Leveling

[ron_willis]

New to Permanent camping, I was wondering how to do leveling with cinder blocks and wood I have a 32 foot fifth wheel I seen it done but is there a step by step on how to do it like drop down the front and then level the back then lift up the front all by using my power leg jacks in the front or is there a web site that is a diy way or if anyone has a easy way,

Thank you,
Ron

[Ole_Man_Dan]

My idea of leveling is to pull the low side of my camper onto 2"X8"X14"
Treated board/s. I bevel both ends. If you need more height,I pull onto
two boards. I adjust front to back with my front jack.

I seldom need to do much leveling side to side. I don't worry if I'm not dead on, just close enough will do...
Not rocket science...

[Veebyes]

Obviously the more weight taken off the wheels the better. Nothing wrong IMO of using concrete blocks either provided the blocks are sitting on a substantial piece of wood on the ground, to spread the weight, & there is a piece of wood between block & trailer frame to prevent any slip.

After a few weeks of setup & use check for settling & wedge as needed.

[NanciL]

wittmeba wrote:
Most will level side to side first using planks of 2X8 or the Lego's for leveling. This is done first as you use your Truck to push the RV onto the boards/blocks.

Once level side to side you will want to drop the landing gear to the ground or onto shallow blocks if you use them. We used square pieces of 2X8 and it worked just fine.

The electrical adjustment on the landing gear will lift the RV off your truck and hitch. Be sure you block your wheels to avoid rolling and dropping the RV on the truck bed-walls. Then pull your truck out slowly.

Be careful and take your time. Don't let anyone/anything distract you from your process. 🙂

I believe the OP made it clear that he wants to put it there permanently.

Jack L

[wittmeba]

Most will level side to side first using planks of 2X8 or the Lego's for leveling. This is done first as you use your Truck to push the RV onto the boards/blocks.

Once level side to side you will want to drop the landing gear to the ground or onto shallow blocks if you use them. We used square pieces of 2X8 and it worked just fine.

The electrical adjustment on the landing gear will lift the RV off your truck and hitch. Be sure you block your wheels to avoid rolling and dropping the RV on the truck bed-walls. Then pull your truck out slowly.

Be careful and take your time. Don't let anyone/anything distract you from your process. 🙂

[NanciL]

If You have power jacks, I would do it the same way you build a house foundation, (I have built three houses from the ground up, a small barn, and my travel trailer barn)

This is all based on a permanent site.
Get your fifth wheeler where you want it, and then using power jacks get it higher than you want it.
Next figure where you are putting your supports, ( I would use concrete blocks)
Dig down a few inches for each and after you make sure you are on a solid surface put a block in each hole.
If it was me, and the RV was going to be there for ever, I would dig down a foot or so, and make the hole twice the size the perimeter of each block, and then pour a three or four inch slab of concrete, prior to putting the block on top.
Don't worry about the top of the bottom layer of blocks being level to each other, you do that as a final step.
Then determine how high you want the foundation.
When you determine the height, pick one pier (call it pier "A") as your height, and then you can either use a tube water level, or a builders transit, (you can rent them) and from pier A, figure the level of each of the others in turn. Use treated lumber (2"x 8"s and/ or 1" x 8"s in combination with shims. Cut the wood the same size as the top of the blocks for aesthetics.
Once you have all the blocks the same height, just lower the RV onto them.

Jack L

[DE88ROX]

Jim Shoe wrote:
Ron,
Are you talking about putting your 5er on a permanent site in a trailer park or full timing from place to place, leveling when you stop for a night or several nights and then moving on?

"New to Permanent camping, I was wondering how to do leveling with cinder blocks and wood"

[DE88ROX]

lanerd wrote:
Well Ron, typically you level initially the side to side aspect first by using blocks under the tires on the low side or some even dig holes under the high side. Be careful with cinder block as they aren't really designed for this type of use (they get their strength from being filled with concrete).

You'd be surprised at just how much weight a block like that can take.
A single cinder block laying on its side can hold approximately 500 pounds.

Mobile homes have been parked on blocks for years, they hold up just fine.

[stetwood]

Forget the cinder blocks as their strength is hole side up plus they are heavy for the rise. Second forget about stacking lumber as stacks can be unstable causing accidental dropping. Just drop the jacks onto a single plank or board.

When I set up I check the site out and if significantly out of level I will place the boards on the low side before backing in.

[HappyKayakers]

Try this site.

[trop-a-cal]

The soil you are parked on is the first place to start. Don't try to level on clay side hills or gravel as both shift under weight and rain will make clay into a slip and slide. Sand is easiest as is silt which is a combo of soils and vegetation. Good rule is to use locking plastic levelers as they are designed for safety. Even then you have to use as directed and only stack as high as they recommend. Always ask if you can rent a level lot when going to Parks, and don't forget the sewage does not flow uphill if you're on a plumbed site.

[Jim_Shoe]

Ron,
Are you talking about putting your 5er on a permanent site in a trailer park or full timing from place to place, leveling when you stop for a night or several nights and then moving on?

[Lynnmor]

ron willis wrote:
New to Permanent camping, I was wondering how to do leveling with cinder blocks and wood I have a 32 foot fifth wheel I seen it done but is there a step by step on how to do it like drop down the front and then level the back then lift up the front all by using my power leg jacks in the front or is there a web site that is a diy way or if anyone has a easy way,

Thank you,
Ron

You are on the right track. Lower the front quite a bit. Stack blocks under the frame as close to the axles as you can. The top of the blocks should be level side to side. Use a wood block for the top to prevent cracking of your concrete blocks. Raise the front to level, this should lift most, if not all, weight from the tires. Stuff blocking under the frame near the front and rear.

[lanerd]

Well Ron, typically you level initially the side to side aspect first by using blocks under the tires on the low side or some even dig holes under the high side. Be careful with cinder block as they aren't really designed for this type of use (they get their strength from being filled with concrete). I always used 2x6's or wider and always made sure that what I did with one tire on a side, I also did to the tandem tire on the same side.

Then, once you have the side to side level, then you use the tongue jack to level front to rear. Once you have that set up where you want it, then screw down the stabilizer jacks on all four corners and cinch them up tight. DO NOT use the stabilizer jacks to level with as you will probably screw up the threads.

You will still have movement throughout the trailer as most of the weight is still on the tires and suspension. There are different devices you can purchase to help reduce this movement, but you'll never get rid of it completely unless you take all the weight off of the tires.

Hope this helps

Ron