Leveling idea?

[Rmgrose]

I always keep boards for leveling my camper, but was wondering(I also carry an air compressor and gauge) if anybody has thought of letting air out of tires to level side to side. I know you have to keep some air in tires so you don't pop the tire off bead/rim. This idea may also let trailer rock more since you couldn't use bal chocks? Without trying I would guess you could lose 2-3 inches, I got this idea after a recent article where a tractor trailer was stuck under a bridge and they let the air out of the tires which gave enough room to drive out. Air suspension on trailers would be a neat addition as well. I work around tractor trailers all the time and they have it.

[tularockstar]

For me, I think it would be unwise to let precious air out of my trailer tires, regardless of whether I have an air compressor or not. For the reasons you'd stated about instability and other problems, wouldn't it be easier to use a mechanical leveler like the Anderson Wedge? Our rig has an auto leveler, but we still carry jack pads--in case any of the jacks runs out of stroke. As far as being stuck under the bridge, I plan to never be stuck under one. Because the damage will be astronomical! I guess it's one of the reasons why we try to plan our routes, using the semi trucker's road Atlas.

Originally Posted by Rmgrose

I always keep boards for leveling my camper, but was wondering(I also carry an air compressor and gauge) if anybody has thought of letting air out of tires to level side to side. I know you have to keep some air in tires so you don't pop the tire off bead/rim. This idea may also let trailer rock more since you couldn't use bal chocks? Without trying I would guess you could lose 2-3 inches, I got this idea after a recent article where a tractor trailer was stuck under a bridge and they let the air out of the tires which gave enough room to drive out. Air suspension on trailers would be a neat addition as well. I work around tractor trailers all the time and they have it.

[Levinehikeski]

Working the sidewalk of the tire like that can't be good for the structural integrity of the tire, I would suggest against it

[Itching to travel]

Boards, schmoards....Buy a set of Lynx Levelers and you'll be good to go. I've always carried two or three sets and never had issues with leveling. Put em under your jacks, tires, stabilizers etc. They're light weight, stackable and sturdy. I wouldn't ever let air out of my tired for the purpose of leveling.

[TWP723]

Letting air out of the tires will eventually destroy them. It's not recommended. Try Andersen Levelers instead. They work great!

[Touch N Go]

I like ur idea, makes so much sense. I'll keep that in mind. St tires r great for stress n this idea will work nicely. U the men!!!

[Camper_bob]

I would never let air out of the tires to level. Not necessarily because of ill effects on the tire (though those should be considered), but because there are SO many easier ways to accomplish the same goal.

I prefer to use Lynx levelers. They're light, they don't rot (except for UV exposure), they're easy to clean when you're done, they don't carry dirt or insects... And when it's time to deploy, you just drop them on the ground. When it's time to leave, you just pick them up. You don't have to break out the compressor or the hoses or spend a few minutes waiting for the tires to fill with air. You just grab and go; it's too easy not to do it this way IMO.

ETA: If you had an on-board compressor and you just had to push a button, or if you had air suspension and you could just push a button, I might think differently. But the expense to do that is FAR greater than the $25 I paid for my leveling blocks; or the $0 I paid to use scrap dimensional lumber.

[spud]

I think letting air out of the tires over and over could potentially affect the integrity of the tire's sidewall.....but that's my opinion


if you like the idea of using air..why not use air bags?

[Tunce the traveler]

Way too easy to toss a Lego under it and your done. Look at the level and if it's off 2 marks just add 2 Lego's it's that easy.

[Edd505]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Try Andersen Levelers instead. They work great!

+1

[Paintinfool3]

Yeah I wouldn't ever let air out of tires to level I always use leveling blocks and keep it as few as possible and I use x chocks to keep her from moving

[hoppers4]

Have been packing 3 boxes of Lynx blocks for years. Works great! Mostly I use them under the levelers to reduce the workload on the jacks. First RV didn't have levelers but it was easy enough to drive up onto the Lynx blocks. Way too much effort to add or remove air from tires. Probably not good for the tires either.

[need-a-vacation]

It is recommended to maintain the proper tire pressure even while in storage. So to me letting enough air out to level the rig would do more harm to the tires than the convenience of not carrying some form of levelers (boards, legos, anderson).

Then the inconvenience of airing the tires back up on top of possibly doing harm to the tires.... No thank you!!!!

[Bassdogs]

WHY? If I ever heard of a solution looking for a problem to solve, this is one of them. Boards, levelers, or whatever are simply not hard to use to easily level your TT. make that .. Other solutions might be bring a shovel and scoop out a hole on the high side. OR maybe you could set up side ways on the site an use the tongue jack to level out.

Sorry for the sarcasm but this is really a foolish idea. I would find rocks [and have actually done that] or pieces of firewood if I forgot or didn't bring enough boards to level with. Just because a big rig driver might use this technique in an emergency doesn't elevate the idea to being a good idea just because it might work. I could level and relevel my TT 5 times before you could level by letting air out and then have to refill the tires when you leave.

[ALJO]

Leveling by taking air out tires is a bad idea. Not good for the sidewall of the tires. You would not save any time by letting air out. I think laying a 2x6 board down and drive on it would go much faster.

[Rmgrose]

Thanks for the replies, just an idea. I'll keep using the boards I have, most of the campsites I've been too are pretty level. P.S. Just looked at a used Jayco 365 bunkhouse, maybe...

[Camping Grandpa]

Originally Posted by Rmgrose

Thanks for the replies, just an idea. I'll keep using the boards I have, most of the campsites I've been too are pretty level. P.S. Just looked at a used Jayco 365 bunkhouse, maybe...

Just buy a box or two of Lynx Levelers..
Cheap, reliable, easy to use, long lasting, stackable....need I go on?
I've used them for a decade and never been sorry.

[North of 49°]

Use the right tool for the job, and even a piece of dimensional lumber is adequate. Before using Andersen levellers I carried a box full of 2x6's and a piece of 3/4" plywood to fine tune the levelling. But letting the air out of the tires is a recipe for disaster -- especially if you forget to air up again when you leave.

[Fill The Coolers]

I'm leaning towards the Anderson leveler idea this season... as for the Lynx blocks, I used to use those under my stabilizers but switched to wood and that made a world of difference. Trailer doesn't seem to "slide" as much now