Automatic levelers on uneven ground

[rogers81]

We camp a lot on uneven ground. We are looking to buy a new fifth wheel and we are looking at the automatic leveling option. how much grade will the automatic levelers compensate for?

[Mile_High]

FlatBroke wrote:
Never had a level up system, but I thought the purpose was you didn't have to use blocks or boards. Our winter place is level just have to put the landing down. Some spots in the mountains I'd probably have still bring my blocks.

Overall you are right. It tossed my boards, gave my rotochoks to my buddy, and I don't hesitate for a second to book a week in a campground with different sites on different days based on availability, just because it is so easy to move now. All I kept were the yellow wheel chocks for obvious inclines, and that stack of plastic pads that are used to level the picnic table far more than the camper.

I used it to tilt one side off the ground last year so I could change out a flat with the spare. The slides were out and the gals were inside cooking. It was fun watching the DW gripe and moan as the trailer jerked hard to starboard 🙂

[Michelle_S]

We've been using the Level-Up System on our past three 5ers and have had wheels on one side or the other up in the air on numerous times and never worried about it. The system is designed that it can lift all four tires off the ground without a problem.
As for the chocking issue, once up on the Jacks it's not moving anywhere.

[Luke_Porter]

FlatBroke wrote:
Never had a level up system, but I thought the purpose was you didn't have to use blocks or boards.

The purpose is to support and level the rear of the trailer.

[CarnationSailor]

If the Lippert Level Up gives you an error because the trailer is too far out of level (for example greater than the 4 degrees mentioned earlier), manually adjust the jacks to get the trailer closer to level then hit Auto Level and the system will finish the job.

The road in front of our house is sloped such that the front of the trailer is too high for Auto Level to work. I just lower the front jacks a couple of inches and then hit Auto Level. Works fine.

[chrizg]

It is ok with the Lipert 6 point system to lift one side of the tires off the ground on unlevel sites? The dealer said to never lift all 4 tires off the ground cause the axles would flip.

[Winged_One]

Rossey wrote:
Interesting that you asked this question. My previous 5er had hydraulic front jacks & elec. rear stabilizers. NEVER had a problem with that setup. My CURRENT new Redwood has the lippert 6 point leveling system that we just used on our second trip recently. I was under the impression that all you have to do is pull up unhook & press the "auto level" button & the coach would automatically level WRONG !! The site has to be just about perfectly level ( ours wasn't) for the system to auto level as we found out, otherwise you have to use boards under your jacks (or you'll keep on getting ERROR messages) and or "manually" level. What a pain ...... miss the old "standard system". This system isn't very user friendly. JMHO

I think you need to get yours serviced. That is not normal.

Make sure it is a bit nose up before you start.

[Gsport]

On the lippert 6 point auto level you have to be within 4° of level for it to operate on auto-level

[kakampers]

In our experience with Level-Up it takes a pretty un level site to cause the system to "stroke out"...we occasionally need use blocking on the low site of an un level site, but it's nothing major. After a while you'll learn to "read" a site and know when to block and when not to...

[Dennis_M_M]

Have not found a site the BigFoot could not handle, but there was one time that they extended farther than I was comfortable with so I moved the rig a bit to get to a better spot.

[Rossey]

Interesting that you asked this question. My previous 5er had hydraulic front jacks & elec. rear stabilizers. NEVER had a problem with that setup. My CURRENT new Redwood has the lippert 6 point leveling system that we just used on our second trip recently. I was under the impression that all you have to do is pull up unhook & press the "auto level" button & the coach would automatically level WRONG !! The site has to be just about perfectly level ( ours wasn't) for the system to auto level as we found out, otherwise you have to use boards under your jacks (or you'll keep on getting ERROR messages) and or "manually" level. What a pain ...... miss the old "standard system". This system isn't very user friendly. JMHO

[Winged_One]

ACZL wrote:
Question on blocks. Do you use solid boards (2x8, 2x10, 2x12) or blocks (4x4,6x6,8x8)? Plus if you end up raising the tires off the ground, (if very uneven), what prevents the coach from sliding downhill as chocking the wheels won't do you any good?

With our current set up which is std in industry, we place a plank or 2 of 2x10 under the low side to level side to side, chock wheels, and a couple pieces of 2x6 (or a 4pack of 2x10x1' screwed together if very large gap) under front legs adjust/shim as necessary, then Lynx leveling blocks under rear stabs. Wife saw and likes the idea of the 6 point, but some questions as I just mentioned.

Most of my camping is in State parks without concrete pads. I still use Lynx levelers if the site is way out of level. I then put some Lynx levelers and caps down under the six hydraulic levers. I also have the Lynx chocks that clip onto the Lynx levelers.

If the Lippert lifts one side off the ground (rare), I will manually lift it a bit more and put some levelers under the tires and lower them onto the levelers.

Believe it or not, it's still faster and easier than the old way I used to do it before the level up.

BTW, the above are rare instances (for me anyway).

[rogers81]

I camp at some NASCAR sites where I may have 4 or 5 2x6s under one side to level the axels. Sometimes I have to add 2 steps to be able to use the camper steps. I was just wondering how well an automatic leveler would work and how much blocking it will take.

[Mile_High]

I just carry a stack of those plastic blocks in a bag. I've never had to use anything more.

I put this thing in many sites where it is not supposed to fit, so even though the pad may be level, the landing gear may be overhanging onto the drive that isn't so level. If your willing to use some blocks, you can enjoy a broader group of sites.

This is in a state park on concrete where the pad has settled a bit.

[CarnationSailor]

ACZL wrote:
Question on blocks. Do you use solid boards (2x8, 2x10, 2x12) or blocks (4x4,6x6,8x8)? Plus if you end up raising the tires off the ground, (if very uneven), what prevents the coach from sliding downhill as chocking the wheels won't do you any good?

One pair of wheels will remain on the ground. Chock those.