LEVELING BLOCKS 35' CLASS A MOTORHOME

The driveway at my house has a grade. When I try and level the motor home the front wheels will be off the ground. I have read from the manufacture that they should not be off the ground as the jacks can be bent. It does not make sense to me to have a system that cannot level without the tires being off the ground. I did not have this problem with my 5th wheel.

The only significant block leveling I've done in recent years was at the kids houses where the blocks were left for the next visit. I carry 8 blocks that can and will be used when necessary.

But I'm not going to the extent of digging holes etc to level.

And the blocks are painted yellow and mostly used to hold down items when it's windy.

willald wrote:

FIRE UP wrote:
It always cracks me up when folks say, "if it's too un level, we just move to another spot". Yeah sure. Try that in the California Sierras during the summer, or any place that's popular for that matter. There's all kinds of variables out there. And, camping at many campgrounds, RV parks, State, National Forest, Private and more, you're bound to run into "less than desirable" spots. When that happens, if, and I say "IF" with tongue in cheek, there IS a possible "OTHER" spot, and it's not reserved, and you can fit, then maybe you might be able to move.

I agree, this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard said on here. Sounds like something that someone would say that lives in a fantasy world, not reality, haha!

Most places we camp, its like you described: IF there are other sites available to move to, it will not be as nice and you will end up wishing you had just made it work where you were.

Having camped many years with TTs and recently (2 years ago) moved to a MH, I've found that many MH owners can by very lazy and 'spoiled' when it comes to leveling. Automatic levelers are nice, don't get me wrong, but we should not get sooo dependant on them that we forget how to, refuse to, or get upset when we have to use leveling blocks as well.

I've found that the less you extend your jacks (and the more you use blocks to level), the more rock solid and stable the MH will be. Conversely, times when I've been lazy and made the jacks do all the leveling, and had jacks extended further, it was a little more 'wobbly' in the MH. Most times at a minimum, even on the most level sites, I'll use a minimum of 4 blocks - one under each jack.

I carry two sets (10 each) of the plastic 'lego' leveling blocks. In addition to that, I carry 6 12" pieces of 2x10, as well as 2 pieces of 2x10 that are about 24" long. Rarely do I use all of them, but I have on occasion.

Anyway, back to the original poster's specific question: I recommend at least 2 of the 10 packs of leveling blocks. Especially if you're not also bringing some wood pieces for leveling. There will be times you need more than 10.

Oh, one other suggestion: Also bring with you a small, portable shovel. On some occasions, instead of raising the low side higher, I'll lower the high side by digging a small trench for the wheels to sit in.

Thanks alot for all your great info!!

wallynm wrote:
All CAPS is considered shouting and more difficult to read. We carry several 4X4 blocks and use two of them under each jack.

kingsransom wrote:
NEW TO RVING AND I KEEP READING ABOUT PEOPLE TRAVELING AND HAVING TO USE MORE THAN JUST THEIR JACKS TO LEVEL THE RV AT A SITE. HOW MANY BLOCKS SHOULD I BUY?? I SEE CAMPING WORLD HAS A BAG OF 10 IN A SET AND THEY GOT GOOD REVIEWS. ARE TWO SETS ENOUGH? WOULD LOVE SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT YOU USE, HOW MANY, HOW OFTEN, ETC...THANKS FOR THE INFO!!

Very sorry for the caps, bad habit I need to break, I use all caps at work, so always have it set that way. Thanks for your info!!

obgraham wrote:
Needed a plank under the jacks a few times in soft ground, otherwise always just the levelers. If the site is that far out of whack I'll find another.

(checks your caps key!)

Sorry, you are correct...I only use all caps at work to type, it's a habit I need to break. Thanks for your info

Thank you so much for all of everyone's info. So sorry that I typed in all Caps...we only use all Caps at work, so it's a bad habit I need to break!!

I keep a set of grown up Legos on hand just in case. I have been to some pretty unlevel sites and I would agree that taking the "I'm not camping in that spot" attitude is rarely an option. Usually moving around the site and then the levelers and a block or 2 helps. It's good to have a set if not 2. Don't raise the rear wheels off the ground. I have had to have the fronts off the ground on a few occasions. Before our current coach our last one did not have jacks. So it was all about blocks. They are good to have in soft ground, fine tune leveling etc.

Have had leveling jacks for the last dozen years or so. Before that, we had the "Lego" blocks. About five years ago, donated them to a charity garage sale to free up space. In March of this year, the jacks on our new rig failed and we bought new leveling blocks at Walmart to get us level until repairs could be made. Now, I keep three sets in a storage bay just in case. Not very heavy but a little bulky.

FIRE UP wrote:
It always cracks me up when folks say, "if it's too un level, we just move to another spot". Yeah sure. Try that in the California Sierras during the summer, or any place that's popular for that matter. There's all kinds of variables out there. And, camping at many campgrounds, RV parks, State, National Forest, Private and more, you're bound to run into "less than desirable" spots. When that happens, if, and I say "IF" with tongue in cheek, there IS a possible "OTHER" spot, and it's not reserved, and you can fit, then maybe you might be able to move.

I agree, this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard said on here. Sounds like something that someone would say that lives in a fantasy world, not reality, haha!

Most places we camp, its like you described: IF there are other sites available to move to, it will not be as nice and you will end up wishing you had just made it work where you were.

Having camped many years with TTs and recently (2 years ago) moved to a MH, I've found that many MH owners can by very lazy and 'spoiled' when it comes to leveling. Automatic levelers are nice, don't get me wrong, but we should not get sooo dependant on them that we forget how to, refuse to, or get upset when we have to use leveling blocks as well.

I've found that the less you extend your jacks (and the more you use blocks to level), the more rock solid and stable the MH will be. Conversely, times when I've been lazy and made the jacks do all the leveling, and had jacks extended further, it was a little more 'wobbly' in the MH. Most times at a minimum, even on the most level sites, I'll use a minimum of 4 blocks - one under each jack.

I carry two sets (10 each) of the plastic 'lego' leveling blocks. In addition to that, I carry 6 12" pieces of 2x10, as well as 2 pieces of 2x10 that are about 24" long. Rarely do I use all of them, but I have on occasion.

Anyway, back to the original poster's specific question: I recommend at least 2 of the 10 packs of leveling blocks. Especially if you're not also bringing some wood pieces for leveling. There will be times you need more than 10.

Oh, one other suggestion: Also bring with you a small, portable shovel. On some occasions, instead of raising the low side higher, I'll lower the high side by digging a small trench for the wheels to sit in.

Kingsransom,
It always cracks me up when folks say, "if it's too un level, we just move to another spot". Yeah sure. Try that in the California Sierras during the summer, or any place that's popular for that matter. There's all kinds of variables out there. And, camping at many campgrounds, RV parks, State, National Forest, Private and more, you're bound to run into "less than desirable" spots. When that happens, if, and I say "IF" with tongue in cheek, there IS a possible "OTHER" spot, and it's not reserved, and you can fit, then maybe you might be able to move.

But, for the most part, when there's no other spots available, like we've encountered several times, YOU WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE! Choosing to deal with un level spots is of course, up to the individual. How you deal with it, again, is up to you. And, making the jacks do all the work which, may include raising the tires from a 1/2" off the ground all the way to maximum, again, is up to the individual.

I've carried a small amount of wood blocks etc. for decades to assist in leveling, if and when needed. And, we've needed them way more than I can count. We've had to deal with severely un level spots, multiple times. I've had to dig out on one wheel and raise (drive on to a ramp) on the other one, to preliminarily level the coach and then, use the jacks for fine tuning.

There WERE NO OTHER SPOTS, PERIOD! You get what you can get. So, to answer your question, if using a little space to carry some blocks, either plastic Camping World ones or wood ones, helps you to be prepared for whatever comes up, then be guided by what you think is important. If you choose to carry some, how many and what size, is determined by, available space to carry them and, your experience in what you've needed in the past. Good luck.
Scott