Leveling with 6 point leveling system

[Toolguy5]

For those who have auto leveling, do you level before you put your slides out or after?

[imjustdave]

AS I recall some slides wont function well unless the trailer is level.

For me I level first then slide out.

[Me_Again]

Our Bighorn 3575el sat all winter last winter with the drivers side tires off the ground. Part way through the season the guy behind us left behind some 12x12x2" blocks. I put them under the jacks on the low side middle(1) and rear(2) jacks and releveled the trailer, just so the jacks were not eztended as far.

[azdryheat]

SabreCanuck wrote:
To answer the OP question, always slides out After leveling.

For those discussing wheels off ground, the user is doing it wrong.
1) Get a level.
2) BEFORE disconnecting truck, verify level side-side and drive onto boards/ramps/etc. according to side-level requirement (get it close).
3) Check back/front level and EXTEND front jacks accordingly before using auto-level..
If ground/trailer is NOSE HIGH then let out less extension, to allow auto level to drop nose after front legs are grounded.
If ground/trailer is NOSE LOW then let out More extension to allow auto level to lift nose higher.
4) Go hit the auto-level and let it do it's work (it will ALWAYS raise/lower to adjust the front jacks first and then extend/level the rest).

If you do not pay attention to the proper EXTENSION on the front jacks then you will not allow the nose to drop down or raise up and the auto-level system will have to lift the tires off of the ground.

lots of people drop the extensions to the ground, unhook truck and then watch the level system life the trailer off the ground because the only place it has to go to get level is UP!~

I think you left out the step where you disconnect the truck. Never, ever run Auto Level with the trailer still connected to the truck. BTW, your trailer must have the manually adjustable front jacks. Most auto leveling systems do not and there is no need for boards etc.

[slapshot12]

I level first. I just hit "auto level" and let it do it's thing while I get the power and hose ready to hook up. Once stuff is hooked up outside, I head in for the slides.

[Aridon]

Adding weight, hanging off the sides of the RV frame and then manipulating said frame isn't a good idea. Better off to keep the slides closed and then leveling.

As for wheel off the ground, that is a little more complicated. The best way to do it is to notice that you'll be way out of whack prior to unhitching. Add some boards to get that wheel up some, then detaching and leveling.

I think many of us have had a wheel off the ground at some point. I think it is a bigger issue on a very heavy DP, raising those back wheels off, than a smaller fifth wheel which doesn't have a giant engine and all that weight pushing forward while up in the air like a lever.

Better off avoiding it though.

[tinner12002]

I always level first then slides out unless its in storage and I need to run the slide out, lot is pretty level so I don't believe it will hurt it.

[Edd505]

austinjenna wrote:
A slightly different question - I have seen them sometimes with the wheels completely off the ground in a few situations, and was thinking it must be tricky when retracting them so that they dont fully retract and all of sudden the fiver starts to roll. Has anyone else seen them with the wheels off the ground?

Hit Hitch height, rear jacks retract leaving the front legs down. The nose may drop after the rears are retracted, scared the s*** out of me. It dips and then raises the nose, you may need to adjust to hitch as it gets close to where it was when you dropped. There is a real learning curve on them.

[Toolguy5]

azdryheat wrote:
I wouldn't count on your dealer knowing much of anything. The walk-through (PDI) on my new trailer showed the dealer rep (Camping World - Avondale, AZ) didn't know much about what he was doing.

I always level first and then put out the slides. I also use wheel chocks to keep the trailer in one place.

The dealer I deal with is a small time dealer. His Dad started the business and he is the current owner. He is a RVer himself. He is not just any old salesmen trying to make a buck.

[dmck413]

We have also just manually gotten it close. We have a residential fridge so comfort is the only factor. I prefer to keep my wheels on the ground.

[john_bet]

I have a Lippert Ground Control System on my 5th. It is al all electric system. I precheck the level before I unhook. If I need to I put some boards under the low side tires then unhook and level up. Them the slides go out.

[SabreCanuck]

To answer the OP question, always slides out After leveling.

For those discussing wheels off ground, the user is doing it wrong.
1) Get a level.
2) BEFORE disconnecting truck, verify level side-side and drive onto boards/ramps/etc. according to side-level requirement (get it close).
3) Check back/front level and EXTEND front jacks accordingly before using auto-level..
If ground/trailer is NOSE HIGH then let out less extension, to allow auto level to drop nose after front legs are grounded.
If ground/trailer is NOSE LOW then let out More extension to allow auto level to lift nose higher.
4) Go hit the auto-level and let it do it's work (it will ALWAYS raise/lower to adjust the front jacks first and then extend/level the rest).

If you do not pay attention to the proper EXTENSION on the front jacks then you will not allow the nose to drop down or raise up and the auto-level system will have to lift the tires off of the ground.

lots of people drop the extensions to the ground, unhook truck and then watch the level system life the trailer off the ground because the only place it has to go to get level is UP!~

[laknox]

Toolguy5 wrote:
Thanks I will go over this with dealer when we do our walk through. But wanted to know what everyone out there does.

I seen a Montana in Chareleston with passenger side wheel off the ground about 3 to 4 inches. He was like that for 3 days.

If that happens do you Hook back up and put boards under or just slide something under wheels while off ground?

Generally speaking, you're likely to see just that scenario much, MUCH more often than seeing all the wheels off the ground. In that case, you simply chock the side that's still on the ground. If you're =really= paranoid, have someone with chocks ready to put around the low-side wheels as they touch down.

Lyle

[azdryheat]

I wouldn't count on your dealer knowing much of anything. The walk-through (PDI) on my new trailer showed the dealer rep (Camping World - Avondale, AZ) didn't know much about what he was doing.

I always level first and then put out the slides. I also use wheel chocks to keep the trailer in one place.

[Toolguy5]

Thanks I will go over this with dealer when we do our walk through. But wanted to know what everyone out there does.

I seen a Montana in Chareleston with passenger side wheel off the ground about 3 to 4 inches. He was like that for 3 days.

If that happens do you Hook back up and put boards under or just slide something under wheels while off ground?