Auto Levelers, Wheels off ground on one side

[RRinNFla]

Since acquiring a rig with auto levelers last year, most of my camping has been done in Florida, where sites tend to be pretty level. Recently, we camped in a pull-through site near a lake, where there was a significant downhill slope on the curb side.

By the time the auto-leveler finished, the curb side wheels were about three inches off of the ground. I took my lego blocks and built pyramids, and wedged them under the wheels. Since we were only at the site a couple of days, I left it like that, but I was worried that with no weight on the axles too much weight was being put on the gears that push down the the leveler legs.

I asked a neighbor if he thought that was too much weight on the levelers. He said not to worry, that is what they were made for.

So, I am looking for other opinions. What think ye?

[drfife]

jerem0621 wrote:

drfife wrote:


If one side has tire contact to ground, the lateral movement in wind will be minimal.

Try again.

Less than ONE year ago to a member of this forum...his Solaire TT blew over at home in the drive way..with the wheels on the ground and the stabilizer jacks down...

The tremendous forces of aerodynamics can not be under-estimated...

I do envy the self leveling system though.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Like you said, even with all the stabilizers and tires on the ground the trailer flipped in extremely high winds. They would have met the same fate if one side of tires were off the ground.

[jerem0621]

drfife wrote:

Lantley wrote:

drfife wrote:


Ok, I'll bite.

What are the "what ifs" if the wheels are off the ground on one side?

The what ifs could simply be a strong gust of wind. We know awnings get torn off. I have ready post of trailers rocking in the wind.
How much rocking can your trailer withstand with the wheels off the ground? We won't get into the ground sinking causing the RV to teeter.
Maybe a mishap may just lead to a bent jack or do we want to talk bent frames if the RV should fall suddenly due to wind or soft ground. Will a heavy rain cause the ground to soften?
I agree these scenarios may not be likely but they are surely possible.
It's just too easy to properly support the wheels with boards the old fashion way vs. ignoring the manual.
In most cases that legal ease mumbo jumbo is the result of a lawsuit that was lost by the manufacturer.
They issue the warnings simply because they know bad things can happen while the wheels are off the ground.
Yes they may be more concerned about their own liability than potential damage to your trailer. Nevertheless they are aware of the what ifs and that bad things can AND DO happen.

If one side has tire contact to ground, the lateral movement in wind will be minimal.

Try again.

Less than ONE year ago to a member of this forum...his Solaire TT blew over at home in the drive way..with the wheels on the ground and the stabilizer jacks down...

The tremendous forces of aerodynamics can not be under-estimated...

I do envy the self leveling system though.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[drfife]

Lantley wrote:

drfife wrote:


Ok, I'll bite.

What are the "what ifs" if the wheels are off the ground on one side?

The what ifs could simply be a strong gust of wind. We know awnings get torn off. I have ready post of trailers rocking in the wind.
How much rocking can your trailer withstand with the wheels off the ground? We won't get into the ground sinking causing the RV to teeter.
Maybe a mishap may just lead to a bent jack or do we want to talk bent frames if the RV should fall suddenly due to wind or soft ground. Will a heavy rain cause the ground to soften?
I agree these scenarios may not be likely but they are surely possible.
It's just too easy to properly support the wheels with boards the old fashion way vs. ignoring the manual.
In most cases that legal ease mumbo jumbo is the result of a lawsuit that was lost by the manufacturer.
They issue the warnings simply because they know bad things can happen while the wheels are off the ground.
Yes they may be more concerned about their own liability than potential damage to your trailer. Nevertheless they are aware of the what ifs and that bad things can AND DO happen.

If one side has tire contact to ground, the lateral movement in wind will be minimal.

Try again.

[rkassl]

Great info. Say I am new to the Lippert Level Up system, just got it last summer. Using the touchpad how do would you lift one side to change a tire? I would think you are in the manual mode, then what do you do?

Thanks!

[Michelle_S]

One major problem with pulling up on boards, I bought a unit with auto leveling so I didn't have to carry around a lumber yard with me. Yes I have a few pieces to put under the jack pads if need be, but nothing for the tires.
Now if I were doing maintenance like wheel bearing, I'd use the jack to raise the unit, then put my heavy duty jack stands under the frame, same as you would do if working on a car or truck.
To each their own.

[Lantley]

Mile High wrote:
I've hit several campgrounds where I end up with wheels off the ground. The only thing you have to watch, in addition to inadvertently flipping a shackle, is the bands around the leaf springs can loosen or pop off.

Another What if!
Truth is if you are observant you can often spot a wheel raising site and pull up on to boards the old fashion way to get things more in line before you begin to auto level

[Mile_High]

I've hit several campgrounds where I end up with wheels off the ground. The only thing you have to watch, in addition to inadvertently flipping a shackle, is the bands around the leaf springs can loosen or pop off.

[Lantley]

drfife wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Winged One wrote:
LCI system. If wheels are off the ground, I manually lift them a bit more, stick some blocks under the tires and let the system down a bit, maintaining level.

I take this approach as well. I prefer not to have wheels off the ground.
Too many what ifs possible vs. having wheels on the ground. None of the what if scenarios are good.

Ok, I'll bite.

What are the "what ifs" if the wheels are off the ground on one side?

The what ifs could simply be a strong gust of wind. We know awnings get torn off. I have ready post of trailers rocking in the wind.
How much rocking can your trailer withstand with the wheels off the ground? We won't get into the ground sinking causing the RV to teeter.
Maybe a mishap may just lead to a bent jack or do we want to talk bent frames if the RV should fall suddenly due to wind or soft ground. Will a heavy rain cause the ground to soften?
I agree these scenarios may not be likely but they are surely possible.
It's just too easy to properly support the wheels with boards the old fashion way vs. ignoring the manual.
In most cases that legal ease mumbo jumbo is the result of a lawsuit that was lost by the manufacturer.
They issue the warnings simply because they know bad things can happen while the wheels are off the ground.
Yes they may be more concerned about their own liability than potential damage to your trailer. Nevertheless they are aware of the what ifs and that bad things can AND DO happen.

[Winged_One]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
If the site is that unlevel why not put some blocks down then pull up on them then let the levelers do their thing then the rv has all the wheels on something solid....

That is what I normally do on very uneven. Get it pretty level with blocks under the wheels, then let it do its thing, with additional blocks under the 4 rear levelers. Sometimes its not still not enough.

[drfife]

RRinNFla wrote:
Thanks for the responses. A mixed bag, as I expected.

The one piece of logic that I don't buy is that if you can use the levelers to change tires, it is OK for occupancy. I use a scissor jack to change my auto tire, but I wouldn't crawl under the vehicle while it is on the scissor jack.

I've jacked the wheels off the ground, removed the wheels and replaced the springs with just the hydraulic jacks. No problem.

[RRinNFla]

Thanks for the responses. A mixed bag, as I expected.

The one piece of logic that I don't buy is that if you can use the levelers to change tires, it is OK for occupancy. I use a scissor jack to change my auto tire, but I wouldn't crawl under the vehicle while it is on the scissor jack.

[Bob_Vaughn]

If the site is that unlevel why not put some blocks down then pull up on them then let the levelers do their thing then the rv has all the wheels on something solid....

[drfife]

Lantley wrote:

Winged One wrote:
LCI system. If wheels are off the ground, I manually lift them a bit more, stick some blocks under the tires and let the system down a bit, maintaining level.

I take this approach as well. I prefer not to have wheels off the ground.
Too many what ifs possible vs. having wheels on the ground. None of the what if scenarios are good.

Ok, I'll bite.

What are the "what ifs" if the wheels are off the ground on one side?

[Lantley]

Michelle.S wrote:
Reference the Lippert manual: That's their Legal Eagles speaking there to Cover Their Butt. Things such as using the system to change tires and the like, were originally part of their advertising when it was TrailAir prior to the buy out by Lippert.
I'm on my third 5er with the Level-up System and many times end up with tires in the air, don't lose any sleep over it either.

Of course we all know better than to adhere to the manual.

Maybe it is just legal ease however those warnings are for the bad days when the unexpected happens.
Fire stations,ambulances, tow trucks and lawyers exist because the unexpected happens!

All the designers can do is tell the consumers not to do it. Following the instructions is up to us the end user.

[Lantley]

Winged One wrote:
LCI system. If wheels are off the ground, I manually lift them a bit more, stick some blocks under the tires and let the system down a bit, maintaining level.

I take this approach as well. I prefer not to have wheels off the ground.
Too many what ifs possible vs. having wheels on the ground. None of the what if scenarios are good.