leveling systems for fifth wheelers

[EASY_RIDER]

do most 5th wheels have automated leveling systems, or do you have to level yourself? I have no experience with 5th wheels, have always had a motothome.

thanks

Tom

[fj12ryder]

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.

[Cummins12V98]

I have the LCI 6 point system on our 16 MS. I have not spent the time to figure it out completely but it seems to work well. I had no problems with the last MS with the 4 point manual system.

I can say the lower area of our 16 is more stable than the 07.5 it replaced but the lateral movement in the upper bedroom area is MUCH more with the 16 then the other MS. The rear 4 hydraulic rams are very solid but the two front rams appear to be in some sort of sleeve and there is a LOT of movement. Everything appears to be tight up front. I am assuming this is normal?

[Stefonius]

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.

[fj12ryder]

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.

[Stefonius]

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.

[Shepherd]

My unit has a six point, all electric leveling system and it works great.

[ReneeG]

We purchased our luxury, full time 2011 model fifth wheel new in 2010 and it did not come with an automatic leveling system. We've got front hydraulic levelers and back electric stabilizers. We've thought of adding an after market leveling system, but haven't done it yet. We may still some day, but for right now it's not that important to us as it's not difficult to level the unit.

[joelc]

kennethwooster wrote:
Our Carriage has the big foot leveling system. It works fantastic, and takes most of the trailer movement out.

Our Carriage is the same way, except when my wife gets out of bed. She does not read this. Don't have to worry. Just kidding. Some movement, but very little even when windy.

[kennethwooster]

Our Carriage has the big foot leveling system. It works fantastic, and takes most of the trailer movement out.

[Racine96]

Mine doesn't have it, but next one will.

[TXiceman]

Big Foot is now offering an additional 2 point to add to the 4 point system.

Ken

[SabreCanuck]

Ours has the 6 point auto-leveling system with the strong arm system. We have yet to put the tightening screws in the strong arm system, the 6 points seem to keep the 5th wheel as stable as we've ever been.

[skeetshooter]

I've had both Big Foot and the six point on my current MS. I like the stability of the six point system but the BF was a very good four point system also. I had first generation BF and never had an issue with it. I had it installed on my first F/W a NuWa Premier and it came standard on my NuWa Champagne. On the first unit it was installed by Quadra in Michigan but sold to me through Mor/Ryde.
SkeetShooter

[jnharley]

The Big Foot levelers each have their own hydraulic reservoir and each jack can raise 17k lbs. No problems raising the RV off the ground for a tire change on stable ground. We do have rear stabilizers but rarely put them down for stays of less than a week.

[joelc]

Traveler II wrote:
Its standard on the upper end models and a option on others. We have the Big Foot system on our rig and it works great.

Ditto. Have a Carriage Cameo and love the Big Foot by Quadra. However, many 5ers dont have a frame like the Cameo and need a 6 point system instead of a 4 point.