but I think everyone has missed the OP's question. I think he is asking, ... basically, if on a slope (east-west slope to the trailer) and he levels the trailer with boards (under the wheels, under one of the landing jacks, then proceeds to lift the trailer to unhitch ...

Now the truck is still unlevel (east-west) ... what impact does that have on the locking jaws of the 5er hitch.... actually, that's a good question. If the trailer and truck are out of alignment (east-west) too much, does that impact hitching? (I think that's what the OP is asking)... not necessarily "how" to level the 5er.

Sorry answered that question lower part of first page.
If the hitch head doesn't swivel east west then you would also need to block the rear axle of the TV. If it does no issue.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jan 27, 2015
I don't have a 5er, but I think everyone has missed the OP's question. I think he is asking, ... basically, if on a slope (east-west slope to the trailer) and he levels the trailer with boards (under the wheels, under one of the landing jacks, then proceeds to lift the trailer to unhitch ...

Now the truck is still unlevel (east-west) ... what impact does that have on the locking jaws of the 5er hitch.... actually, that's a good question. If the trailer and truck are out of alignment (east-west) too much, does that impact hitching? (I think that's what the OP is asking)... not necessarily "how" to level the 5er.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 27, 2015
MTPockets1 wrote:
Example: if you need to add 4" of blocks and you're on gravel or soft ground, you could dig 2" under wheel on one side and only need 2" block under wheel on other.

Way too much work, 4" of blocking is easy!
MTPockets1
Explorer
Jan 27, 2015
Example: if you need to add 4" of blocks and you're on gravel or soft ground, you could dig 2" under wheel on one side and only need 2" block under wheel on other.
phillyg
Explorer II
Jan 27, 2015
Not an acceptable method of leveling side to side. You need to get close to level using boards or blocks before dropping your front jacks.
laknox
Nomad
Jan 27, 2015
Artum Snowbird wrote:
It has occurred to me that if I was to set the front electric leveling jacks with one touching the ground and the other a few inches from touching, the touching side would begin to level the unit from side to side before both jacks make contact with the ground.

Is this an acceptable way to set up the rig? It almost seems better than putting blocks under one set of fifth wheel wheels because then the pin would not be into the hitch jaws quite right.

How do others adjust for side to side leveling with their rigs?

Level side-side with the =wheels=, using boards or "lego" blocks. Level fore and aft with the jacks. Personally, I level side-side first, then run my front legs down a ways, and drop each leg extension all the way to the ground. I then power out the front legs until the pins snap in and continue to extend until I unweight the hitch. Open the hitch, pull forward and park the truck. Level fore/aft with the front legs, then drop the rear stabilizers to "set" it. I also will use several boards for cribbing under the rear jacks so they don't extend as far and give a bit more stability.

Lyle
Coach-man
Explorer
Jan 27, 2015
I always have 1" x 8" pressure treated boards with me and I always use at least one under the jacks even when on a pad. All the feet on my rig can be adjusted manually by at least 5". After placing the board(s) under the feet if there is a difference side by side, I can either add boards or adjust the feet down. I can then lower the landing gear and lift the trnailer and unhitch. Keeps thing level and spreads the weight over the boards.
kennethwooster
Explorer
Jan 27, 2015
I always put a block under the one that was still up. No way would I want leg to carry all the weight. Today we have a Big Foot auto level system. Really works nice.