stabilizers for leveling

I personally do not rely on any degree of leveling adjustment with the stabilizers.

You can hand tighten one corner just a bit more than the other, just no more than a firm twist with one hand. I installed levels on opposite corners to watch for, or correct twist. With these levels I can see that it sure doesn't take much to flex a flimsy frame.

Good advice above already....also, I'm feeling good and "level" even if I'm a half (1/2) bubble off.

As you already mentioned the stabilizers aren't meant for leveling so my guess is anything more than what happens when you hand crank them with moderate force is all you can expect to accomplish. Personally I use leveling blocks to get my TT level and don't notice much change when I hand crank the stabilizers. There may be some high quality stabilizers out there but I wouldn't trust the ones that came standard on the TT's I've owned to support a lot of the trailer weight.

If you want an "infinitely variable" way to level with something under the wheels, look at the Andersen levelers. We used them on our previous TT and use them on our current fifth wheel (doesn't have auto-level). I also have a LevelMatePRO bluetooth leveling device that tells me how level the rig is (side-to-side) while I'm still in the truck cab and before unhitching. This makes it really easy to find the most level spot on a dirt or gravel site and then to get the trailer in the right place on the Andersen levelers. Great combo.

Rob

I agree with SoundGuy.

Well, I can try to use my jacks for leveling, but that will never happen unless I use some kind of mechanical aid to do so. I can tighten the jacks only so far and then my trailer is simply way, way, way to heavy to lift and it's impossible for me to get even another inch turning by hand.

Now, there are times when I've used the jacks to support the camper. At 35.5 feet long, even a slight sloped campsite will make the tail touch the ground and the front tongue way up in the air. If the slope is too great, the tongue (or the rear) may not be able to lift high enough to get level.

When that happens, I'll raise the tongue jack as high as I can get it, then lower the front jacks until they rest on the ground, or on blocks if needed. Once supported, then I can raise the trailer tongue jack. Now the tongue is suspended in the air and all the weight of the the trailer are on the front jacks. I can then put an additional block under the tongue jack, and then raise the trailer even higher until I reach level.

This is the only time I've used the jacks to actually support the trailer and that is just for a moment, long enough to get the extra height of block under the tongue. To bring the camper back down (to earth, literally), reverse the process. But before doing this, make real sure the tires are chalked well so there's absolutely no movement in the trailer.

The jacks (usually just one of them) can be used to tighten and lift a little, but not much, enough to actually level.

But, beyond this, no, do not use the stabilizer jacks for leveling. They were never intended for that purpose.

It would depend a lot on how flexy the frame is an how heavy the camper is.

Mine is pretty light by most peoples standards...6500GVW, ~5k "dry". I have (I believe) 3500lb rated scissors on each corner and they don't struggle to lift the camper.

I can easily adjust an inch or two. Never needed much more than that, I do use blocks under the wheels first.

Most scissors jacks used on travel trailers are rated for 5,000 lbs, they are not the problem when attempting to level. The location of the jacks on the corners is the issue because the frame can be tweaked by supporting it like a long bridge. That is why I mentioned above about using levels attached to opposite corners.

Second Chance wrote:
If you want an "infinitely variable" way to level with something under the wheels, look at the Andersen levelers. We used them on our previous TT and use them on our current fifth wheel (doesn't have auto-level). I also have a LevelMatePRO bluetooth leveling device that tells me how level the rig is (side-to-side) while I'm still in the truck cab and before unhitching. This makes it really easy to find the most level spot on a dirt or gravel site and then to get the trailer in the right place on the Andersen levelers. Great combo.

Rob

x2 on the level mate.. been using it about a year. not cheap but saves time. gives you height adjustment requirement to 1/4 inch. i have leveling blocks and boards of different thickness so i can get pretty much spot on level each time.