Do you compensate for slides-outs when leveling first?

I'm one that levels withe the slide side high. On my 5 er,I have one of those levels I can see in the mirror, I always set the slide side high. About a ball width (or what ever yo call the thing inside the level)to the non slide side. Works for me.

Do as your user manual instructs. There is a reason they wrote it.

Whatever the mfgr. sez. If they don't say, I recommend getting level first then operate the slides.

DAS26miles wrote:

Ninerbikes wrote:
I usually read the Owners Manual first, before operating, or posting questions on Woodall's. There are some engineers here, but few of them design slideouts for RV's, or warranty them.
I can tell you when building a house, a level foundation is very important. Some people in Italy that build leaning towers don't think the same as me.

Thank you NinerBikes for your comment. My purpose in posting this is to be as informed as possible going into the PDI and be able to ask the right questions. It is my intention to read the manuals cover to cover when I get them. I do my research finding which components of my ordered MH have problems. I try to find the owner"'s manuals online, read them.

Personally, I don't know doo doo about slide outs, or leveling first, or after extension. I avoided the problems associated with them, because folks told me my first TT would be a throw away experiment, to find out what my needs would really be. Well, 3 years in, without a slide out, or motors, or batteries to worry about running it or leveling it, and it still seems to fit my needs 99% or the time, without a slide out.

But common sense would tell me to check it for level, both in, and fully extended, in case of settling while extending it, or increased leverage on the pads, from extension. YMMV, but I'd be more inclined to try it first, measure, take notes, log it, and see if it's a problem the first couple of trips before posting up.

I think it's a safe assumption that the manufacturers dumb it down for serviceability for the lowest common denominator in terms of functioning and failure, so that they don't get sued, but we seem to be building better idiots faster than the smart engineers can add enough safety margin. JMHO and YMMV disclaimers.

I've never heard of men driving larger motorhomes or RV's to compensate, but I have heard of young men driving a big truck that's all jacked up with bigger tires to compensate.

DAS26miles wrote:

Ninerbikes wrote:
I usually read the Owners Manual first, before operating, or posting questions on Woodall's. There are some engineers here, but few of them design slideouts for RV's, or warranty them.
I can tell you when building a house, a level foundation is very important. Some people in Italy that build leaning towers don't think the same as me.

Thank you NinerBikes for your comment. My purpose in posting this is to be as informed as possible going into the PDI and be able to ask the right questions. It is my intention to read the manuals cover to cover when I get them. I do my research finding which components of my ordered MH have problems. I try to find the owner"'s manuals online, read them.

so when you take delivery can all us locals come over and play?

Ninerbikes wrote:
I usually read the Owners Manual first, before operating, or posting questions on Woodall's. There are some engineers here, but few of them design slideouts for RV's, or warranty them.
I can tell you when building a house, a level foundation is very important. Some people in Italy that build leaning towers don't think the same as me.

Thank you NinerBikes for your comment. My purpose in posting this is to be as informed as possible going into the PDI and be able to ask the right questions. It is my intention to read the manuals cover to cover when I get them. I do my research finding which components of my ordered MH have problems. I try to find the owner"'s manuals online, read them.

Running out the slides after you get it level WILL alter the stance. At least it does on our TT due to both slides being on the same side. Run out the slides, check it,level it, check it again if necessary.

DAS26miles wrote:
I guess mine when it does arrive having a slide on each slide won't make too much difference in leveling.
Many of the campsites we frequent are backins and the rears are much lower than the fronts. To heed the warning of keeping the rear tires on the ground because that is where the parking brakes are, do you use ramps on the rear? I understand raising too high can cause the leveler pistons to tweak and then not retract, true?

When we level with blocks under the tires, we also put the same height of blocks under the level pads. This ensures that they are not over extended and have a solid base. This works for both front to back and side to side leveling. Beware the plastic lego type blocks under the leveling pads - we have crushed a few and now use only wood.

I usually read the Owners Manual first, before operating, or posting questions on Woodall's. There are some engineers here, but few of them design slideouts for RV's, or warranty them.

I can tell you when building a house, a level foundation is very important. Some people in Italy that build leaning towers don't think the same as me.