Beginner Trailer Leveling Questions
Let me start by apologizing for all of the dumb questions that I've been asking. As the "pick up our new trailer day" nears the number of questions/concerns grows! I was going thru my "still need ...
Forum Discussion
SoundGuy, I love your system. No I would never use it as my chocking is different, but I can totally see the fun in setting up camp. Then again I'm one of those rare people who actually enjoy setting up camp a specific way and don't focus on how fast I can get it done.
To the OP......
My system is the best. Why, well because it's my system and therefore it's better than anybody else's. :p
First and foremost just get the trailer and go camping a few times. After that you'll get an idea what you need.
I threw away my plastic tire chocks and now have 4 tire blocks made by some 4x6 lumber cut into a curved wedge on a band saw. If I ever forget to remove a chock and pull the trailer over it the block doesn't just crush like plastic ones.
For leveling I use the plastic lego blocks. I have 3 sets as I boondock often and have needed them. They are durable, take up a lot less space, and are a lot lighter than long pieces of timber.
The problem with lego blocks though is you really can't put a tire chock at the ends and get it tight, hence SoundGuys system above. I do it different and I made a big clamp that wedges between the tires on the lego leveled side. Link to homemade clamps
As far as the stabilizers, I do use some pieces of 4x4 lumber to take up space so the jacks don't have to come down so far. I use the 4x4's because unlike leveling the trailer which is maybe an inch or two, the leveling jacks can need a foot or more. In reality though I don't really care if the trailer wiggles a bit when people move around, maybe if I was trying to play Jenga it would be a problem, but otherwise a little wiggle is no big deal.
Last and really the most important advice I can give you. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT unhook the trailer from the hitch until you have 4 tire blocks down (block both the front and the back of the tires) to prevent the trailer moving. Also never unhook the safety chains until the trailer is off the hitch and not rolling away. If you're on this forum long enough you will read about somebody thinking their site is level and unhooking the hitch only to have the trailer start rolling away.
To the OP......
My system is the best. Why, well because it's my system and therefore it's better than anybody else's. :p
First and foremost just get the trailer and go camping a few times. After that you'll get an idea what you need.
I threw away my plastic tire chocks and now have 4 tire blocks made by some 4x6 lumber cut into a curved wedge on a band saw. If I ever forget to remove a chock and pull the trailer over it the block doesn't just crush like plastic ones.
For leveling I use the plastic lego blocks. I have 3 sets as I boondock often and have needed them. They are durable, take up a lot less space, and are a lot lighter than long pieces of timber.
The problem with lego blocks though is you really can't put a tire chock at the ends and get it tight, hence SoundGuys system above. I do it different and I made a big clamp that wedges between the tires on the lego leveled side. Link to homemade clamps
As far as the stabilizers, I do use some pieces of 4x4 lumber to take up space so the jacks don't have to come down so far. I use the 4x4's because unlike leveling the trailer which is maybe an inch or two, the leveling jacks can need a foot or more. In reality though I don't really care if the trailer wiggles a bit when people move around, maybe if I was trying to play Jenga it would be a problem, but otherwise a little wiggle is no big deal.
Last and really the most important advice I can give you. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT unhook the trailer from the hitch until you have 4 tire blocks down (block both the front and the back of the tires) to prevent the trailer moving. Also never unhook the safety chains until the trailer is off the hitch and not rolling away. If you're on this forum long enough you will read about somebody thinking their site is level and unhooking the hitch only to have the trailer start rolling away.
