Auto level lifts tires off ground

[Moving Along]

I've heard "people" say its not good to lift your tires off the ground. Personally I can't imagine how that could harm the under body, unless the brake wires are too short and stressed. It also inhibits the effectiveness of chock blocks, if you use them. What it can result in on mine is an all-too-tall of a first step to get into the 5th wheel. And like any other mechanism, its always better not taking something to its limits.

[Rustic Eagle]

Manufacture info..........,

Most manufactures auto leveling system instructions they reference 'parking the unit on a (reasonably) level surface', 'chock the tires of the unit....., and a separate strong warning about 'do not attempt to change tires or service unit solely supported by the system'.

The auto leveling system by "Ground Control" they add the following statement (pert of pre-operation warnings): "Never lift the unit completely off the ground. Lifting the unit so the wheels are not touching ground will create an unstable and unsafe condition."

Ground Control brand:

https://cdn2.webdamdb.com/md_FDhPD7lk1c.jpg.pdf

Lippert Components brand:

https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...ers_Manual.pdf

Bob

[citgodan]

"Never lift the unit completely off the ground. Lifting the unit so the wheels are not touching ground will create an unstable and unsafe condition."

doesn't say the system wasn't designed for this - just lawyer friendly chat to cover themselves if someone is under the unit changing suspension parts, or tires, etc... and the unit has a failure...

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by citgodan

snip........ doesn't say the system wasn't designed for this ....... snip

What they (Ground Control) also state is that the ""Auto leveling system is designed as a “leveling” system only"".

Just food for thought.

Bob

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Moving Along

snip..... It also inhibits the effectiveness of chock blocks, if you use them.....snip

Good point....., and Lippert's Auto Level instructions state to "chock the tires of the unit".

Bob

[citgodan]

True, and quite a few manuals on changing a car tire will tell you to chock one of the the tires while changing a flat tire, but we know that is not "needed", just a way to 100% cover them from lawsuits in case someone does not set the emergency brake or put the car in park...

[TxLoser]

I still say tires touching the ground or boards etc means nothing. At least on my unit, which is short(and light), the jacks carry the load when leveled. A tire can be making ground contact, but those jacks are bearing the load of the trailer. On a big class A with a suspension that really articulates the jacks probably take the load too, but the unit appears to have all tires grounded. On mine the suspension has almost zero vertical movement. A little lift on one side by the levelers and we're airborne. The worst for me a bowl shaped spot. My trailer is so short, all four wheels can be off the ground.

[ETCrockett]

Lippert customer service said the front landing gear should be lowered to approximately 6” from the ground before using the leveling system to run the front jacks down to unhook TV. The rear should be below level before starting autolevel. This will ensure you have enough stroke available on the front jacks.