The snow is almost gone, and the camper is out of storage and in our driveway, YAY!!!
I always try to get it as level as possible in our driveway so we can open our slide as level as possible, but to get the level camper requires lots of wood, and a hitch jack that's fully extended. Should I be nervous?
Here's what it looks like when it's almost level:
And here's what "almost" level looks like according to the level:
About six more cranks would get it level, if the jack wasn't already fully extended.
Here's a closeup, showing the three stacks of wood:
(FWIW, the bottom two layers are screwed together, and sized to allow the top chuck of wood to either rest in between or go up on top to form one more layer, as pictured.)
You can see in this picture that the front end is almost three feet off the ground!
So with all that wood piled as high as it can, and the jack fully extended, should I be nervous? If we're inside walking around it always feels SO wobbly. I always wonder if I'm asking too much to have the jack fully extended. Do I risk just having the whole thing nosedive on me some day?
I always try to get it as level as possible in our driveway so we can open our slide as level as possible, but to get the level camper requires lots of wood, and a hitch jack that's fully extended. Should I be nervous?
Here's what it looks like when it's almost level:
And here's what "almost" level looks like according to the level:
About six more cranks would get it level, if the jack wasn't already fully extended.
Here's a closeup, showing the three stacks of wood:
(FWIW, the bottom two layers are screwed together, and sized to allow the top chuck of wood to either rest in between or go up on top to form one more layer, as pictured.)
You can see in this picture that the front end is almost three feet off the ground!
So with all that wood piled as high as it can, and the jack fully extended, should I be nervous? If we're inside walking around it always feels SO wobbly. I always wonder if I'm asking too much to have the jack fully extended. Do I risk just having the whole thing nosedive on me some day?
We shouldn't have to worry about near-blizzards in mid-April, but that's exactly what's been going on this last week here in North Dakota. This spring, camper prep means brushing snow off the roof. ๐
Anyways, I can finally get back to this thread. There's lots of wisdom from all of you, thanks!!!
Yes, it's chocked (and well-hidden in my pictures). I have one chock behind each of the rear wheels.
No, the reason I want to get it level (or close to level) is to be able to open the slide, when needed. We don't open it often, but it will get opened when we're ready to load for a trip.
I guess that's the bigger issue, there's more risk extending the slide when the trailer is not level than there is fully extending the hitch jack to get it level.
On a previous trailer we were in a campground and I was cranking on the jack, and all of a sudden it just gave way. I had no way of knowing, but I always wondered if all the cranking to full extension took too much of a toll on the jack.
Very stable, no worries there.
Good tip. (And it's 4x4s on the outside pieces.)
Yeah, that wish list is getting longer...! ๐
I suppose the bottom line is I just need to drop the stabalizers when I'm up in the air that much. As I mentioned earlier in this post, the side-to-side stablization really isn't a huge issue. Yes, it's wobbly without the stabalizers down, but not abnormally so. When we knew this last storm was coming, I dropped the hitch so the front end dipped down (to help get the melting snow off the roof) and dropped the stablizers too because the wind was supposed to pick up. (It never did. Phew!)
Truth it, the camper isn't in our driveway that often, we typically keep it in storage nearby and just bring it home and in the driveway to get it loaded up. So really, again, the bigger question behind the question is this: How level does the camper need to be to extend the slide? I've always thought the correct measurement is "pretty darn level" and to get to "pretty darn level" requires a fully extended jack in our driveway.
Anyways, I can finally get back to this thread. There's lots of wisdom from all of you, thanks!!!
SoundGuy wrote:
A little difficult to tell from your pic but is the trailer even chocked? :E
Yes, it's chocked (and well-hidden in my pictures). I have one chock behind each of the rear wheels.
opnspaces wrote:
By your level it looks pretty good to me. Is it just a personal preference to get it perfectly level?
No, the reason I want to get it level (or close to level) is to be able to open the slide, when needed. We don't open it often, but it will get opened when we're ready to load for a trip.
I guess that's the bigger issue, there's more risk extending the slide when the trailer is not level than there is fully extending the hitch jack to get it level.
Ralph Cramden wrote:
The rating of the jack is its maximum rating when fully extended. I don't see what the worry is unless you installed a jack that is rated way below the tongue weight, your loading a couple cubes on bricks in the trailer towards the front, or you just like to worry about things.
On a previous trailer we were in a campground and I was cranking on the jack, and all of a sudden it just gave way. I had no way of knowing, but I always wondered if all the cranking to full extension took too much of a toll on the jack.
myredracer wrote:
How stable is the trailer left/right at the jack?
Very stable, no worries there.
myredracer wrote:
With the jack extended that high, I'd want the wheels really well chocked (not with the X-chock type). With that piece of 4x4 (or 6x6?) you have running in a fore/aft direction, I'd turn it 90 degrees so it points left/right so that way if the trailer moves laterally (left or right) for any reason, the jack won't potentially roll off the 4x4 piece. If there is some wiggle in the jack at that height, it is possible to add a plate to the underside of the A-frame with a hole in it to better stabilize the jack.
Good tip. (And it's 4x4s on the outside pieces.)
myredracer wrote:
FWIW, with a TT that nice looking, I would get a nice electric jack (ball screw type)...
Yeah, that wish list is getting longer...! ๐
I suppose the bottom line is I just need to drop the stabalizers when I'm up in the air that much. As I mentioned earlier in this post, the side-to-side stablization really isn't a huge issue. Yes, it's wobbly without the stabalizers down, but not abnormally so. When we knew this last storm was coming, I dropped the hitch so the front end dipped down (to help get the melting snow off the roof) and dropped the stablizers too because the wind was supposed to pick up. (It never did. Phew!)
Truth it, the camper isn't in our driveway that often, we typically keep it in storage nearby and just bring it home and in the driveway to get it loaded up. So really, again, the bigger question behind the question is this: How level does the camper need to be to extend the slide? I've always thought the correct measurement is "pretty darn level" and to get to "pretty darn level" requires a fully extended jack in our driveway.
Ralph Cramden wrote:
One thing is certain. Post up a pic of anything on these boards and folks will be along with a gazillion methods to solve the problem you never had to beging with.
Also certain is there are those who elect themselves Grand Poobah of the forums and can't resist criticizing others for no other reason than they can. :S
Fact is, securely chocking and leveling any trailer go hand in hand. The OP said in his original post - "If we're inside walking around it always feels SO wobbly." Well with the stabs not deployed, as shown in his first pic, of course the trailer is going to wobble on it's suspension. Since any trailer we've owned lives on our sloped driveway during the camping season and I often have used it as a "man cave" I would always drop the stabs after properly chocking the trailer to make sure it can't shift and level it both fore & aft and side to side so I can later start the fridge before the next trip, without concern. Since the front stabs are also well above the level of the driveway I always use a stack of plastic blocks under each of them so they're only extended half way, for best stability.
