Leveling the camper
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 370
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From: Central Colorado
Leveling the camper
There was recently a thread on leveling the truck but I have one on leveling the camper. We are going to make our first boondocking trip and I have heard both ways that when leveling you do not need to level both axles. Either argument makes sense to me, and leveling just one would certainly be easier when the space may not be super level to start. However, it seems to me that by leveling just one it might stress the undercarriage more than necessary.
Am I over thinking this? What do you all do?
Am I over thinking this? What do you all do?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I level both and use those pads that look like giant Legos. They work quite well and I carry enough so I can also use them on the back stabilizers if the space is way out of level. What is the advantage to leveling only one axle?
Steve
Steve
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Central Colorado
None that I can see, other than laziness. I don't like the idea of leaving the axles "off" each other for long. Funny thing is even the Anderson Camper Leveler site suggests in an indirect way that leveling one axle is enough. I'll continue to level both as I always have.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Central Colorado
So a bit a follow up. Went dry camping this weekend and tried the Anderson camper levelers for the first time. Wow! Just wow! Took me more time to get them out of the boxes than it did to level the trailer. I'm sold on them for sure now. And yes, I did level both axles.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 427
Likes: 4
From: Prescott, Michigan
Those camper levelers look very interesting.
I am not sure I would drive forward off them though. I don't like the way the small end flips up like a spear toward the bottom of the trailer. I fear if we don't get them just right when we put them down, when I drive forward, they could spear the trim on the bottom of the trailer. If you freeze the video when they drive off, that back leveler comes very close to hitting the trim behind the rear wheel. But just backing off should work. Pull forward a bit to release the chock, then back down the leveler.
How did you use them?
I am not sure I would drive forward off them though. I don't like the way the small end flips up like a spear toward the bottom of the trailer. I fear if we don't get them just right when we put them down, when I drive forward, they could spear the trim on the bottom of the trailer. If you freeze the video when they drive off, that back leveler comes very close to hitting the trim behind the rear wheel. But just backing off should work. Pull forward a bit to release the chock, then back down the leveler.
How did you use them?
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
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From: Bristol, TN.
Steve
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
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From: Tucson USA
I carried 2 ea 2x8 that was about a 18-24 longer than the 2 tires to pull up on if way off. I also carried 2x8 about 14" long that I could stack to level the trailer and used them on the long boards if they were needed. 4 inches would usually level the trailer enough to then use the stabilizers to finish up. The long boards I carried in the truck bed, also if need be some of the smaller blocks. The boards always seemed to work better than the lego blocks as they had a larger footprint to work with, plus theya re way cheaper to get and maintain!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I carried 2 ea 2x8 that was about a 18-24 longer than the 2 tires to pull up on if way off. I also carried 2x8 about 14" long that I could stack to level the trailer and used them on the long boards if they were needed. 4 inches would usually level the trailer enough to then use the stabilizers to finish up. The long boards I carried in the truck bed, also if need be some of the smaller blocks. The boards always seemed to work better than the lego blocks as they had a larger footprint to work with, plus theya re way cheaper to get and maintain!
My dealers simply toss things like lego levelers, spare tire racks, battery boxes, and anything that is left in the trade-ins or auction purchases into the scrap pile, so I pick up a lot of stuff at no cost. It is really amazing what folks sometimes leave in repo units. I think planks work fine for leveling. I have gotten pretty good with the legos and it seldom takes me more than one try and they work well in varied terrain.
Steve
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
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From: Tucson USA
You can use the levelers to fine tune your camper, cant pick it up but they are usable. Yes some will try to pick up a low side, but that is not how to work them. Get it close than with tongue jack and levelers finish it up. Once used to it takes just a couple of minutes. trailer is stable and level at same time.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
You can use the levelers to fine tune your camper, cant pick it up but they are usable. Yes some will try to pick up a low side, but that is not how to work them. Get it close than with tongue jack and levelers finish it up. Once used to it takes just a couple of minutes. trailer is stable and level at same time.
I also see folks try to level side-to-side on fivers by just using the landing gear, when parked on very steep slopes.
People just do crazy stuff, usually because they don't know. I'm not sure how to get the word out. The dealers don't educate, that's for sure.
Steve
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Here's the actual warning, in the event some folks are not familiar with it -
"These jacks are designed to stabilize a portion of your trailer's weight, not to support the full GVWR of your trailer. Do not use these jacks to lift your trailer or RV. Doing so will exceed the capacity of these jacks."
"These jacks are designed to stabilize a portion of your trailer's weight, not to support the full GVWR of your trailer. Do not use these jacks to lift your trailer or RV. Doing so will exceed the capacity of these jacks."