Fairly often, we pull into a campground space, only to discover that the nose of the trailer is just a little low, because of the way the pad is graded.Rather than unhitch the trailer and raise the nose with the jack (which we prefer to avoid when we're just overnighting), here is an easier alternative: just raise the back of the tow vehicle by putting Lynx Levelers or some wood under the rear tires.It's simple, but it works, as long as the nose is not way too low.

I have seen people put wood down then back the truck onto the wood to raise the hitch. Seems to work. I have just left everything hooked up, WD, safety chains etc but undid the hitch pin and raise the tongue of the trailer. Then in the morning just lower the tongue onto the ball and leave , works for me.

Put air bags on the tow vehicle, along with the onboard air compressor. You can raise or lower the rear of the tow vehicle with the remote control.LINK

We just set up as usual and unhook. I just don't move the truck if it is an overnight and run in the morning stop. It only takes us about 5 minutes to hook up and do our safety check. By the way, we don't use a weight distribution system because our trailer is way below what the truck can actually tow. One of the advantages of towing a lightweight trailer.

Since I use the tongue jack to lift the truck and trailer 6" to put on the equalizer spring bars, I just use the tongue jack and lift the trailer and truck the few inches needed to level it.

I also just use the electric tongue jack to lift the tongue and the back of the vehicle as a unit. For extreme lifts I have just opened teh coupler and jacked it up.But then again I never thought about just backing onto levelers. I might try it next time out as I always have a ton of room where I'm going.

Easy way to raise trailer's nose while hitched in campground

RICK-ards_Red
Explorer
Nov 15, 2022
I have seen people put wood down then back the truck onto the wood to raise the hitch. Seems to work. I have just left everything hooked up, WD, safety chains etc but undid the hitch pin and raise the tongue of the trailer. Then in the morning just lower the tongue onto the ball and leave , works for me.
Home_Skillet
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2022
Put air bags on the tow vehicle, along with the onboard air compressor. You can raise or lower the rear of the tow vehicle with the remote control.

LINK
BarabooBob
Explorer III
Nov 15, 2022
We just set up as usual and unhook. I just don't move the truck if it is an overnight and run in the morning stop. It only takes us about 5 minutes to hook up and do our safety check. By the way, we don't use a weight distribution system because our trailer is way below what the truck can actually tow. One of the advantages of towing a lightweight trailer.
Mike134
Explorer
Nov 15, 2022
Since I use the tongue jack to lift the truck and trailer 6" to put on the equalizer spring bars, I just use the tongue jack and lift the trailer and truck the few inches needed to level it.
opnspaces
Navigator II
Nov 16, 2022
I also just use the electric tongue jack to lift the tongue and the back of the vehicle as a unit. For extreme lifts I have just opened teh coupler and jacked it up.

But then again I never thought about just backing onto levelers. I might try it next time out as I always have a ton of room where I'm going.
valhalla360
Navigator
Nov 16, 2022
Mike134 wrote:
Since I use the tongue jack to lift the truck and trailer 6" to put on the equalizer spring bars, I just use the tongue jack and lift the trailer and truck the few inches needed to level it.

^^^ This.

Assuming "a little" is only 2-3 inches, just run the trailer jack up 2-3 inches.
NamMedevac_70
Explorer II
Nov 16, 2022
Thanks. Your lynx levelers are very cost efficient. My electric tongue jack failed me at night in freezing rain, so I now use only hand crank jack. The exercise is good for me and warms me up in no time. P.S. The hand crank for my electric tongue jack was misplaced a long time ago. Cheers to the brave.
valhalla360
Navigator
Nov 16, 2022
NamMedevac 70 wrote:
Thanks. Your lynx levelers are very cost efficient. My electric tongue jack failed me at night in freezing rain, so I now use only hand crank jack. The exercise is good for me and warms me up in no time. P.S. The hand crank for my electric tongue jack was misplaced a long time ago. Cheers to the brave.

Electric, manual...still the simplest solution. Manually cranking it up 2-3 inches should take less than 30 sec.

Also, if you use blocks under the rear truck axle, you are likely to get more bounce in the trailer as the truck springs are supporting the front of the trailer.

If you put the trailer jack down, the truck suspension is isolated from the trailer.
JRscooby
Explorer II
Nov 16, 2022
valhalla360 wrote:

Electric, manual...still the simplest solution. Manually cranking it up 2-3 inches should take less than 30 sec.

Also, if you use blocks under the rear truck axle, you are likely to get more bounce in the trailer as the truck springs are supporting the front of the trailer.

If you put the trailer jack down, the truck suspension is isolated from the trailer.

Why not both? Run TV rear tires on blocks, then use jack tongue jack to hold it still, stop bounce?

Something to think about; One evening we where set up, and storm rolled in. When the tornado warning started my wife, and wife from next site got in cab, other guy and I sat on tailgate. On the way we picked up another couple. They could not drive to restroom/storm shelter because still hooked up.
mdcamping
Explorer
Nov 16, 2022
^^^
yup most RV's are anchored down to their sites where it would take time to move out in an emergency like you described. You did the right thing looking out for your camping neighbors. :C

If I'm not disconnecting the truck from trailer, I will crank the tongue jack a few inches if I find the trailer way-unlevel. Most times I drop the trailer jacks also as I find the trailer bounce annoying.

Mike

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Easy way to raise trailer's nose while hitched in campground

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