Hello, my camper, which is actually a toy hauler ( if that makes a difference) has been sitting in the same spot for about 2 years now.Its starting to lean to one side.. Can I jack up one side, by the frame, just enough to slide a 4ft 12x2 board under the tires ? to level it out.How much risk, is there of bending the frame ?

Happy.Camper wrote:Hello, my camper, which is actually a toy hauler ( if that makes a difference) has been sitting in the same spot for about 2 years now.Its starting to lean to one side.. Can I jack up one side, by the frame, just enough to slide a 4ft 12x2 board under the tires ? to level it out.How much risk, is there of bending the frame ? Is there a reason not to just hook up your trailer move it 5' forward to backward and then put you 12x2 boards down and then just pull the trailer up on the the 2x12. Job done:):) Looking at your picture, I might have some concern about the ground under your trailer, dosent look too hard or level as far as trying to jacking up trailer by frame.

I guess I can, but would prefer to jack it up. By the way, I haven't moved it in two years, are the tires still good ? or do they need to be replaced before I take it on the road ? I was hoping to take it to a few campgrounds this year. Do I just check for cracks, and if I don't have any, I"m good ?

How old are the tires? Were they 5 years old before you parked it or brand new?EDIT The tires should be stamped with a manufacture datecode.

I have always jacked up my RV by placing a bottle jack under the spring mount on the axle. However some axles are not as strong as others, and trailer frames can be particularly weak due to manufactures who spec really thin metal to keep the weight (well cost) down to a minimum. I have heard of frame damage on some frames. You have to be careful not to put to much weight on a single point of the frame while lifting it. That said, I would consider it safer to have more than lifting point. So you might jack up the unit by the frame a bit, and support that with jack stands or perhaps a stack of 4X4.While supporting the frame, then jack up a axles one at a time, and then put the tires on blocks, then put the boards in that you wanted to. I was also camped on sand, and that area was subject to flooding (it was like a creek running under my RV at times) and my tires sunk into the sand, as well as the 6" diameter bigfoot jacks. I had to raise the jacks, then put more dirt under the jacks and 30" long 2X10"s. Then I could lift the whole RV (with the jacks) and then put more dirt under the tires. I was lucky that my Ford frame is strong enough to not bend at all! Good luck,Fred.

Water-Bug wrote:How old are the tires? Were they 5 years old before you parked it or brand new?EDIT The tires should be stamped with a manufacture datecode.There are 4 numbers on the side of the trailer. The first 2 numbers are the week the tire was mfg. and the last 2 numbers represent the year the tire was mfg. Any tire over 5 yrs. old, I throw away regardless of how the tire looks.

Can I lift my Camper with a jack ? (pictures inside)

diesel_man_03
Explorer
May 03, 2015
There is nothing wrong with jacking up the axle under the spring mount.
tegu69
Explorer
May 01, 2015
I would suggest that the next time you tow the trailer and air up the airbags, that you also air up the tires. Check to see what the pressure should be, but I'm thinking 44 lbs. You are at 7000 lbs, not including camping gear. I'm sure somebody here can tell you the exact weight that should be on your tongue, but I would think somewhere around 800 lbs. There should be some documentation as to how much weight you can carry. Maybe try towing without the Polaris and see how that feels.
Happy_Camper3
Explorer
Apr 30, 2015
Alright, I now have some info.

My toy hauler is 5800 lbs dry. My polaris rzr is 1183 dry.

I was not using the wd hitch properly, I was just dropping the camper on the truck, and hooking the chains.

The youtube video showed raising the camper to level after connecting to the truck, then getting chains as tight as you can, then letting the camper down.

I also saw I have passenger tires, at 31psi, and net LT TIRES, At full psi when towing.
westend
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015
Happy.Camper wrote:
westend wrote:
Did you air up the tires before you travelled? Did you have the air bags inflated before you attached the WDH? Have you weighed at the tongue to see how much tongue weight you have with the Polaris in the back? If you don't know how much the trailer weighs, a good first step would be to take a trip to the scales and see what you have.

I did not air up the tires, I found out yesterday I have the regular passenger tires the truck came with stock, and that I should buy some "LT" tires , and that has a stronger sidewall, and will help alot with the swaying ?

I have not weighed the tounge,

I have no idea how to use the weight dist hitch, how to I know how to set it ? I just put the chain on the thing, and secure it... .

should I be using the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chain link ? it only fit on the 2nd one, so that's what I used./ I do not know how to determine if its set correctly or not.

Then I aired up the air bags, truck was pretty level

sway bar sqeeked loud when I went around corners, so I think its set tight enough, is it too tight ?

Anything I say would be a pure guess since no one knows the weights involved, the type of hitch you have, and the connection situation.

It occurs to me that if you had the trailer parked for over a year, the tires have lost air pressure.

As mentioned, take the trailer to a scale and find out exactly what you are dealing with in regards to weights. Relying on something "squeaking" is not going to prove accurate.
Happy_Camper3
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015
westend wrote:
Did you air up the tires before you travelled? Did you have the air bags inflated before you attached the WDH? Have you weighed at the tongue to see how much tongue weight you have with the Polaris in the back? If you don't know how much the trailer weighs, a good first step would be to take a trip to the scales and see what you have.

I did not air up the tires, I found out yesterday I have the regular passenger tires the truck came with stock, and that I should buy some "LT" tires , and that has a stronger sidewall, and will help alot with the swaying ?

I have not weighed the tounge,

I have no idea how to use the weight dist hitch, how to I know how to set it ? I just put the chain on the thing, and secure it... .

should I be using the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th chain link ? it only fit on the 2nd one, so that's what I used./ I do not know how to determine if its set correctly or not.

Then I aired up the air bags, truck was pretty level

sway bar sqeeked loud when I went around corners, so I think its set tight enough, is it too tight ?
MrWizard
Moderator
Apr 26, 2015
bpounds wrote:
You only have to move it about 1 foot to get it up on boards. Cut two boards, each about 18" long. Pull trailer forward 1 foot. Place board behind rear tire, another board behind front tire. Back up 1' to same spot as before.

I don't know why folks insist on using a 5' long board for leveling. It's a lot more practical to use short lengths.

You can also just dig some shallow holes on the other side, since it looks like soft packed soil. Same thing. Pull forward 1 foot. Dig holes. Back up into holes.

This case is not about being level while camping
In this case .. The trailer wheels are sinking into the ground
Weight needs to be spread out aka distributed when parked for long term storage
Long pieces of wood spread the weight and prevent getting lopsided stuck
Mich_F
Explorer
Apr 26, 2015
Looking at that trailer I would GUESS that it's under 4,000#
westend
Explorer
Apr 26, 2015
Did you air up the tires before you travelled? Did you have the air bags inflated before you attached the WDH? Have you weighed at the tongue to see how much tongue weight you have with the Polaris in the back? If you don't know how much the trailer weighs, a good first step would be to take a trip to the scales and see what you have.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2015
Hard to say, but I'll bet with the Polaris in the back the tongue was light!!!
Happy_Camper3
Explorer
Apr 26, 2015
Alright, i just got back from my weekend up north.

I hooked up, fornthe first time in two years, took it to a state forest 12 miles away, spent the day there amd brought it back.

Thanks for the help everyone. It felt like the tailnwas wagging the dog when i was going 55mph, didnt feel sturdy.

I have a weight dist hitch, and air bags.

I was towing it with a 1100lb polaris rzr in the toy hauler.

i used a 2010 silverado 1500 with air bags.

Truck has tranny cooler and tow package from factory.

Think i was overloaded? Can you guess from the pics how much the trailer weighs ? I want to say 6000lbs dry ?