leveling systems for fifth wheelers

fj12ryder wrote:

Stefonius wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

Stefonius wrote:
We level manually. It's a time-consuming, labor-intensive pain in the butt. A 6 point auto-leveling system is very high on the "Next RV" list of must-haves.

Sounds like you're doing it wrong. :) "Time-consuming, labor intensive"? Are you on a schedule that have to have it done in seconds instead of minutes? Labor intensive? I might have to put down a few blocks, move the truck, and then hold those pesky buttons down. Apparently your idea of labor intensive and mine are worlds apart. :)

It also takes some time with ours to get the JT Strongarms and RotoChoks set to lessen the movement. From what I've been reading in the "Wiggle" thread the automatic levelers don't do much to make the unit more stable. So you still end up messing with the "manual" part of setting up. Not having money to burn I'll put up with this "time-consuming, labor intensive" minor chore.

In all the years we've been doing this, we've set up camp on level ground exactly one time. Setup looks like this:
Back into the space.
Get out and check side-to-side level.
Get appropriate number of long boards out of basement and stage them by the axles. Pull the rig forward. Get out and put boards where the axles will be. Back up onto boards. Get out and re-check side-to-side level.
Repeat as necessary to get the correct level.
Once that's done, chock and block wheels. Unhitch.
Raise or lower landing gear to get level front to back. If I'm lucky, DW checks the level and calls out when I should stop. If not, I have to make trips back and forth to read the bubble.
Put stabilizer jacks down.
Set up four frame jacks (in front of and behind spring hangers on both sides) to take the "bounce" out of the trailer. This involves laying on the ground in four separate spots under the rig... no easy feat when you're 6'5", overweight, middle-aged and have a bad back, knees & hips.
Total time for this process is one to two hours, more if it's muddy or dark or raining or I'm tired. With a 6 point auto-level system, I believe that I can cut that down to 5 minutes. Totally worth it in my opinion.

Wow, if I had to do that every time I'd be looking at something else too.

Mine consists of pulling up to the unlevel spot, check in the rear view mirror for the side-to-side level according to the pin level, back up about a foot, get the leveling blocks out and put the necessary number on the ground, pull forward onto them and double check the pin level. Rarely need to readjust. Now get out chock the wheels, and lower the front and rear stabilizers, tighten the JT Strongarms. Total time about 15 minutes.

From what I've been reading, getting auto-leveling won't get rid of all the wiggle. IOW you could still find yourself crawling under the trailer to put your frame jacks in place. Many people have commented that the self-leveling systems are for leveling, not to make the trailer stop moving around from movement inside. I'd do lots of research before I dumped several thousand dollars on a system that may not do what you expect it to do.

Read through the thread Wiggle to hear what others think of the self-leveling systems.

15 minutes here too but we don't have the JT Strongarms, instead we put down our rear stabilizers and use Bal Deluxe Tire locking chock between the tires which stops a lot of movement. Without them in we feel it move.