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Front landing gear tip-adjustable foot

Ezbagr
Explorer
Explorer
I use an adjustable landing gear foot on the landing gear that is closest to the up-down button for the landing gear-no shimming etc.
Pull pin on opposite side lower til adequate-put pin back in-lower
other side til adequate-put pin back in-use down switch to make ground contact with non adjustable side-screw out adjustable side til it makes ground contact and you are good to go. Pretty much always have same pressure on both legs and not twisting fifth wheel frame.
You level trailer side to side before doing this.
33 REPLIES 33

Ezbagr
Explorer
Explorer
well wilber1, I guess we can agree to disagree. I will refuse to knowingly twist my fiver frame by following your procedure.
You have a good day.

wilber1
Explorer
Explorer
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I've often wondered with the two motor independent system how you know that both legs are moving at the same time to raise the trailer in sync. Obviously once both legs are in contact with the ground you can't tell if you raised or lowered one leg more than the other. Can the switches be interlinked so they work together?


Later models than mine had a third switch that ran both motors. The speed they run at is very close. Our procedure is run each leg down till they are just touching the ground, then I hold both switches and raise the trailer until I can unhook. Once unhooked, I hold both switches and lower it until the trailer is level fore and aft. Then I level it side to side by raising one and lowering the other at the same time. That maintains the fore and aft level while leveling side to side. It works very well as long as the ground isn't too sloped.

For hooking up, I just run them together like they were a single motor system.

wilber1, it is not so good to do it the way you described. You first need to level side to side before lowering legs.
Doing it the way you described you ARE TWISTING the frame.


If you level side to side at the front and the wheels aren't on dead level ground, you are twisting the frame anyway. Independent jacks just make the process easier, they don't replace the need to block up wheels if the ground is very uneven.

It is physically impossible to level the whole trailer side to side with the front landing gear. I don`t understand leveling the front of the trailer side to side?
You level inside trailer floor first and then lower jacks separately in your case until the both touch the ground and then raise or lower together if needed.


And how do you "level the inside floor".


By shimming, blocking etc. low side tires.



You have to do that with independent jacks as well but you can be much less exact about it. If the ground is fairly level, you don't have to do it at all and can still get the trailer quite level with just the front and rear jacks. We use a spirit level but my wife's real criteria is the bathroom door. If it doesn't move, regardless of what position it is left, the trailer is level.

Anyway, I've been doing it with this trailer for 11 years and haven't twisted or broken anything despite finding out that one jack will support the whole front of the trailer when one switch stuck on when I released it and I didn't notice.


wilber1, you need to go back to the beginning of the this thread. It is about making the front landing legs contact the ground at the same time thus eliminating frame twist.
Contrary to what you say, leveling side to side with front landing gear is NOT GOOD for trailer frame. Good for you that this has been the way you are doing it and has not caused you any problems but I will continue to use IMHO the correct way-level side to side,lower landing gear, adjust landing gear so both feet contact ground at same time,unhook,level front to back.



That's exactly what individual jacks allow you to do. They also allow you to fine tune side to side leveling after you have blocked the wheels. Frames are flexible and are subject to uneven and changing loads all the time as you drive down the road. They have to be because G forces from hitting every bump and whoopee on the road will change the loading on the frame. How you load your trailer and extending your slides also changes the loading on the frame.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC

2011 RAM 3500 SRW
2015 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

Ezbagr
Explorer
Explorer
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I've often wondered with the two motor independent system how you know that both legs are moving at the same time to raise the trailer in sync. Obviously once both legs are in contact with the ground you can't tell if you raised or lowered one leg more than the other. Can the switches be interlinked so they work together?


Later models than mine had a third switch that ran both motors. The speed they run at is very close. Our procedure is run each leg down till they are just touching the ground, then I hold both switches and raise the trailer until I can unhook. Once unhooked, I hold both switches and lower it until the trailer is level fore and aft. Then I level it side to side by raising one and lowering the other at the same time. That maintains the fore and aft level while leveling side to side. It works very well as long as the ground isn't too sloped.

For hooking up, I just run them together like they were a single motor system.

wilber1, it is not so good to do it the way you described. You first need to level side to side before lowering legs.
Doing it the way you described you ARE TWISTING the frame.


If you level side to side at the front and the wheels aren't on dead level ground, you are twisting the frame anyway. Independent jacks just make the process easier, they don't replace the need to block up wheels if the ground is very uneven.

It is physically impossible to level the whole trailer side to side with the front landing gear. I don`t understand leveling the front of the trailer side to side?
You level inside trailer floor first and then lower jacks separately in your case until the both touch the ground and then raise or lower together if needed.


And how do you "level the inside floor".


By shimming, blocking etc. low side tires.



You have to do that with independent jacks as well but you can be much less exact about it. If the ground is fairly level, you don't have to do it at all and can still get the trailer quite level with just the front and rear jacks. We use a spirit level but my wife's real criteria is the bathroom door. If it doesn't move, regardless of what position it is left, the trailer is level.

Anyway, I've been doing it with this trailer for 11 years and haven't twisted or broken anything despite finding out that one jack will support the whole front of the trailer when one switch stuck on when I released it and I didn't notice.


wilber1, you need to go back to the beginning of the this thread. It is about making the front landing legs contact the ground at the same time thus eliminating frame twist.
Contrary to what you say, leveling side to side with front landing gear is NOT GOOD for trailer frame. Good for you that this has been the way you are doing it and has not caused you any problems but I will continue to use IMHO the correct way-level side to side,lower landing gear, adjust landing gear so both feet contact ground at same time,unhook,level front to back.

wilber1
Explorer
Explorer
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I've often wondered with the two motor independent system how you know that both legs are moving at the same time to raise the trailer in sync. Obviously once both legs are in contact with the ground you can't tell if you raised or lowered one leg more than the other. Can the switches be interlinked so they work together?


Later models than mine had a third switch that ran both motors. The speed they run at is very close. Our procedure is run each leg down till they are just touching the ground, then I hold both switches and raise the trailer until I can unhook. Once unhooked, I hold both switches and lower it until the trailer is level fore and aft. Then I level it side to side by raising one and lowering the other at the same time. That maintains the fore and aft level while leveling side to side. It works very well as long as the ground isn't too sloped.

For hooking up, I just run them together like they were a single motor system.

wilber1, it is not so good to do it the way you described. You first need to level side to side before lowering legs.
Doing it the way you described you ARE TWISTING the frame.


If you level side to side at the front and the wheels aren't on dead level ground, you are twisting the frame anyway. Independent jacks just make the process easier, they don't replace the need to block up wheels if the ground is very uneven.

It is physically impossible to level the whole trailer side to side with the front landing gear. I don`t understand leveling the front of the trailer side to side?
You level inside trailer floor first and then lower jacks separately in your case until the both touch the ground and then raise or lower together if needed.


And how do you "level the inside floor".


By shimming, blocking etc. low side tires.



You have to do that with independent jacks as well but you can be much less exact about it. If the ground is fairly level, you don't have to do it at all and can still get the trailer quite level with just the front and rear jacks. We use a spirit level but my wife's real criteria is the bathroom door. If it doesn't move, regardless of what position it is left, the trailer is level.

Anyway, I've been doing it with this trailer for 11 years and haven't twisted or broken anything despite finding out that one jack will support the whole front of the trailer when one switch stuck on when I released it and I didn't notice.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC

2011 RAM 3500 SRW
2015 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

Ezbagr
Explorer
Explorer
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I've often wondered with the two motor independent system how you know that both legs are moving at the same time to raise the trailer in sync. Obviously once both legs are in contact with the ground you can't tell if you raised or lowered one leg more than the other. Can the switches be interlinked so they work together?


Later models than mine had a third switch that ran both motors. The speed they run at is very close. Our procedure is run each leg down till they are just touching the ground, then I hold both switches and raise the trailer until I can unhook. Once unhooked, I hold both switches and lower it until the trailer is level fore and aft. Then I level it side to side by raising one and lowering the other at the same time. That maintains the fore and aft level while leveling side to side. It works very well as long as the ground isn't too sloped.

For hooking up, I just run them together like they were a single motor system.

wilber1, it is not so good to do it the way you described. You first need to level side to side before lowering legs.
Doing it the way you described you ARE TWISTING the frame.


If you level side to side at the front and the wheels aren't on dead level ground, you are twisting the frame anyway. Independent jacks just make the process easier, they don't replace the need to block up wheels if the ground is very uneven.

It is physically impossible to level the whole trailer side to side with the front landing gear. I don`t understand leveling the front of the trailer side to side?
You level inside trailer floor first and then lower jacks seperately in your case until the both touch the ground and then raise or lower together if needed.


And how do you "level the inside floor".


By shimming, blocking etc. low side tires.

wilber1
Explorer
Explorer
fj12ryder wrote:
One last question: does having two motors noticeably speed up the lowering and raising of the front legs?

Our 5er before this one had hydraulic front legs and they were wonderfully fast, and didn't seem to have the problem handling the weight like our present Fuzion with the electric front jacks. This one is soooooooo sloooooooow.

TIA.


Not that I can tell.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC

2011 RAM 3500 SRW
2015 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Explorer III
One last question: does having two motors noticeably speed up the lowering and raising of the front legs?

Our 5er before this one had hydraulic front legs and they were wonderfully fast, and didn't seem to have the problem handling the weight like our present Fuzion with the electric front jacks. This one is soooooooo sloooooooow.

TIA.
Howard and Peggy

"Don't Panic"

wilber1
Explorer
Explorer
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I've often wondered with the two motor independent system how you know that both legs are moving at the same time to raise the trailer in sync. Obviously once both legs are in contact with the ground you can't tell if you raised or lowered one leg more than the other. Can the switches be interlinked so they work together?


Later models than mine had a third switch that ran both motors. The speed they run at is very close. Our procedure is run each leg down till they are just touching the ground, then I hold both switches and raise the trailer until I can unhook. Once unhooked, I hold both switches and lower it until the trailer is level fore and aft. Then I level it side to side by raising one and lowering the other at the same time. That maintains the fore and aft level while leveling side to side. It works very well as long as the ground isn't too sloped.

For hooking up, I just run them together like they were a single motor system.

wilber1, it is not so good to do it the way you described. You first need to level side to side before lowering legs.
Doing it the way you described you ARE TWISTING the frame.


If you level side to side at the front and the wheels aren't on dead level ground, you are twisting the frame anyway. Independent jacks just make the process easier, they don't replace the need to block up wheels if the ground is very uneven.

It is physically impossible to level the whole trailer side to side with the front landing gear. I don`t understand leveling the front of the trailer side to side?
You level inside trailer floor first and then lower jacks seperately in your case until the both touch the ground and then raise or lower together if needed.


And how do you "level the inside floor".
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC

2011 RAM 3500 SRW
2015 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

Ezbagr
Explorer
Explorer
magonzo wrote:
Any chance of that adjustable pad rotating off while in tow? It looks like a great idea to me.


I remove complete foot and throw into truck bed when towing. I would be concerned about pad rotating off when in tow.

magonzo
Explorer
Explorer
Any chance of that adjustable pad rotating off while in tow? It looks like a great idea to me.
Matt
'13 Sydney 340FBH
'07 Silverado 2500HD

restlesswind
Explorer
Explorer
because there is only one control for UP or Down on my fiver,I have installed handles on the bottom of the front jacks.

When the pins are pulled and the jack drops down,it looks like both jacks are
solid on the ground,they may both be,or not.

By lifting the jack using the handle,I can tell if one is not really all the way down,from that point I shim as needed.
It took me a couple of years to figure that out.Yeah,some of us are slow learners. 🙂
'04 33.5 CKQG Hitchhiker Discover America
04.5 Dodge 3500 CTD SRW
Pac Brake,Max Brake
Fulltimers since '06

blkdodge
Explorer
Explorer
I used to do it just like EZBAGR. Then I got LAZY and bought a trailer with 6 point hydraulic leveling system. Problem solved, push the auto level button grab a beer and watch it do it thing. :B
2012 Dodge 3500 DRW/2012 Heartland Landmark San Antonio.

Ezbagr
Explorer
Explorer
This is the way that I level

1. pull in or back into site
2. check level side to side-adjust if necessary by placing shims, blocks,etc under low side tires.
3.Chock tires
4.lower front landing-adjusting landing gear feet so they contact ground at same time-adjust by using separate buttons as in wilbur1`s
setup or by using adjustable foot on one side which is what i use.
5.Raise trailer by extending both sides of landing at the same time and same travel-raise high enough to unhook
6. unhook and pull truck out of way.
7. check front to rear level and adjust if necessary with front landing gear by raising or lowering again, at same time and same travel.
8. lower rear jacks.

Ezbagr
Explorer
Explorer
wilber1 wrote:
Ezbagr wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I've often wondered with the two motor independent system how you know that both legs are moving at the same time to raise the trailer in sync. Obviously once both legs are in contact with the ground you can't tell if you raised or lowered one leg more than the other. Can the switches be interlinked so they work together?


Later models than mine had a third switch that ran both motors. The speed they run at is very close. Our procedure is run each leg down till they are just touching the ground, then I hold both switches and raise the trailer until I can unhook. Once unhooked, I hold both switches and lower it until the trailer is level fore and aft. Then I level it side to side by raising one and lowering the other at the same time. That maintains the fore and aft level while leveling side to side. It works very well as long as the ground isn't too sloped.

For hooking up, I just run them together like they were a single motor system.

wilber1, it is not so good to do it the way you described. You first need to level side to side before lowering legs.
Doing it the way you described you ARE TWISTING the frame.


If you level side to side at the front and the wheels aren't on dead level ground, you are twisting the frame anyway. Independent jacks just make the process easier, they don't replace the need to block up wheels if the ground is very uneven.

It is physically impossible to level the whole trailer side to side with the front landing gear. I don`t understand leveling the front of the trailer side to side?
You level inside trailer floor first and then lower jacks seperately in your case until the both touch the ground and then raise or lower together if needed.