Checking for excessive slope before the slides are run out?

[rlmcfe]

First time coach owner and still figuring it out. Newmar slide outs are deployed before the HWH leveling. I know there are discussions on dealing with excessive slope using pads, etc., but does anyone know if there is a way to check for excessive slope (using the HWH system) as soon as you park so you know if you have to move or adjust BEFORE running the slides out?

The way it is now I have to run the slides out, then if I get an excessive slope warning I have to run them in, adjust, run them out, check for slope, etc.

THX, Rick

[Dutch Star Don]

There is no precheck that you can do. However, after a while you'll get a feel for how level it is.

There is a product called a Level Mate Pro that tells you exactly how level you are when you pull into a site. It tells you how far you're out of level at each corner by inches. I'm sure after using the Level Mate Pro, you could determine how many inches would create an excessive slope condition.

Lastly, when your coach levels, it only makes adjustments upward. It isn't smart enough to lower a corner if it adjusted too much. On occasion, when I get the excessive slope light and I think the coach should have leveled, I'll manually lower the side I think went to high and press Auto Level again. About 50% of the time, it will level.

[Alaskajohn]

Levelmate Pro is hard to beat. It’s easy to install and use taking all of the guesswork out of it.

[d23haynes57]

Level the coach first. If it levels, go back to travel mode and then open the slides.

[shepardmike]

I too am a big fan of Level Mate Pro, the first thing I look at when I roll into a site where I think either the front or back is going to be high.

Just like DSD, I dump the air first before I auto-level.

[Wiscampsin1]

Another big fan of Level Mate Pro. Had it on our previous TT and it was one of the early mods we did when we got our DP.

[MarkMaxPayne]

And another glowing endorsement of LevelMate Pro. I installed a power switch in one of the blank "outfitter" knockouts up above the cab to install a small 12VDC to 5VDC USB converter (my Newmar came with 3 blanks labeled for "optional equipment"). I have that then plugged into the LevelMate Pro's USB power socket and it is mounted in the electronics cabinet above the driver's seat. That way I am not dealing with replacing batteries or the tiny switch on the device itself. When I am going to pull into a spot I power it up via the big switch, launch the phone app, and then monitor how much my 4 corners are off. On my rig numbers as low as 4.5" can cause the levelers to throw an excess slope error.

Best,
-Mark

[Dave.FL]

Ditto on the Level Mate Pro. Installed it several years ago. Don’t have to use it too often but every once in a while it comes in handy for those uneven sites. If it’s a really bad site that I can’t find a level enough area then I’ve requested another site. Been really handy when boondocking.

[Country Road]

Originally Posted by d23haynes57

Level the coach first. If it levels, go back to travel mode and then open the slides.

No matter what the book or manufacturer says, I always level first.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why someone would want to extend slides if the coach has the potential of being twisted. But to each his own.

[d23haynes57]

I give wonder the requirement to open the slide rooms before leveling. What structural design or deficiency is this process compensating for? You would think that it would be ideal for the rig to be level and that there are stresses that would take the wall framing out of square while the rooms are moving. Is there concern that leveling will tweak something that will cause a problem?
My Foretravel has an HWH system. The rig needs to have level confirmed to open the rooms. It only has air leveling. However, I have seen it try so hard that some of the basement compartments doors mis aligned and during a re-level started popping the relief valve on the compressor. Leveling to an extent is an art.

[Alpine36]

The Levelmate Pro is a great tool, however I discovered something much simpler to get you in the “ballpark” while pulling (or backing) in to your site. I took a small inexpensive bullseye bubble level and mounted it on my shift console dash at home on known level surface with the rig perfectly level. I used a small bed of silicone to mount the bullseye perfectly level.
Now when pulling in to set up it gives you a really good idea what your up against all at a quick glance. A foot or two one way or the other can make a huge difference. If the bubble is just outside of the first ring I know the levelers will make up the difference. If it’s way outside the first ring it’s time to break out some dunnage, or find another site. Can’t beat the Levelmate for fine tuning, but I find it a pita trying to use it for initially scoping out the site. And yes, I level before slides, always.
Just my $.02c.

[Dutch Star Don]

Originally Posted by Country Road

No matter what the book or manufacturer says, I always level first.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why someone would want to extend slides if the coach has the potential of being twisted. But to each his own.

Your coach was built, and the slides were installed with the coach sitting on a FLAT LEVEL surface at Newmar. Consequently, the slide rooms are installed and adjusted n SQUARE openings.

When you pull into a site that is out of level and you level first, you have the opportunity to put some twist on the frame and possibly get the slide openings out of square. Then you're pushing the slide out through a possibly crooked opening.

Before some frame changes in late 2017, the coach could easily get out of square. There were a few times that my 2014 DS with a FWS would tweak enough in a really unlevel site that the gaps (reveal) between the FWS and opening would be pretty far off and sometimes touch on one side.

With the design of the more rigid frame, most of that was eliminated and I haven't seen an issue on my 2019 DS. However, I don't intend to push the limits.

[d23haynes57]

So, we are to open the slide out rooms before leveling due to the design deficiencies of the sidewall design and construction. Is that correct? Maybe someone from Newmar can chime in. I think I'm mis understanding something.

[Alpine36]

Originally Posted by d23haynes57

So, we are to open the slide out rooms before leveling due to the design deficiencies of the sidewall design and construction. Is that correct? Maybe someone from Newmar can chime in. I think I'm mis understanding something.

Do what the manufacturer recommends…always.

In the OPs case, he’s getting tired of deploying the slides and then leveling, only to find out it won’t come to level, so he has to retract the slides and start over, hopefully in a better spot. I think the only thing he can do to improve his situation is to first know the capabilities of his leveling system and act accordingly. This is where experience comes in to play. Be it by using Levelmate Pro or a simple bubble level, assessing the situation first and get to a good starting point before attempting to slide and level.