Please tell me about the different types of leveling sytems

Yep dedmiston, there is definitely something wrong with your system. So far mine has worked flawlessly. I could not be more pleased with it. Have only had to push autolevel and it goes through it's motions and it's perfectly level. First one I've ever had and cannot see not having one.

laknox wrote:

janegowest wrote:
We don't know much about the leveling systems in the 5ers. How many types are there? And how do they operate? we know that the auto-levels are just that, but the others, we don't know much about.

What should we look for in terms of the leveling system, if it does not have auto-leveling? What is the best type?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Jane, there are 3 basic ways to level a trailer.

1) Landing jacks (can be manual or powered) and boards under the wheels, supplemented by rear manual or powered stabilizer jacks in the rear.

2) Electric leveling systems. They use the front landing jacks and either jacks behind the rear axle (4 point system) or landing jacks and jacks in front and behind the axles (6 point system). Crudest are completely manual, but I don't think you'll find a manual system on anything built in the past few years; all are automatic.

3) Hydraulic leveling system. Same as electric, but uses hydraulic jacks instead of electric jacks.

For long-term parking, like a full season, jacking and cribbing the frame would be the best way to go, and most stable.

Personally, my next FW will have at least a 4 point system. :-)

Lyle

Thank you!! This is what I wanted to know!

Are these listed in the order of technological development?

You want the best ?Then 6 points Level-Up you need .

No, I guess I didn't express myself properly in my OP.

Since we are shopping used, most of them do NOT have auto-leveling, so I was wondering what else to look for, in terms of ease of use in leveling systems.

What all was out there, in terms of the older leveling systems and how much effort it took to use them.

janegowest wrote:

laknox wrote:

janegowest wrote:
We don't know much about the leveling systems in the 5ers. How many types are there? And how do they operate? we know that the auto-levels are just that, but the others, we don't know much about.

What should we look for in terms of the leveling system, if it does not have auto-leveling? What is the best type?

Thanks for your help in advance!

Jane, there are 3 basic ways to level a trailer.

1) Landing jacks (can be manual or powered) and boards under the wheels, supplemented by rear manual or powered stabilizer jacks in the rear.

2) Electric leveling systems. They use the front landing jacks and either jacks behind the rear axle (4 point system) or landing jacks and jacks in front and behind the axles (6 point system). Crudest are completely manual, but I don't think you'll find a manual system on anything built in the past few years; all are automatic.

3) Hydraulic leveling system. Same as electric, but uses hydraulic jacks instead of electric jacks.

For long-term parking, like a full season, jacking and cribbing the frame would be the best way to go, and most stable.

Personally, my next FW will have at least a 4 point system. :-)

Lyle

Thank you!! This is what I wanted to know!

Are these listed in the order of technological development?

Can't really say, Jane, 'cept that the manual stuff definitely came first! :-)

Lyle

janegowest wrote:
No, I guess I didn't express myself properly in my OP.

Since we are shopping used, most of them do NOT have auto-leveling, so I was wondering what else to look for, in terms of ease of use in leveling systems.

What all was out there, in terms of the older leveling systems and how much effort it took to use them.

If it doesn't have a system already installed, then you're back to the aforementioned "manual" system. Use bubble levels, either installed on the FW or somewhere on the frame, use some boards or "lego" blocks to level side x side, unhitch, then use the landing legs to level fore/aft. Pretty simple, just takes some time.

Lyle

Well...there must be something better than all manual...how do electric and hydraulic jacks work?

We started out in 1996 with with a brand new Carriage 5th wheel which auto jacks and they did their job. Even though our Carriage was 14 years old,we had the Big Foot Levelers put on in 2010. For us, being fulltimers, it was an easy decision. We have been extremely happy with them and such a convenience. After all the goal for us is a quick and easy setup so we have more time to relax and enjoy our surroundings. Let us know what you decide. Hugs, Di

janegowest wrote:
Well...there must be something better than all manual...how do electric and hydraulic jacks work?

Dear Jane,

The work by pushing a button and drinking a beer while your Trailer moves up and down until level. Literally.

But you should remember that they are expensive to add after the fact because you started a similar topic 4 days ago.
Here

SabreCanuck wrote:

janegowest wrote:
Well...there must be something better than all manual...how do electric and hydraulic jacks work?

Dear Jane,

The work by pushing a button and drinking a beer while your Trailer moves up and down until level. Literally.

But you should remember that they are expensive to add after the fact because you started a similar topic 4 days ago.
Here

That thread was about about adding auto-leveling after purchase. This thread is about the different types of leveling systems that are already on used units, to determine how easy/difficult they are to set up, so that we can add that factor to the mix.