cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

leveling trailer

tunatundra
Explorer
Explorer
I have had my 27ft TT out 3 times and can not get the "wiggles" out of it after I have leveled it. Here's what I have been doing. I use a 3 ft level on a four ft 2x6 to get an idea of horizonal/width pitch of the site I have chosen. I keep the super slide in (???). I put down the appropiate number of leggos on the low side under both tires and back onto them. I block the opposite side tires, undo the trailer from the hitch and level the trailer back to front. I then put the slide out and put down the stablizer jacks. Our trailer wiggles constantly and is reaaly annoying. You can see the blinds wiggle as you walk as well as water in a bottle on the table or cabinets. I thinking it could be due to leaving the slide in during leveling as it has a lot of wieght hanging over the frame, therefore I should put it out before leveling. I would appreciate suggestions. Thanks, Tuna.
Rusty & Lana
2017 Cougar 333MKS
2016 F250 Diesel
17 REPLIES 17

wbwood
Explorer
Explorer
mike.t wrote:
What about stabilizers on the slide out.
Plus what are we referring to when we say "wobble"


Check with your manufacturer. Some recommend not doing it.
Brian
2013 Thor Chateau 31L

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
Ummmm, it is a TRAILER. It has wheels which are attached to springs which are attached the frame & the whole thing goes down a road at terrific speed. It is not a house. Short of jacking the whole thing up & transferring the weight directly to the frame, get used to the jiggle. Complaining about a trailer jiggling is like a boater complaining about a boat rocking when at anchor or tied to a dock.

Put the stabilizers down & be happy with the best that can be done.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995

mike_t
Explorer
Explorer
What about stabilizers on the slide out.
Plus what are we referring to when we say "wobble"

relaxin
Explorer
Explorer
pour footings and then call in a couple block layers and put a foundation down then get a crane and lift the TT onto the foundation
that'll maker solid

aside from that keep your blocking solid your jacks short, take up about an inch off the suspension, puts some pressure on the stablizers and they will do their job, if the are only just touching the boards they just stop bouncing not wobble

I personally use a couple 6x4 blocks with some peices of 4x4 all about 12 inches long, cross stacked either 2 or 3 high (depending on the terrain)
Relaxin, hikin, canoin, enjoyin life
headin down the road with a 29' reflection, canoe, camera, & hammock. 2022 GMC extended cab 6.6 litre gasser.
Rug rats grown and gone, just me and my beautiful little lady.

mike_t
Explorer
Explorer
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
Buy a pair of RotoChoks. They aren't cheap but are well worth the cost.


I think I have learned something.You can also get
"wiggle" front to back?And RotoChoks prevent this.

boatms03
Explorer
Explorer
you need to place some blocks under your stabilizer jacks. the farther you have to extend them the less effective they are. I think the most effective height of the jacks are around 12"-16". I have 4-6"x6"x1' wooden blockd I use for my scissor jacks to keep from over extending them and letting the trailer "wiggle"
2009 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel
2017 Sierra 381 RBOK

john_bet
Explorer II
Explorer II
When we had a tt and with our current 5er the first thing I did was to level the rig at home and install small bubble levels on the front left corner of the rig. I use these to estimate the amount of boards or what ever to put under the low side. I plug in, unhitch, level front to rear, put all stabilizers down then put slides out. Yes I have a little wiggle, but it does not bother us. If it is to much I check the stabilizer tightness and the chock tightness. Sometimes I find them loser than when first set up. I don't us Roto-chocks or king pin stabilizer.
2018 Ram 3500 SRW CC LB 6.7L Cummins Auto 3.42 gears
2018 Grand Design 337RLS

eabc5454
Explorer
Explorer
We just moved up from TT to MH. Wiggle in the TT was our biggest complaint. Even with meticulous leveling, we still wiggled. Our Dalmatian starts pacing when he needs to go out (4am) or when he's hungry (6am). We would be rocking and rolling trying to sleep. We finally bought BAL chocks, which were amazing. We had a TT with wide-set wheels, and the BAL chocks stopped 95% of the wiggle. Highly recommend chocks between the wheels.

Happy camping,
Elizabeth
2014 Thor Motor Coach ACE 30.1 (The Mothership)
2013 Honda CR-V (The Pod)

Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Explorer II
We had a lot of wiggle as well until we got a pair of BAL between the wheel chocks from Camping World. We first pull or back into our site, drop the level in front of fridge, determine which side needs to be lifted using wood planks, drive onto wood planks, set both BAL chocks between the wheels and unhitch. Raise/lower powered tongue jack until level, implement BAL scissor and stab jacks located on the corners of our rig unto a stack of lego style levelers so jacks don't have to extend too far. We have this routine down to a science and takes but a few minutes to complete delivering a solid and stable feel with little movement noted when moving about in our 32' TT.

TXcampingfamily
Explorer
Explorer
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
Buy a pair of RotoChoks. They aren't cheap but are well worth the cost.


x2
Gin & Mike + 2 TD (tax deductions)
2009 Fleetwood Fiesta Bunkhouse
2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Dtaylor
Explorer
Explorer
A couple of things: Use a couple 4x6 blocks under each stabilizer jack. The further down the jacks go, there seems to be more wiggle. 2) chocking the wheels by using some of the products suggested or make your own. Re-adjust as needed. Just by the very nature of the way TT are built, you are still going to get some but that should help
Our Travel Blog


2018 Premier 29RKPR
2014 Ford F-150

wbwood
Explorer
Explorer
With our TT we would put the TT exactly where wanted. I would then put the level on the floor inside the door and see if its level. With experience and by looking at the level, you will learn how much lift on the side you will need. We would place boards or leveling blocks beside the tires that need to be raised. I would pull the TT far enough forward or backwards and move the boards/blocks in place where the tires were. Then move he TT back up on them boards/blocks. Recheck for level. Once level, we would put plastic chock in front of and behind the tires. Unhook the TV and level front to rear with the electric tongue jack and using e level on the floor again. We then would place x chocks between the wheels and lower the stabilizers with 6x6 wood underneath each one to not extend the stabilizers to far out. After a while, usually before bed or the next morning, I would have to tighten down stabilizers again.
Brian
2013 Thor Chateau 31L

the_bear_II
Explorer
Explorer
We use the jack stands used under Mobile Homes. I have a set of four, they are adjustable. I level side to side using blocks under the tires. Put on the RotoChoks. Unhitch, lower the front of the TT and place the two rear jackstands under the frame. Raise the front of the TT to a little past level and place the two front jackstands under the frame. Lower the trailer onto the jackstands and we are solid.

The jack stands are strong enough to support the entire weight of our TT. I got them at an independent RV supply shop.

skipnchar
Explorer
Explorer
Wedges are only effective is used correctly. Just dropping some by a wheel and nudging them with your toe does nothing to help. To properly set a wedge you place it in front of a tire, pull forward ONTO the wedge, then set the secont wedge behind the tire. Now let the trailer find it's own center. When used that way they are FAIRLY effective but chances are most of your problems are not associated with chocking the wheels.

Trailers generally have light weight frames and these frames flex, especially with longer trailers. When you put stab jacks down at the corners it actually makes the problem worse as when the corners are lifted the center, around the axles sags even more. When you walk around inside the frame flexes and bounces on the trailers own suspension. Adding a third set of stab jacks, mounted to the FRAME (not the suspension) can remove most of the wiggle caused by suspension bounce. Also you might experiment with putting different amounts of lift on the corner stab jacks until you find the "sweet spot" for your trailer.

Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer

US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population