Leveling Jacks

[Colo_Native]

I currently have a Class A and want to go to a FW, I really like the auto leveling and a lot of FW have electric but not auto. Is it a problem leveling with just electric? I had a pop up years ago and it was a pain to get that thing level. I was qouted about $5000 to get auto jacks.

[Veebyes]

The old fashioned way is really not that difficult. Stick on a couple of sailboat heel indicators. Small cheap ones will do. One for fwd & aft level. The other for side to side. The side to side goes where you can see it in your mirror. The fwd & aft goes where you can see it while operating the legs.

In no time you learn how much of what is needed to compensate for unlevel ground by how much each one is out from center bubble.

[WeBeFulltimers]

Taz 23 wrote:

WeBeFulltimers wrote:

Bamaman1 wrote:
Most leveling systems for fifth wheel trailers are hydraulic units.

Lippert bought the biggest selling electric lift company, and is also selling them. The electrics supposedly will do the job, are quicker moving, easily installed and cheaper.

My hydraulics are MUCH faster than electrics! :h

does it really make a difference? While I don't have the Hydraulics I have seen them work and I do have the electronic ones on my Cougar. They both work great and are a good option in my opinion. It takes my Cougar about 3 min. to level, So as far as time goes big deal.

It makes no difference to me as I'm retired and have all the time I need. I was only pointing out that he said electrics are faster...which they aren't.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Colo Native wrote:
I was qouted about $5000 to get auto jacks.

$5,000 for aftermarket installation of an auto leveling jack system is pretty much normal across the country from talking to friends, and researching the places which install those systems.

$2,500 is about what the option of an auto leveling jack system should add to the price of a 5er/ TT installed at the factory.

If the dealer installs the system after getting the rig from the manufacture - the price seems to run between $3,500 and $5,000.

However, a dealer installed system on a new rig is just a line item on the buy sheet. The dealer is going to have a bottom line - and will adjust the price of various items on the buy sheet. He might lower the cost of the auto levelers, but raise the cost of something else. Bottom line is what you are looking for. Don't worry about how the dealer juggles the line items to get the bottom line you are willing to pay.

[Taz_23]

WeBeFulltimers wrote:

Bamaman1 wrote:
Most leveling systems for fifth wheel trailers are hydraulic units.

Lippert bought the biggest selling electric lift company, and is also selling them. The electrics supposedly will do the job, are quicker moving, easily installed and cheaper.

My hydraulics are MUCH faster than electrics! :h

does it really make a difference? While I don't have the Hydraulics I have seen them work and I do have the electronic ones on my Cougar. They both work great and are a good option in my opinion. It takes my Cougar about 3 min. to level, So as far as time goes big deal.

[Allworth]

And "fast" is important because.....??

[WeBeFulltimers]

Bamaman1 wrote:
Most leveling systems for fifth wheel trailers are hydraulic units.

Lippert bought the biggest selling electric lift company, and is also selling them. The electrics supposedly will do the job, are quicker moving, easily installed and cheaper.

My hydraulics are MUCH faster than electrics! :h

[Bamaman11]

Most leveling systems for fifth wheel trailers are hydraulic units.

Lippert bought the biggest selling electric lift company, and is also selling them. The electrics supposedly will do the job, are quicker moving, easily installed and cheaper.

[Our_Place]

Our new Cougar has a 4 point "auto-level" system and it works really well. It's a Lippert system and I'm really impressed with the automatic "hitch height recall" function, it remembers exactly what height the camper needs to be at to reconnect your truck.

[jnharley]

Each of our Big Foot jacks will lift 17k lbs-it is an awesome system. Quadra (Big Foot) is located right across the border from the Elkhart area in Michigan. We have been there several times and they also have a place to stay while work is being done (30 amp electric only). They are fast and efficient with great customer service. We have also been to Moryde several times. They also provide excellent customer service.

[RECVEH2005]

I purchased my fiver (see sig.) with Bigfoot system; I wouldn't be without it!

Mike

[Michelle_S]

Just about all the major 5er MFRs now offer models with an auto-level feature. Some hydraulic others electric.

[chevyman2]

several Heartland 5ers have an LCI 6 point leveling system. -- Almost all Cyclone TH-5ers, almost all Bighorn 5ers, a lot of Sundance 5ers. Look at Heartlands website. Most Heartland 5ers can be ordered with 6 point levelers.

Consider this, If you are too far off level side to side. You will still need to drive on blocks on one side. If you are too far off level front to back, you still need to add blocks under the feet of the jacks that will extend the farthest.

You never want a wheel to go off the ground in order to level. Remember also, these jacks only have so much travel, and you always want each jack to exhort about the same amount of "force" on the ground. If one jacks "pushes" very much harder than the others, it could affect the slide room operation.

[NMDriver]

To actually answer the question is it hard to level a 5er. No, it is simple.

First is side to side level before you unhook. If the site is not level side to side you need to put some leveling blocks under one side and use the truck to pull up on to them. Next you chock the wheels which you will do anyway. You are now level side to side.

Next-Drop the landing gear to the ground.

-I always put a 2ft long 2x6 under my landing gear feet to make it easy to lever them back up into the drop tube (if this does not make sense to you yet it will once you see how landing gear work)-.

Once the sliding legs are down and locked you lift up off the hitch (which you must do anyway)using the electric up/down switch.

Then drive out from under 5er and raise or lower the front landing gear with the electric Up/down switch, to level front to back. You are now level front to back side to side.

It sounds complicated but the only part you are doing that you would not do with auto levels is putting some level blocks under the wheels IF they are needed. Which most places I go they are not needed.

The main issue with a 5er without autoleveler is setting up if there is rain---You cannot go inside and hit a button to level. Of course you have to get out in the rain to unhitch anyway or wait it out. With a motor home you can just get up and walk back to the frig for a cold one.

[retispcsi]

You are going to a fiver. If you are buying new include them in the purchase price. Five K seems high. If you buy used some frames will require a 6 point system, others a 4 point system will work.