leveling during overnight stops

[wannavolunteerF]

I have been following Class A forum for a while, as I plan to move from my TT I love to a Class A in 2-3 years to travel fulltime for a while. I suddenly had a question that I have never seen addressed, and don't have a clue about.

When you make an overnight stop and you have a four-wheel down toad, do you disconnect toad before you use auto-levelers? I have driven my parents Class C with 4wheel down toad and didn't disconnect, but they didn't have auto-levelers. Their class C was small and just leveled by parking as level as possible (and using blocks if needed). I am looking at a 34-38 ft Class A, so I imagine finding a level spot without having to use auto-levelers would be more difficult.

since I will primarily by myself, I don't see doing much parking lot overnights, and wonder if I need to disconnect toad. Part of the appeal of the Class A is being able to stop and stay overnight without having to get out of vehicle and connect/disconnect if weather is bad or I am just too darn tired.

[Mile_High]

Just make sure you fit in your space. It's always annoying weaving in and out of those that don't think their A$$ is sticking out into the road 🙂

[holstein13]

For an overnight stop, I simply hit the air level button and don't worry about the toad. The tow bar is flexible in all directions.

[Clay_L]

If the rear end of your rig is going to be raised very much when you level, it is best to have the toad in neutral. As you raise the rear end it pulls the toad forward so the wheels need to be able to roll some.

[DSDP_Don]

We leave ours hooked up all the time. On most modern tow bars, you could lift the rear of the coach until the tow bar was perpendicular to the RV and the toad before it would bind.

We previously towed a truck and just took off in the morning when ready to go. We're now towing a CRV and it requires running it through the gears everyday....so I guess I'll have to actually go outside!

[Tom_Barb]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I can see only 1 problems with leveling and tow bar attached.
In case you park with front higher and raise the rear way up, the tow bar might tilt out out of its limits and potentially bend.

To do that with our coach, you'd have to pick the rear wheels off the ground. That ain't going to happen. I doubt our rear jacks could extend that much.

[Kayteg1]

I can see only 1 problems with leveling and tow bar attached.
In case you park with front higher and raise the rear way up, the tow bar might tilt out out of its limits and potentially bend.

[bigred1cav]

Snowing/sleet/ice no! It will ruin the slide covers. I always level keeping towed on.

[Snomas]

Been leveling the MH for 14 yrs w/toad attached and no problems. After MH is level I put toad in Park and brake on so it will not move. I also start my toad to run the engine & shifting gears so trans is oiled.

[Lancslad]

If its asphalt or concrete I jack down, if its gravel or grass I put pads under the jacks. Dont unhook unless we are using the toad.

[Johno02]

When stopping at many campgrounds for overnight, many have pull-thru sites available that you can do exactly as you indicate, and we have done MANY times, that is, just pull in, set jacks, extend slides, spend the night and never get outside at all if the weather is bad. Just make sure that the toad is not hanging out in traffic.

[Johno02]

Depending on where you are spending the night, jacks and slides may or may not be a problem. In a campground, with a pull-thry site, no problems whatsoever. In the middle of a Walmart parking lot, or in a truck parking spot at a truck stop, probably not. On the edge of a Walmart lot, or nexst to a island, Maybe. Jacks usually OK, slides, extend at your own risk. If you take up two spots in a truck parking area, slide damage will be very expensive.

[imgoin4it]

Just have to be careful where you are leveling up. I had it happen once and seen where it happened several times. While leveling up the jack pads can go through asphalt in places where base is not compacted as well as it should have been or you are leveling up on asphalt on a very hot day. If worried about that and if you are reasonably level, don't level up.

[Tom_Barb]

wannavolunteerFT wrote:
so appreciate the many quick replies. I just could imagine having to get out and disconnect the toad, but have never used MH levelers. (My TT requires manual leveling and usually disconnecting from truck.) rgatijnet1, thanks for telling me the toad will move if it needs to. Didn't think about that, although it makes sense. As I said, far away from my realm of experience. I am trying to learn as much as I can in order to make the best decisions when I start spending lots of money on making this change.

Our normal routine:
park. hit the level button, clear the slides, hit the slide extend button, raid the reffer for a beer, ask G/ma whats for supper? relax. 🙂

[wannavolunteerF]

so appreciate the many quick replies. I just could imagine having to get out and disconnect the toad, but have never used MH levelers. (My TT requires manual leveling and usually disconnecting from truck.) rgatijnet1, thanks for telling me the toad will move if it needs to. Didn't think about that, although it makes sense. As I said, far away from my realm of experience. I am trying to learn as much as I can in order to make the best decisions when I start spending lots of money on making this change.