Hi everyone,
Are there many people who have 2022 model year Eagle travel trailers where they've added the auto leveling option?
The 2022 model year part is important: They changed the frame design from 2021 to 2022. The 2021 models had a "drop frame" similar to the 5th wheels and this allowed the jacks to be mounted in a more protected position.
I've been looking at the 2022 models and they went back to a basic straight frame and the front jacks for the auto leveling system stick down about 17 inches below the frame. This makes them very susceptible to being dragged when you drive over any kind of high spot or try to enter/exit a steep driveway entrance.
I haven't been able to get anyone at a dealer or Jayco to acknowledge the placement of these jacks is a problem. Given the placement of these jacks I'm sure anyone who has bought one of these trailers with the auto-leveling package has probably had issues with it. But maybe nobody is paying the $1700 to add this feature given how poorly implemented it is.
To illustrate, here's a picture of one of the units with the leveling jacks:
Now here's that same trailer from the other side:
The reason I show this from both sides is the first picture shows how high the front of the trailer is jacked up but with the shadows it's hard to see how close the front jacks are to the ground. Keep in mind these jacks are in the fully retracted position.
The 2nd picture gives you a better idea of how close the jack is to the ground. This is late in the day and the sun is very low, and yet the shadow is so close to the jack that it almost looks like the jack is touching the ground even though it's fully retracted.
I'm really interested in going back to a Travel Trailer. We're currently in an older Seneca motorhome but I'd really prefer a travel trailer. One of our biggest reasons for going to a motorhome was the ease of setup with things like leveling jacks on the motorhome. But if I could get that on a TT I would love to move back to a TT.
I just can't get over how those front jacks are mounted. If you look at the videos that LCI publishes on their Ground Control 3.0 leveling system for travel trailers: You'll notice they use a different style jack in the front that "folds up" so that it doesn't protrude down so far when it's retracted:
So it looks to me like Jayco is using the wrong style jack on the front.
My ask is: Does anyone here have a 2022 model of one of these trailers with the leveling jacks? Have you had issues with it?
My 2nd ask is: Has anyone else had a conversation with a dealership or anyone at Jayco about this jack placement? Has anyone heard of Jayco plans to address this? II imagine if they've sold many of these units they are going to start getting complains when people drag these jacks going into and out of gas stations and campgrounds...
Thanks in advance!