My community allows us to store RV's and boats on a pad or in the driveway. I have read that on RV should be stored as level as possible. Is that true? I have a slight grade to contend with, so the front of the RV would be about a foot higher than the rear. I could put the rear on boards to level it, but that seems a little unsteady to me. I understand that it's not a good idea to use the front landing gear as a means of leveling. Any ideas?
Terry and Jo said
11:09 AM Nov 12, 2009
With many fifth wheels, you have to use the front landing jacks to help level. I'm not sure that one can find a good point otherwise to place individual leveling jacks. I use the landing jacks all the time.
Our unit is on uneven ground as well. If you get blocks that are as wide or wider than your times, it shouldn't be a problem. In our case, our pad is unlevel both front to back and side to side. One side has a 4" X 6" board long enough for both wheels to sit on and the other side has a 2" X 6" to keep it all level. I have heard, but can't confirm, that sitting on concrete may be harmful to the tires. So, mine are on blocks.
For us, having it level allows us to use it as a spare bedroom, should the need ever arise, so I always keep it leveled. We also have had an electrical plug placed next to our camper pad. As for being unstable, we have some pretty good winds here in Oklahoma, but we have never had a problem with them being on blocks.
Hope this helps.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 12th of November 2009 11:09:57 AM
thebearII said
01:31 PM Nov 12, 2009
Gary,
I think what you are referring to is using the landing gear to level from side to side. It's not advisable to use the landing gear to level side to side because you end up twisiting the frame and that can cause the exterior and interior doors to stick or pop open.
The best way to level side to side is to use boards or those plastic thingys under the tires to get the rig level.
Front to back level can be accomplished using the landing gears.
My 5th wheel is always high by about 4 inches at the front when stored, to provide water runoff in rain and mostly because that's where it is when I unhitch. I leave it this way in case the batteries are dead, it's easier to crank it lower by hand to get it hitched.
I've never had a problem caused by storing the unit unlevel front to back.
The only caution I've heard regarding front to back level has to do with a running absorbtion type refrigerator. They need to be level to work properly. But it's OK for them to be a little unlevel for short periods like overnight.
I once parked in a steep driveway of a friends lake house for a week. The front jacks were as low as they would go and the rear stuck up in the air. The 5th wheel was almost level. That's how steep the drive was. It was quite a sight to see.
Here's a tip, when hitching on that grade make sure you have the trailer wheels well chocked. I was involved with a lawsuit (as a technical witness) where as a 5th wheel was being hitched on a slight downgrade, the pin rested on the front of the hitch plate, and as the 5th wheel landing gear were lowered the trailer rolled forward and killed the drivers wife. She was pinned between the truck and the 5th wheel as it rolled forward because he used some cutoff branches to chock the front trailer tires.
If he had used proper chocks and his wife stood off to the side instead of in between the truck and trailer the accident would not have happened and his wife would still be alive. He was sueing the hitch manufacturer.
Luvglass said
02:10 PM Nov 12, 2009
Your only means to adjust level front to rear is to use the front jacks, and that's exactly what they are designed to do.
As a general safety precaution you should also use locking chocks between the wheels. They are the first thing I put on and the last thing I remove. There are many brands, I use
http://www.rotochok.com/
With many fifth wheels, you have to use the front landing jacks to help level. I'm not sure that one can find a good point otherwise to place individual leveling jacks. I use the landing jacks all the time.
Our unit is on uneven ground as well. If you get blocks that are as wide or wider than your times, it shouldn't be a problem. In our case, our pad is unlevel both front to back and side to side. One side has a 4" X 6" board long enough for both wheels to sit on and the other side has a 2" X 6" to keep it all level. I have heard, but can't confirm, that sitting on concrete may be harmful to the tires. So, mine are on blocks.
For us, having it level allows us to use it as a spare bedroom, should the need ever arise, so I always keep it leveled. We also have had an electrical plug placed next to our camper pad. As for being unstable, we have some pretty good winds here in Oklahoma, but we have never had a problem with them being on blocks.
Hope this helps.
Terry
-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Thursday 12th of November 2009 11:09:57 AM
I think what you are referring to is using the landing gear to level from side to side. It's not advisable to use the landing gear to level side to side because you end up twisiting the frame and that can cause the exterior and interior doors to stick or pop open.
The best way to level side to side is to use boards or those plastic thingys under the tires to get the rig level.
Front to back level can be accomplished using the landing gears.
My 5th wheel is always high by about 4 inches at the front when stored, to provide water runoff in rain and mostly because that's where it is when I unhitch. I leave it this way in case the batteries are dead, it's easier to crank it lower by hand to get it hitched.
I've never had a problem caused by storing the unit unlevel front to back.
The only caution I've heard regarding front to back level has to do with a running absorbtion type refrigerator. They need to be level to work properly. But it's OK for them to be a little unlevel for short periods like overnight.
I once parked in a steep driveway of a friends lake house for a week. The front jacks were as low as they would go and the rear stuck up in the air. The 5th wheel was almost level. That's how steep the drive was. It was quite a sight to see.
Here's a tip, when hitching on that grade make sure you have the trailer wheels well chocked.
I was involved with a lawsuit (as a technical witness) where as a 5th wheel was being hitched on a slight downgrade, the pin rested on the front of the hitch plate, and as the 5th wheel landing gear were lowered the trailer rolled forward and killed the drivers wife. She was pinned between the truck and the 5th wheel as it rolled forward because he used some cutoff branches to chock the front trailer tires.
If he had used proper chocks and his wife stood off to the side instead of in between the truck and trailer the accident would not have happened and his wife would still be alive. He was sueing the hitch manufacturer.