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Leveling question.

GHOST1750
Explorer
Explorer
Has anyone else found that when you push the auto level button it sometimes does not completely level and if so do you level manually? I Carry a level with me as I did in my older motor homes. Still getting used to all the new fangled things on this motor home. It is a 2013 Newmar Canyon Star. Still trying to get used to going from diesel to gas.
Just Don and a Chiuahua called Dulce
2003 39' Tradewinds LE
2002 Cavalier tow
Korean Veteran, USAF
FMCA F357981
CC4C
GOOD SAM

Life is a journey, not a destination !
24 REPLIES 24

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
Big Katuna wrote:
I didn’t read that the front tires are coming off the ground; mine never have either.

I read his front JACKS sometimes don’t touch the ground if the front is higher. I have never noticed that.

A few times my front tires have had very little weight on them. I could spin them in loose gravel.


You are correct. I misread his post. Thanks, I modified my answer. Doug

Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Explorer II
I didn’t read that the front tires are coming off the ground; mine never have either.

I read his front JACKS sometimes don’t touch the ground if the front is higher. I have never noticed that.

A few times my front tires have had very little weight on them. I could spin them in loose gravel.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
Gundog wrote:
What I found with mine is if the front starts out higher than the back when the back jacks come down and level side to side and raise the rear the front jacks may not be touching the ground at all. I re calibrated it about 5 times and called Power Gear tech support the guy told me that was normal for my leveling system and if I wanted the front down to run them manually.

Now if the front is low it will have all 4 jacks down after leveling. It is no big deal now that I understand how it works but when I first got the coach and leveled it at the house it did what I explained above and I thought something was broken. The tech told me the newer models test each jack after the leveling procedure to make sure they are all in contact with the ground but not the older ones.



But YES, If the front of the RV is Higher than level when starting, the rear will raise to level and you will have to manually extend the front jacks to get them to touch the ground. Doug
From your year manual.

STEP 4 – Push the “Auto” button to begin the automatic leveling cycle.
CAUTION: After starting the automatic leveling cycle it is very important that you
do not move around in the coach until the unit is level and the green
Power Gear Level LED illuminates in the center of the touch pad. Failure
to remain still during the leveling cycle could have an affect on the
performance of the leveling system.
STEP 5 If
further adjustments are necessary, simply push and hold the “MAN”
button for approximately 5 seconds until the LED under this button is
illuminated. Push the appropriate leg button to override the system and
level the coach to your liking.
CAUTION: Never lift the wheels off the ground when leveling the motorhome.

Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Explorer II
dougrainer wrote:
Gundog wrote:
What I found with mine is if the front starts out higher than the back when the back jacks come down and level side to side and raise the rear the front jacks may not be touching the ground at all. I re calibrated it about 5 times and called Power Gear tech support the guy told me that was normal for my leveling system and if I wanted the front down to run them manually.

Now if the front is low it will have all 4 jacks down after leveling. It is no big deal now that I understand how it works but when I first got the coach and leveled it at the house it did what I explained above and I thought something was broken. The tech told me the newer models test each jack after the leveling procedure to make sure they are all in contact with the ground but not the older ones.


HWH Auto/Computerized Leveling have ALWAYS checked that all 4 jacks have hit the ground, at least for 30 years. EACH HWH jack has a pressure switch that confirms and tells the system when each jack has hit the ground. Doug


We both have Powergear leveling. (We both have 05 Expeditions and have been comparing notes).

I agree if someone is moving around it either levels incorrectly or you get the “can’t level” blinking lights.
I have never noticed the front jacks not touching though. I will check someday.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
Bruce Brown wrote:
^^^ Last sentence; that's one of the things our Level Legs do well, when I first hit the level button no leveling starts until all 4 jacks have confirmed growing contact.


The thing I hate about Level legs, besides that they are obsolete, is, the 4 jacks HAVE to hit the ground before you can raise one corner. Doug

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
Gundog wrote:
What I found with mine is if the front starts out higher than the back when the back jacks come down and level side to side and raise the rear the front jacks may not be touching the ground at all. I re calibrated it about 5 times and called Power Gear tech support the guy told me that was normal for my leveling system and if I wanted the front down to run them manually.

Now if the front is low it will have all 4 jacks down after leveling. It is no big deal now that I understand how it works but when I first got the coach and leveled it at the house it did what I explained above and I thought something was broken. The tech told me the newer models test each jack after the leveling procedure to make sure they are all in contact with the ground but not the older ones.


HWH Auto/Computerized Leveling have ALWAYS checked that all 4 jacks have hit the ground, at least for 30 years. EACH HWH jack has a pressure switch that confirms and tells the system when each jack has hit the ground. Doug

dougrainer
Nomad
Nomad
I have worked on HWH systems for over 30 years, and their system will auto level correctly no matter what IF THE LEVEL SENSOR IS MOUNTED CORRECTLY AND IS CALIBRATED CORRECTLY!. Doug

Most people that complain have no idea how to operate the Auto leveling system. As I posted earlier, if you MOVE around in the RV, that means ANYBODY not just the driver, the system will not level correctly.

Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Moderator
^^^ Last sentence; that's one of the things our Level Legs do well, when I first hit the level button no leveling starts until all 4 jacks have confirmed growing contact.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910

Gundog
Explorer II
Explorer II
What I found with mine is if the front starts out higher than the back when the back jacks come down and level side to side and raise the rear the front jacks may not be touching the ground at all. I re calibrated it about 5 times and called Power Gear tech support the guy told me that was normal for my leveling system and if I wanted the front down to run them manually.

Now if the front is low it will have all 4 jacks down after leveling. It is no big deal now that I understand how it works but when I first got the coach and leveled it at the house it did what I explained above and I thought something was broken. The tech told me the newer models test each jack after the leveling procedure to make sure they are all in contact with the ground but not the older ones.
2005 34' Expedition Cat C7 Allison 3000

Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Moderator
Bill.Satellite wrote:
GHOST1750 wrote:
Has anyone else found that when you push the auto level button it sometimes does not completely level and if so do you level manually? I Carry a level with me as I did in my older motor homes. Still getting used to all the new fangled things on this motor home. It is a 2013 Newmar Canyon Star. Still trying to get used to going from diesel to gas.


The better question might be.....Has anyone ever found an auto level that works?....There are adjustments that you can make to your system to help it get closer but I am not aware of any system that gets it exactly right without a bit of human intervention.


I will give our Atwood Level Legs credit for repeated, proper leveling, I just wish the system wasn't so tender.

I would gladly give up a little accuracy for a more robust system.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
Bruce & Jill Brown
2008 Kountry Star Pusher 3910

Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Explorer II
GHOST1750 wrote:
Has anyone else found that when you push the auto level button it sometimes does not completely level and if so do you level manually? I Carry a level with me as I did in my older motor homes. Still getting used to all the new fangled things on this motor home. It is a 2013 Newmar Canyon Star. Still trying to get used to going from diesel to gas.


The better question might be.....Has anyone ever found an auto level that works?....There are adjustments that you can make to your system to help it get closer but I am not aware of any system that gets it exactly right without a bit of human intervention.
What I post is my 2 cents and nothing more. Please don't read anything into my post that's not there. If you disagree, that's OK.
Can't we all just get along?

fairway2002
Explorer
Explorer
I feel I can get entry stairs a little lower then auto does. And I can also lower driver side a little so A/C drains away from camping side.

doc_brown
Explorer
Explorer
When I pick a spot if I’m already close to level front/back, right/left I auto level. If I’m farther off than I’m comfortable with I manual level as best I can but I’m not worried about being perfect. The reason I don’t auto level in this situation is that the rear jacks raise me higher than they should which means the front jacks will do the same. Greater risk of having one of the rear wheels off the ground. Just my experience.
Steve,Kathy and Josh
Morpheus(Basenji)at Rainbow Bridge
2004 40' TSDP Country Coach Inspire DaVinci
350 Cummins, 3000 Allison
2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport S, Air Force One Braking, Blue Ox

chuckftboy
Explorer
Explorer
If calibrated correctly, auto levelers work just fine. I've always pulled in, dumped the air, hit auto on the leveler pad and opened a beer. Works every time for me.
2019 Horizon 42Q Maxum Chassis w/tag
Cummins L-9 450 HP / Allison 3000
2006 Jeep TJ and 2011 Chevy Traverse Tows