Leveling a 5er

[RKamperRV]

OK all you experienced 5er owners, I need some advice on leveling since I only have had TTs in the past, with no slides. Our new 5er has 3 slides, all on the street side. When I parked it the other day, I leveled it side-to-side using boards under the wheels. Then I leveled it front-to-back using the landing gear. After that, I extended the rear stabilizers. Then I extended the slides. After they were extended, I noticed that the curb side rear stabilizer was off the ground, so I lowered it some more. Over the next 2 days, as we used the trailer, we noticed it was leaning toward the street side. Now it is off level toward the street side about one inch.

Do I have to initially set it up off level toward the curb side to compensate for the street side weight of the slides when they are extended? How do you do it?

[RKamperRV]

OK all you experienced 5er owners, I need some advice on leveling since I only have had TTs in the past, with no slides. Our new 5er has 3 slides, all on the street side. When I parked it the other day, I leveled it side-to-side using boards under the wheels. Then I leveled it front-to-back using the landing gear. After that, I extended the rear stabilizers. Then I extended the slides. After they were extended, I noticed that the curb side rear stabilizer was off the ground, so I lowered it some more. Over the next 2 days, as we used the trailer, we noticed it was leaning toward the street side. Now it is off level toward the street side about one inch.

Do I have to initially set it up off level toward the curb side to compensate for the street side weight of the slides when they are extended? How do you do it?

[CalgaryCowboy]

I'm not sure why yours is drifting so much... I've never had this time of a program.

One thing I do different, is to extended the slides (2 on the street side of my 5er) before I engage my rear stabilizers. I was told that this way introduces less stress than putting your slides out after stabilizing.

Also, the next day I snug the stabilizers to allow for any settling in movement.

Good luck

[Hitchhiker]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Now it is off level toward the street side about one inch. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Rick,

I've never had that happen either, but mine has two slides on the street side and a long one on the curb side. I looked at your floor plan (below) and saw that the kitchen is on the curb side which should balance out some of the added weight of the three street side slides.





Maybe some fresh water in the tank would add enough ballast to keep it in place?

[Stylin']

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CalgaryCowboy:
I'm not sure why yours is drifting so much... I've never had this time of a program.

One thing I do different, is to extended the slides (2 on the street side of my 5er) before I engage my rear stabilizers. I was told that this way introduces less stress than putting your slides out after stabilizing.

Also, the next day I snug the stabilizers to allow for any settling in movement.

Good luck </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is pretty much the same routine as mine. Since I must manually level from side to side, I do that while still hooked by driving on a couple of planks and/or Lynx Levelers until I've got it level that way. Then I unhook and level front to back, adjusting the back stabilizers last. Most often, further adjustments aren't needed. I am usually parking on gravel which is fairly stable, but if you park on a softer surface, you might need to tweak your front jacks. Remember to raise your rear stabilizers before raising the front, or you might damage them. Good luck.

[powerboatr]

most folks have said it about leveleing,
we pretty much do teh same thing, level side to side with the yellow plnks, thne front yo back, thne drop teh nose about an inch or tow lower teh rear jacks to snug the ground or planks, then lift the nse back up level, this takes some off the tires and holds her firm, we have also moved our rear jacks foward 5 feet to be 4 feet from teh rear wheel spring hanger, made a world of differnce in the "overtime" setling.
then run teh slides out noramlly

and that is one neat floor plan, very clever hiding a bunk bed like that, maybe its time we get a new one.

[dmurdock]

I was thinking the same thing as powerboatr, that IS a really neat floorplan. That bunkroom is almost like a secret compartment.

[inacreek]

Rick, I think that you were parked too close to the creek at Circle-M Campground and your landing gear sank in the mud Just joking.....I also just came from a TT and I level the same way you do. I leveled the same way with the TT. Could your Landing Gear have dropped down in some wet ground????? No Explaination

[RKamperRV]

I suspect it was just soft ground in our back yard. This time I am using concrete pavers on the ground, then wood blocks to support the landing gear and rear stabilizers.

The bunk slide is a neat feature. We got it so the dog would have her own room. She likes sleeping on the lower bunk. We took out the stock mattress and replaced it with 2 rectangular dog beds. Sure beats having to haul her crate every time.

[K-Star]

Rick

Like we talked about over the weekend, I have a third slide on the door side to counter balance, but I do notice that after the slides are out, I usually end up about 1" or less low on the street side where my 2 slide are. When I level, I always leave that side about an 1" higher and let the weight of the slides do the rest.