Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-15-2018, 07:17 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
planopat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 116
Leveling 38A 2017

Never had this situation before. I’m at camp site and when I leveled, the front wheel were off the ground with message “excess slope” or something like that. I didn’t like wheels off ground so I retracted all. The wife not too happy with the tilt so my question is, if the air is dumped do I have to start the engine to build up air in order to try to re-level? The slides are out and I don’t believe that I have to bring them in to level.
planopat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2018, 07:29 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Mmnsc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Charleston County SC
Posts: 767
If you got an excessive slope measurement the only easy way to correct is to put blocks under your front wheels and some under the front jacks. You would need to move the coach and drive up on the blocks under the wheels. Recommend pulling in your slides before doing so. You never want your wheels off the ground especially the rear (no parking brake then) and avoid stressing the air bags. It is preferable to air up before moving the coach. If you are not moving the coach you can try to re-level without airing up Your re-leveling without doing something probably give you the same result/message of excessive slope.
Mmnsc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2018, 07:51 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
planopat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 116
Blocks will be the way I go. Thanks. The jacks are electric/ hydraulic so airing up the bags has nothing to do jack operation, correct?
planopat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2018, 07:52 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
DrJAG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 210
If you used auto level the first time, you may be able to manual level and keep all wheels on the ground.
__________________
-DrJAG
2015 Legacy 360RB with 2013 CRV toad. Retired USAF.
DrJAG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2018, 08:43 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 3,290
Lightbulb

you normally want to level with the bags 'deflated', as your 'house' is then sitting down on the suspension foundation, and your legs have much less travel involved before touching the ground.

If the front is the 'low' point of the site, then start with Manual mode and lower the rear legs first, but only to the point that you feel them both 'touch' the ground. This will give you a good starting 'foundation'.
Then, lower the FRONT legs, continuing after they've touched to a point where the wheels are not yet 'leaving the ground', if it gets to that point.

Even if you are not 'exactly' level, according to the system lights, you may be level 'enough' for comfort. Turn your system off and you're done.

(of course, if you are low 'side to side', you'll need to also handle that as well)


the Auto mode for these systems tends to take the coach up artificially too high. I don't use it anymore...only MANUAL mode for me.


also, in 3 1/2 years and over 83,000 miles, I've never driven my coach 'up on blocks' or such...it's just not needed, and probably dangerous.
__________________
The Turners...
'07 Rockwood Signature Ultralight...
two Campers and two Electric cars : )
formerFR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2018, 10:54 PM   #6
Dragonship Captain
 
Oscarvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 1,335
Quote:
Originally Posted by planopat View Post
Blocks will be the way I go. Thanks. The jacks are electric/ hydraulic so airing up the bags has nothing to do jack operation, correct?
Correct.

In fact, when you first operate the levelers they will send a 2 minute 12V signal to the suspension dump valve as you want the system de-flated when you auto level.

The suspension has ride height sensors in it and it would get all excited when the levelers start messing with that, so we want it de-activated and out of the picture.

So it is by design.
__________________
2020 RAM 3500 DRW Long Horn. In the hunt for a Palomino TC, formerly a 2017 Berkshire 38A: https://dragonship.blog/
Oscarvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2018, 10:59 PM   #7
Dragonship Captain
 
Oscarvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 1,335
Quote:
Originally Posted by formerFR View Post
also, in 3 1/2 years and over 83,000 miles, I've never driven my coach 'up on blocks' or such...it's just not needed, and probably dangerous.
All depends on how un-level the site is. If you're in nice campgrounds all the time they have nice (mostly) level pads and what you do works.

I happen to park at a few sites that are not as level, one where the grass field is quite sloped and I park nose down hill with the wheels run up on a pretty stout pad of 2x12's stepped up three high. I then put blocks under the legs so they don't run out of travel. Nothing dangerous about that.

I do agree that auto level gets a little over excited at times and especially when operating near the limits of the system you're sometimes better off being not perfectly level but having your bus solidly planted.

My rule is that if I don't notice it walking around it's good enough. Bubbles be damned.
__________________
2020 RAM 3500 DRW Long Horn. In the hunt for a Palomino TC, formerly a 2017 Berkshire 38A: https://dragonship.blog/
Oscarvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
leveling

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:05 PM.