Question folks. This may belong in the 5th wheel section but I put it here to get a wider answer. What are automatic levelers and for those units that don't have it how do they level if the automatic leverlers are not there ?thanks

manually.Boards under wheels to get even side to sideJacks whether on the fiver or separately.

I'm only familiar with the air suspension and hydraulic levelers that are on motorhomes (I believe electric versions also exist). The air levelers use the air suspension bags and inflate each as necessary to achieve level. Hydraulic levelers are hydraulic cylinders or "jacks" and are powered by a central pump or one pump per cylinder. Both automatic and manual versions exist (at least of the hydraulic types). The automatic levelers simply require a button push and they take care of everything (assuming not on impossibly sloped ground). The manual hydraulic levelers require the operator to push up/down buttons to achieve level.

Fifth wheel here...front landing gear, power. Back stabilizers, manual, crank down. I use 2x12 boards, beveled each end and pull up on them, lower side of trailer. I do it by myself, no big deal. On a good size motor home, the automatic levelers are very nice. On 26 to 30', there again, I just used boards to level with if no jacks.

I have a TT without anything except the stabilizer jacks, and scissor jacks I've added behind the wheels.I wish I had automatic levelers.It's about 10 to 30 minutes shorter to setup at a campsite.Automatice levelers are not perfect. I've seen Class A units with the automatic levelers holding the front (or rear) wheels off the ground to level the rig. Very bad practice. There should always be something under each wheel.Depending upon the surface your rig sits upon - what was level the day you setup may not be level in a couple days. If we are on dirt, I always extend the stabilizers and jack after a couple days. The ground gets sunken under the weight of the rig, and to maintain the best stability, or to return to near level, I have to adjust.The principle of automatic leveling is two-fold. The biggest is to lessen the time and effort and equipment needed to get the rig near level. The second important aspect is to take as much weight as reasonably possible off the TT/5er/motorhome suspension.The percentage of the total weight on the rig springs is the primary source of movement within rig after being setup. Use levelers to get weight off the springs - a more stable rig.I've also seen a 5er use hydraulic levelers in the manual mode to raise one side of the rig enough to lubricate wheel bearings. Of course, he had a jack and jack stands to make sure the rig wouldn't fall if the hydraulics failed.It was interesting to see all four wheel bearings repacked/greased and finished in less than 15 minutes. And the rig back to level on the campsite.

Class C owner here. I use leveling blocks purchased from Walmart to level the rig when necessary. Others use all types of mechanical or automatic type systems. The down side with a Class C using leveling systems is that the system adds weight and decreases the amount of stuff you can carry including people. For some rigs, the weight doesn't matter. For others, it can cause the rig to exceed the GVWR of the chassis and/or suspension components.

Automatic levelers | Good Sam Community

LadyRVer
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2017
Fifth wheel here...front landing gear, power. Back stabilizers, manual, crank down. I use 2x12 boards, beveled each end and pull up on them, lower side of trailer. I do it by myself, no big deal. On a good size motor home, the automatic levelers are very nice. On 26 to 30', there again, I just used boards to level with if no jacks.
JFNM
Explorer
Jul 25, 2017
I'm only familiar with the air suspension and hydraulic levelers that are on motorhomes (I believe electric versions also exist). The air levelers use the air suspension bags and inflate each as necessary to achieve level. Hydraulic levelers are hydraulic cylinders or "jacks" and are powered by a central pump or one pump per cylinder. Both automatic and manual versions exist (at least of the hydraulic types). The automatic levelers simply require a button push and they take care of everything (assuming not on impossibly sloped ground). The manual hydraulic levelers require the operator to push up/down buttons to achieve level.
darsben1
Explorer
Jul 25, 2017
manually.
Boards under wheels to get even side to side
Jacks whether on the fiver or separately.

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