Can tires be off ground on auto leveling system?

[mrad]

when we pulled into our campground yesterday, the auto-leveling system was off a bit. I had to raise one side a bit and then noticed that two of the tires on one side were between 1/4 and 1/2 inch off the ground.
I don't feel comfortable with this, but since this is the third time out with our 5th wheel, I wanted to know if this is acceptable, or if I need to make some adjustments.

[GDS-3950BH]

It's all good until one of the jacks decides to break loose at its mounting points or bends the frame, such as happened with the POS Grand Design Solitude we had. Underdesigned Lippert junk.. Also the equalizer link can flip when the wheels leave the ground and in that case you need a good stout jack, or some blocks to jam under the spring eye and lower the leveling Jack's to flip it back. Careful using the blocks and leveler to flip an equalizer back, you might bend the frame or rip the jack off.


When we had our frame problems we put the 5er on a perfectly level shop floor and ran the Jack's in both auto level and manual, checking frame deflection with measurements and string lines. No wonder we experienced the frame issues. If ran in manual and we raised the wheels off the floor, the amount of frame deflection was shocking. Of course Grand Design claimed all was normal. So normal they took it back to the factory and repaired it. The repairs quickly failed. I don't know how things bending and welds cracking is normal but so be it. All the creaking and moaning when those Jack's are operated is your rig telling you how shoddily it's put together.

[Cummins12V98]

MNRon wrote:
We have a 16k lb 5er with MORryde IS, and snap pads on the levelers. When IS was installed the tech lifted the whole trailer up for two days (and we slept in it) with the hydraulics - he didn’t even use backup blocking for support. Even when wheels and previous suspension was cut off so there was nothing but 2ft of space and the levelers between the frame and ground (NOT recommended when getting under it)!

After this experience I don’t worry at all if the auto level puts wheels in the air or not. Truth be told, there’s more stability if wheels are touching, but not so much I worry about it. We travel about half-time, switching campsites every couple/few days. I’d guess we have two, or all, wheels up about 25% of the time. Hasn’t been an issue in 2+yrs.

Same experience with ours, ZERO extra support. The tech was crawling around UNDER the RV a lot. MORryde is a big company, if it were a safety issue they would have supported the RV.

[Cummins12V98]

way2roll wrote:
Does anyone have any real experience or first hand knowledge of jack arms bending by having the wheels off the ground under normal camping circumstances? I've never heard of one. I know I have seen hundreds of various RV's with wheels in the air while camping. I don't recall any of them having an issue. My FW is far more stable on 6 jacks if I put the whole thing in the air than just the tires.

Maybe if in an earthquake.

[Cummins12V98]

valhalla360 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"If it really is just touching (you can spin it by hand), that's really no better than off the ground."

That's my point!!!

Then don't do that.

I have zero issue with one or all tires off the ground.

[MNRon]

We have a 16k lb 5er with MORryde IS, and snap pads on the levelers. When IS was installed the tech lifted the whole trailer up for two days (and we slept in it) with the hydraulics - he didn’t even use backup blocking for support. Even when wheels and previous suspension was cut off so there was nothing but 2ft of space and the levelers between the frame and ground (NOT recommended when getting under it)!

After this experience I don’t worry at all if the auto level puts wheels in the air or not. Truth be told, there’s more stability if wheels are touching, but not so much I worry about it. We travel about half-time, switching campsites every couple/few days. I’d guess we have two, or all, wheels up about 25% of the time. Hasn’t been an issue in 2+yrs.

[StirCrazy]

valhalla360 wrote:


Far better to support the tires and use them as stabilizers as they are intended.

actualy the owners manual for mine states they are levelers not stabalizers, I think a lot of people thing they are the same thing as the old crank down jacks we use to use. they are engineered to be able to level and hold more than the weight of the rv.

Steve

[way2roll]

Does anyone have any real experience or first hand knowledge of jack arms bending by having the wheels off the ground under normal camping circumstances? I've never heard of one. I know I have seen hundreds of various RV's with wheels in the air while camping. I don't recall any of them having an issue. My FW is far more stable on 6 jacks if I put the whole thing in the air than just the tires.

[valhalla360]

wnjj wrote:
Why not attach rubber to the bottom of the jacks if you’re concerned about movement? That way you are just trading a tire for a post.

The concern isn't that they metal pads will slide but that the arms will bend. A rubber bottom does nothing to stop that.

[valhalla360]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"If it really is just touching (you can spin it by hand), that's really no better than off the ground."

That's my point!!!

Then don't do that.

[dieseltruckdriv]

Michelle.S wrote:
If you're going to put blocks under the tires to prevent them from being off the ground, WHY did you buy an Auto Leveling System if you won't let it do it's job.
I've had tires just touching to off the ground by 4 or 5 inches. Hasn't broke our unit yet.

My thoughts and experience as well.
I don't worry about it at all. But then, I do not have a Lippert frame! 😉 Just kidding around, not trying to start a war!

[Michelle_S]

If you're going to put blocks under the tires to prevent them from being off the ground, WHY did you buy an Auto Leveling System if you won't let it do it's job.
I've had tires just touching to off the ground by 4 or 5 inches. Hasn't broke our unit yet.

[Cummins12V98]

wnjj wrote:
Why not attach rubber to the bottom of the jacks if you’re concerned about movement? That way you are just trading a tire for a post.

Only time tires touching adds stability is when side to side movement is being done right above the tires.

My six point system is solid whether tires are touching or not. Many times when not unhooking all my tires are off the ground to level the RV. Simply not a problem.

[Cummins12V98]

"If it really is just touching (you can spin it by hand), that's really no better than off the ground."

That's my point!!!

[wnjj]

Why not attach rubber to the bottom of the jacks if you’re concerned about movement? That way you are just trading a tire for a post.