Introduction, plus a levelling jack question

[Wishbone51]

Hello! New guy here.. (and first post)

I'm relatively new to RVing in general, but started off with a bang.. After researching for several months, I purchased an older Komfort travel trailer and hit the road. For my second trip, my family and I took the trailer from our home, near Portland OR, all the way to NYC, hitting everything in between.. Surprisingly the only real issues I had was a broken leaf spring, and refrigerator went out, both covered by the warranty I purchased the day before the trip! Met a lot of helpful people along the way and learned a lot of tricks.

My question is regarding the standard scissor-type levelling jacks and the handles used to jack them up. I had no issues for most of the trip, and after that, the handle would break.. The screw that connects the socket to the handle would snap, requiring replacement. This happened several times. After some frustration, I just got out my cordless impact driver, connected to a socket and made a lot of noise, but it did the trick.

Obviously, I'm using too much force, but sometimes the trailer won't level without that force. What's the trick? Levelling blocks? How do you get the blocks under the tires? Do you set them how you think it will be then drive on them, check for level, move, add blocks and drive on them again?

Thanks for the help that this forum provided while I was in my research phase of my journey.

[ependydad]

Same message - they're stabilizers not levelers. In fact, after watching my sister's hubby do exactly what you did (impact wrench), I wrote this for them:
RV Leveling Is Really Quick and Easy

[beemerphile1]

I agree with what you have been told about the stabilizer jacks.

To make the process really easy I also use a cordless drill/impact to operate the jacks.

At your convenience get the RV leveled really well one time. Mount little bubble levels on the outside of the RV permanently. They are only a few bucks at Walmart or any RV dealer. No more messing with levels, just glance at the mounted ones.

[wbwood]

We just placed a level on the floor inside the trailer we had without having to climb in and out all the time. It worked great and was a lot easier. If there is any difference from you refrigerator to the floor, it is not very much and will not affect the fridge. If it is, then you got some major issues as something was put in crooked.

[Wishbone51]

travel4family wrote:
The only thing I would add... growing up my Dad always taught me to take level reading near the fridge, since it is mechanically the thing that needs levelled (of course, I like sleeping level, too). I don't know if that's where others put their level, but it works for us, too.

I found a spot on the counter that gives the exact reading as the inside of the fridge.. I marked it, and take the reading there every time.

[travel4family]

Don't be embarassed, we've all had our issues. At least you asked!!

[travel4family]

The only thing I would add... growing up my Dad always taught me to take level reading near the fridge, since it is mechanically the thing that needs levelled (of course, I like sleeping level, too). I don't know if that's where others put their level, but it works for us, too.

[Wishbone51]

Thanks.. I feel a bit embarrassed. I learned a lot through research, and during my 8000+ mile vacation, but I must have missed this detail. 🙂

[MarkTwain]

Hello! New guy here..
After some frustration, I just got out my cordless impact driver, connected to a socket and made a lot of noise, but it did the trick.

Obviously, I'm using too much force, but sometimes the trailer won't level without that force. What's the trick? Leveling blocks? How do you get the blocks under the tires? Do you set them how you think it will be then drive on them, check for level, move, add blocks and drive on them again?

As has been noted, the STABILIZING JACKS are for stabilizing the trailer AFTER you have leveled it.
1. Pick your site, back your trailer into the site to allow room for your slides and sufficient distance to hook up your electricity, water & sewer.
2. Buy some of those yellow Lynxx levelers or a 5' long 2x6 and bevel one end. Camping world or Wall Mart. They interlock so you can place 1 leveler on top of the other if you need too. Most of the time, 1 layer of levelers is sufficient to level the low side of your trailer. Lay out enough levelers long enough to put both tires on top of it. You can use a regular carpenter's level by laying it on the floor inside the trailer sideways to level from side to side and horizontal for front to back. Each yellow Leveler is approx. 1 inch in height. Once you see what side is low, lay a row of levelers along side of your tires. Pull your trailer forward, push the levelers where your tires where, then back up onto the levelers. If the trailer is still low, pull the trailer forward again and put another layer of levers on the top of the original layer. Put an extra leveler in the front so the tire will roll right up. Put your wheel chock in. Check your level inside or outside of your trailer, depending on if you have a level attached to the front of your trailer. Use your front jack (electrical or manual) not your stabilizer jack to adjust the trailer up or down until the bubble shows you are level. Job done:) Camping world makes a round leveling device that you screw into the front of the trailer on the frame. It will tell you side to side and front to back. Good luck.

[Wishbone51]

Thanks for all the help!

Wayne

[wkrp]

The jacks you call leveling jacks are not that at all. They are for stabalizing only. For leveling, cut yourself some pieces of 2x6 or 2x8 lumber and use them under your tires on one side. Better yet, buy the plastic blocks that you can put together and make any size you need. You can get them at any RV store, Walmart, etc.

If you place two of the sticky levels on you camper, one on the front corner and one on the front side corner, you will quickly learn how much block you will need to get the unit pretty level.

[CincyGus]

downtheroad wrote:
Welcome to the Forum..
The reason why you are having problems is that you are using the jacks for the wrong purpose..
They are for STABILIZING your trailer, NOT for leveling it. If you try to lift your trailer with them they will break and or you will tweak the frame of your trailer...

Use block under the wheels of the low side to level side to side and your tongue jack fro front to back leveling.

X2

Either buy some of the plastic leveling blocks or bring a about 3 2"x8"x24" boards. Put as many as you need under the tires on the low side to get you level side to side. Crank the jack for front to back level.
THEN, you crank the stabilizer jacks to snug+ 1/2 turn which prevents most of the shaking movement from someone walking around in the trailer.

Your trying to lift a multiple thousand lb. trailer with something designed to handle much less than that. I'm going to bet that you damaged at least the jacks if you busted the handles off due to difficultly to turn. hopefully you didn't bend the frame badly.

[downtheroad]

Welcome to the Forum..
The reason why you are having problems is that you are using the jacks for the wrong purpose..
They are for STABILIZING your trailer, NOT for leveling it. If you try to lift your trailer with them they will break and or you will tweak the frame of your trailer...

Use block under the wheels of the low side to level side to side and your tongue jack fro front to back leveling.