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08-31-2013, 07:50 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Grants Pass
Posts: 340
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How do we level trailer with slides?
Getting ready to take delivery of our new White Hawk 30dsre from the factory. Since this is our first TT with slides I was wondering about the proper way to level it on a site.
I have posted a link above to a video from a dealer that says to extend slides while still hooked to TV then use levelers for left/right leveling. My question is will this hurt the slides allignment to move TT with slides fully extended? One slide is a short slide using a Schwintek and the slide on opposite side is 36' deep using the typical cog & gear type slide.
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Never live your life saying 'I could of, should of, would of' 2014 Jayco White Hawk 30DSRE
2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 LS
Z71 Extended Cab w/Longbed, 5.3 ltr
Coleman Tent, Flagstaff Pop-Up, Jayco Eagle, Flagstaff Pop-Up, RPM Toy Hauler, Jayco White Hawk - Our camping evolution
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08-31-2013, 07:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Grants Pass
Posts: 340
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I should also mention that our new trailer will have the electric stabalizer jacks that drop at the same time left & right either in front or back depending which switch I go to first (front or rear).
__________________
Never live your life saying 'I could of, should of, would of' 2014 Jayco White Hawk 30DSRE
2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 LS
Z71 Extended Cab w/Longbed, 5.3 ltr
Coleman Tent, Flagstaff Pop-Up, Jayco Eagle, Flagstaff Pop-Up, RPM Toy Hauler, Jayco White Hawk - Our camping evolution
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08-31-2013, 09:18 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Rose Hill Ks.
Posts: 123
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I may do it wrong,, but I determine how much I need to raise one side or the other,back on the my blocks,(I block under both axels) chock the wheels,unhook,level front to back,extend my electric stabilizers,extend the slide,let the wife take over inside while I hook up the utilitys. I guess I never noticed the slide making that much of a diff.
I always undesrtood that you should be fairly close to level when you extend the slide.
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David S.
2010 298 RLS Eagle
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1 wife
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08-31-2013, 10:17 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 56
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I level first, and pull slides second.
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09-01-2013, 03:42 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rugerguy
I may do it wrong,, but I determine how much I need to raise one side or the other,back on the my blocks,(I block under both axels) chock the wheels,unhook,level front to back,extend my electric stabilizers,extend the slide,let the wife take over inside while I hook up the utilitys. I guess I never noticed the slide making that much of a diff.
I always undesrtood that you should be fairly close to level when you extend the slide.
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This is what we do. Never seen anyone extend the slides first and then unhook.
Don
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09-01-2013, 07:20 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,753
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Three fivers with slides in my past. I always level the rig side to side, then disconnect and raise or lower to level front to back. Then open slides.
Reverse procedure when leaving.
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09-01-2013, 08:06 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 843
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I would think that extending the slides before being level might lead to them snagging or catching. Personally, I always extend and bring in my slides while level.
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09-01-2013, 09:38 AM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 9,424
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This works for my TT:
Check for "opened slide" interferences (trees, shore power post, etc.), and that slide(s) when opened won't be in neighbor's campsite (courtesy thing for me.. especially when sites are small/narrow).
Level side-to-side (wood boards if necessary), block tires, plug in shore power.
Unhitch TV/TT, level front-to-back, lower corner stabilizers, install tire chocks.
Open slide(s), re-check stabilizers.
Sample beverage from frig for correct temp.
Bob
ps: I carry a collapsing ladder to check slide roof for debris before closing.
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09-01-2013, 02:24 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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I have encountered a noticeable drop on the slide-out side after leveling and then extending the slide. This is natural, since you are altering the center of balance by 500 - 700 lbs and the leverage comes in to play here. I got tired of leveling left/right and then unhitching and finding that the interior doors swing toward the slide-out side. The bubble level is between 1 to 2 notches off from center (after extending slide-out). Granted every TT will have its own amount of tilt.
So at the last campground, I got the TT level with the slide "IN" and aligned the left/right bubble level to be perfectly level. Next I extended the slide-out, and marked the bubble level. I then took the difference on the bubble level and marked it on the opposite side of the "0" mark (which compensates for the additional tilt that the slide causes). Now when I set up, the levels are preset to compensate for the slide-out. No more swinging doors when I extend the slide out.
Camp Ground Process -
- Pull in space
- Disconnect sway-bars (will also affect left/right level)
- Level left/right by bubble level (pre adjusted to compensate for extending slide out)
- Insert wheel chocks (under both axles both sides)
- Disconnect from TV
- Connect shore power
- Extend slide (after shore power hooked up.. saves battery charge)
- And as "BOB" suggested, "Sample beverage from frig for correct temp.
"
Works for me
Don
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09-01-2013, 03:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Grants Pass
Posts: 340
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Thanks Mustang75. Your process seems to make the best sense using a compensation method. Guess I'll be playing with the new TT and then adding a bubble level after I get the tilt factored in.
__________________
Never live your life saying 'I could of, should of, would of' 2014 Jayco White Hawk 30DSRE
2000 Chevy Silverado 1500 LS
Z71 Extended Cab w/Longbed, 5.3 ltr
Coleman Tent, Flagstaff Pop-Up, Jayco Eagle, Flagstaff Pop-Up, RPM Toy Hauler, Jayco White Hawk - Our camping evolution
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09-06-2013, 09:32 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Dale Hollow Lake Tn/Ky
Posts: 2,525
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Level L to R before anything else. Then chock and disconnect TV. Level F to R and extend corner supports. If on firm site, I've never noticed any sag from the slides when extended. Maybe need to check it out next time I set up. Any way never heard an RV dealer say to extend and then level. With my ability to forget my name, I'd end up trying to move to a different site and rip the slide off hitting a tree.
Side Note: Pulled into CG office parking lot to return a bathroom key and a fellow pointed out that I had left the TV ant up. Thanked him and went inside the TT and lowered the ant. Upon returning to my TV, was again flagged down by a passerby who pointed to my extended slide, which I had partially opened so I could get back to the rear for the TV Ant. Get my point.
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09-06-2013, 09:40 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NC
Posts: 974
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My current rig has two slides on the same side. I learned to compensate for the expected sag using a level. I put slides out last othewise I have to crawl under one of them to hook stuff up.
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09-06-2013, 09:38 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: North Idaho/Arizona
Posts: 5,446
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I always level with the side with two slides just a little bit higher than level. Then when the slides are extended everything is level. I check for level side to side and then add a 2X8 on the side with slides. If you end up being low on the slide side you can't raise it enough with the stabilizer jacks. Wow, to many slides and sides.
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09-07-2013, 09:48 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,198
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Agree with Clutch. I put 1/2 in. padboards under the slide side wheels. That usually levels out the trailer because my Eagle 320 RLDS has 2 big slides.
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09-07-2013, 04:19 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: north central Iowa
Posts: 308
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My Jayco manual says to have the trailer level before moving the slides.
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