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Old 06-24-2014, 07:17 AM   #1
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Leveling Question.

I'm curious how most people level their trailers. I'm looking at the Anderson levelers. They look pretty easy to use, but a little expensive. My question is, with a tandem axle trailer do you need to put blocks under both axles? If so, I would have to buy two of these? I already have a pair of X chocks. I'm just trying to figure out the 'proper' way to level up.
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Old 06-24-2014, 07:43 AM   #2
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Side to Side then Front to Back. I use blocks (Lynx) under both tires on the low side as required and then the landing gear to get the front to back leveled. Each block gives about an inch of lift. On the street in front of the house I need 3 blocks on the curb side due to the crown in the street. That's the most leveling I've needed (so far). I store an 18" beam level in the basement and use it on the floor just inside the door.
The X chocks would probably work well to stabilize the wheels on blocks.
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Old 06-24-2014, 08:28 AM   #3
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I use wood blocks to level my camper. You don't have to put them under both wheels in order to level the camper. Placing blocks under one wheel will raise the camper one half the thickness of the block. In other words, placing a 2 inch block underneath one wheel will raise the camper approximately 1 inch. Placing a 2 inch block under each wheel will raise the camper 2 inches. I carry 2 inch blocks. If I need to raise my camper 3 inches, I place one block under the front wheel and two blocks under the back wheel and that will then raise it approximately 3 inches.

I level my fiver side to side first using the wood blocks and then front to back using the front legs. After I get everything as level as possible, I then drop my stabilizers.
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Old 06-24-2014, 09:16 AM   #4
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Those Anderson levelers sure look interesting. I agree that they do seem a little pricey, but if they're durable, they may be worth it. I've not broken down and bought them yet (I use wood blocks) but I admit it's tempting!
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Old 06-24-2014, 09:24 AM   #5
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I used them recently on my 23b and they worked pretty nice. Two things I can tell you are that they only give about 3.5" lift before they are on the edge of coming off the other side and that they don't work real well on hard surfaces due to their hard plastic nature (slippery). If you need more than 3.5 plus inches lift, you would have to add another board or something else. For me they are an option for flatter pads but I will still carry boards and waffle pads.
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Old 06-24-2014, 05:36 PM   #6
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I carry several 2 x 10 x 12 wood blocks for leveling and for putting under a bottle jack if I needed to jack up one side of the trailer. I also have 4 pairs of 4 x 4 wood blocks, 6, 8, 12 and 16 inches long to use under stabilizer jacks. This provides good stabilization with only lowering the jacks a small amount. The farther you extend your stabilizer jacks the more sway you incur.
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Old 06-24-2014, 06:33 PM   #7
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I don't camp in a rv lot or campground so I just use a shovel on the high side.
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Old 06-24-2014, 08:40 PM   #8
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I bought a Bal leveller for my Jayco Sport... Love it!
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Old 06-24-2014, 11:08 PM   #9
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We purchased Anderson levelers to use with our new Jayco 19RD. We used 2x4s and 1x4s to level the tent trailers we had previously for the past 20 years. It is so much easier to use the Anderson levelers; no more pulling up on one board and realizing you need two so backing off and adding another board, etc. They are pricey but we think they are worth it. We have tandem axles and use two levelers. You just need to go off them slowly so one doesn't get caught between the two tires.
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Old 06-25-2014, 05:16 AM   #10
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Andersen Levelers
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Old 06-25-2014, 08:38 AM   #11
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That's clever! I watched their youtube video and note they offer a similar ramp as a jack. It looks to be a bit taller and shorter (and more $$) but they suggest more uses.. I saw the comments about these things being a little pricy ($45 on Amazon) and I thought that'd be a good buy until I saw that was EACH. There are reviews on Amazon saying they can be difficult to get between the wheels of a tandem. Andersen and Amazon are the only places I've seen them for sale (no find on Tweety's, CW, PPL (Houston) or ebay) and the price is about the same.
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Old 06-25-2014, 08:45 AM   #12
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Those things sure look interesting! I wonder if it would fit between the tandem axles on a X23b?
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Old 06-25-2014, 08:48 AM   #13
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Lots of comments on Amazon about them being slippery also. I think that could be easily fixed by scuffing them up with some heavy grit sand paper though.
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Old 06-25-2014, 10:40 AM   #14
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I've seen several posts both here and on other threads where people state they use multiple wood blocks under their front jacks to minimize the amount of jack they extend. This is suppose to minimize sway due to long jack length. Doesn't this potentially increase the danger of the trailer collapsing if a block shifts? I've seen setups that look like a Jenga game. I want to minimize sway also but am I wrong to think that more jack is more stable (with regards to collapse) than stacking blocks? I'm referring to homemade wooden versus manufactured. It was never an issue when I was leveling my popups.
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Old 06-25-2014, 12:20 PM   #15
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We have a 2014 x20e and use the Anderson levelers.
We started with wood blocks, they did their job.
We then moved up to the yellow camco Legos and they worked too.
The Anderson levelers are awesome. We have used them in rocks, smooth gravel, dirt, grass and on flat pads.
I guess I could see them slipping on a pad if you gave it too much gas but we have not had an issue. My better half has the tender foot I suppose.
The only thing that kinda raised my eye brow is that you roll off them so you have a bit of a plop motion vs a smooth just drive off them.
The reason for the back off plop is that they are Snug in between the tandem axel when putting them in place.
We like them and use them.
Our garage has our evolution of camping leveling in it at this point.
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Old 06-25-2014, 01:01 PM   #16
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It is so much easier to use the Anderson levelers; no more pulling up on one board and realizing you need two so backing off and adding another board, etc........You just need to go off them slowly so one doesn't get caught between the two tires.
X2. We have the Andersen's and love them (even bought a set for a friend as a gift). They are so easy to use - No more guessing "do I have enough blocks down or not"

You simply drive up on the leveler until you are level side-to-side (can check with a level on A-frame or stick-on levels if you have them), then hit the brakes and place the included chock underneath. If you have tandem axles, you will need 2 Andersen levelers (one for each axle).

I second the advice above about driving "off" them very slowly - the front Andersen will get "kicked-up" in between the axles and could get caught. Once TT is off the leveler, I have DW standing by to remove the front one before proceeding any further.

Good luck to you on your decision.
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Old 06-25-2014, 01:49 PM   #17
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12voltman - yes they work on the 23b tandem axle. the center leveler is placed upright between the wheels and when you roll the trailer it pulls under the wheel. you still have to be careful because the fit is tight but I did it this weekend with great results.
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Old 06-26-2014, 05:12 AM   #18
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I've got a pop-up, with the 20.5x 8 tires, think they would fit on a tire that small?
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Old 06-26-2014, 05:29 AM   #19
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These levelers would work on any tire size
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Old 06-26-2014, 06:08 AM   #20
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Based on the last few comments, I'm going to order a set of Anderson's. I'll still carry some wood blocks as well, but for most situations I think these will make the job easier.
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