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Parking on a slope

ian_c
Explorer
Explorer
This seems to me to be one of those questions that gets asked a hundred times but I can't find a thread.
We all know that it's important to level our trailers when parked so as not to damage the fridge. But how about if the fridge is not on? I'd like to park our 5ver in our driveway for a few days before we head south. It's got an almost 30º slope. It would stay hitched to our F250 and the wheels would be chocked so I'm not concerned about roll back, but would we risk damaging anything else?

Many thanks
Ian
2011 Heartland Graystone 5th Wheel
2010 Ford F250 V10
Lovin' the lifestyle - never getting enough.
11 REPLIES 11

garmp
Explorer II
Explorer II
We have a steep driveway also, but don't turn on the fridge until we pull out. The night before we put frozen milk jugs of water in the fridge to pre-cool it. Pull those out, turn it on and go!
Our 2351D Phoenix Cruiser, Jack, has turned us from campers into RVers and loving it!

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
ian.c wrote:
Grit dog, you got me! I have a steep driveway and it seemed to me that a 30-60-90 triangle would lie nicely along the hypotenuse with the other long side being level. This discussion has told me two things: I don't need to worry about the fridge 'cause it's off and I need to learn a lot more about the difference between 30º and a 30% grade.
Thanks for everyone's responses!
Ian


Right on bud! Cheers!
Hey just remember, a 45deg angle is a 100% slope. So 1deg is just over 2%.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

valhalla360
Nomad II
Nomad II
ian.c wrote:
Grit dog, you got me! I have a steep driveway and it seemed to me that a 30-60-90 triangle would lie nicely along the hypotenuse with the other long side being level. This discussion has told me two things: I don't need to worry about the fridge 'cause it's off and I need to learn a lot more about the difference between 30º and a 30% grade.
Thanks for everyone's responses!
Ian


I doubt it's even that steep if you are considering parking on it.

12-15% grades seem crazy steep on roads....30% is pretty much unheard of on roads and driveways.

I wouldn't run the fridge but as long as you give it an hour or two to settle once level, it should be fine.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

ian_c
Explorer
Explorer
Grit dog, you got me! I have a steep driveway and it seemed to me that a 30-60-90 triangle would lie nicely along the hypotenuse with the other long side being level. This discussion has told me two things: I don't need to worry about the fridge 'cause it's off and I need to learn a lot more about the difference between 30º and a 30% grade.
Thanks for everyone's responses!
Ian
2011 Heartland Graystone 5th Wheel
2010 Ford F250 V10
Lovin' the lifestyle - never getting enough.

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
valhalla360 wrote:


Beat me to it. I doubt you could stop the rig from rolling downhill with that kind of slope.


Ya, I think the OP either meant to say 30% grade which is also really steep to park on or just knows he has a steep driveway and guessed at how steep.
If it really was 30deg, if the overall length of the rig is 50', that's a 25' rise in grade tip to tail.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

MFL
Nomad II
Nomad II
Like Old-Biscuit mentioned above, I would not extend/retract any slides at that steep angle. It seems you plan to pack/load for several days before leaving for an extended stay. It would not be fun to do all that loading, without having at least a main slide out, but just asking for trouble IMO.

Jerry

valhalla360
Nomad II
Nomad II
Grit dog wrote:
30deg slope? That’s like almost a 70% grade. Is it really that steep? Doesn’t seem plausible.
If you’re comfortable parking the truck on it, it won’t hurt anything in the camper if you can get it there that I can think of.
That’s awful dang steep though. I’d have someone throw chalk blocks while you’re still in the truck on the brakes though. Wouldn’t want any of that pressure on the transmission.


Beat me to it. I doubt you could stop the rig from rolling downhill with that kind of slope.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

Grit_dog
Nomad III
Nomad III
30deg slope? That’s like almost a 70% grade. Is it really that steep? Doesn’t seem plausible.
If you’re comfortable parking the truck on it, it won’t hurt anything in the camper if you can get it there that I can think of.
That’s awful dang steep though. I’d have someone throw chalk blocks while you’re still in the truck on the brakes though. Wouldn’t want any of that pressure on the transmission.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Old-Biscuit
Explorer II
Explorer II
No fridge...no harm

Slides???
Might put them in a bind opening and/or closing
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

Dutch_12078
Explorer
Explorer
If the fridge is not turned on, no harm is done...
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate

Lwiddis
Explorer
Explorer
8.33% doesn’t bother me if the fridge is off.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad