Driveway Slope

t0rnado · 05-20-2016, 02:25 PM

This may be a dumb question but...

We purchased a new home and I and wondering if the slope of the driveway is to steep to park our camper? Does anyone have any experience, pictures advise that will help us determine if the driveway is to steep to park the camper without the tow vehicle attached. We would like to park it there while we are getting ready for camping or in between weeks in the summer...may be dumb but...I know this group can help me out!

We have a Roo 233s!

5picker · 05-20-2016, 02:34 PM

Not a dumb question but also impossible to tell from a head on photo how much slope is in your driveway.

What is the height difference from where the back of the camper would sit to where the front will be?

wrvond · 05-20-2016, 02:35 PM

No, it's not too steep...

If you are truly concerned, after you chock the wheels and level the unit up, screw an anchor (like used for dog runs or awning tie downs) into the ground and attach your break away cable to it. That way if, for some reason, the camper decides to depart the pattern, the cable will be pulled, the brakes will activate, and it will stop.
I've done that in my brother's driveway which is very steep, but it proved unnecessary, though it made me feel better.

I'd say that the only driveway that is too steep is when you can't raise one end high enough to level because the other end is grounded.

Canadiancrew · 05-20-2016, 02:37 PM

We have a sloped driveway. Make sure you put some kind of blocks in front of the back set of wheels. I put a concrete block or two under the tongue so it's not totally extended or beyond how high you can get it. Our trailer is 32 feet long so you should not have a problem. The slope on your pic does not look any worse than ours. You will need to try to back in on an angle. Do not back in to straight. You can straightened it in the driveway or your bumper will hit the driveway and then your tongue or hitch will hit the road. Coming at it from an angle will lessen that problem. I will see if I can find a pic later.

MNtraveler · 05-20-2016, 02:41 PM

You can use your hitch jack (if you have one), leveling jacks and leveling blocks as needed. Just remember to retract and remove them before pulling out!

Also be sure to use wood blocks under all jacks to protect your driveway.

If you will be using the refrigerator, you need to have the unit level for it to work properly.

Probably the biggest downside to leveling it in the driveway is the extra effort involved if you have to pull it out now and then to get vehicles or other stuff into or out of the garage. If you can plan ahead on that, you may be able to avoid that extra work.

Archicamper · 05-20-2016, 02:45 PM

I think mine is steeper than that. Ill take a picture when I get home. You should choke the wheel, put the TV in neutral, and let the RV seat against the chokes. Unhooking the weigh distributing bars can be a challenge if the kink in your driveway is at the hitch.

t0rnado · 05-20-2016, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Not a dumb question but also impossible to tell from a head on photo how much slope is in your driveway.

What is the height difference from where the back of the camper would sit to where the front will be?

My son is taking pics...I will get some better ones when I am home

t0rnado · 05-20-2016, 02:54 PM

How awesome is the forum!

wrvond · 05-20-2016, 02:55 PM

Pfffft!!! That is NOTHING! Fuggeddaboudit!

rfd15 · 05-21-2016, 06:04 AM

I have a pretty nice hill for a driveway....store mine there no problem...just make sure you securely chock the wheels and you'll be fine.

2016 233s, 2010 Tundra 5.7L

CaptnJohn · 05-21-2016, 06:34 AM

You should be fine. One day you may be assigned a campsite with a slope like that...
<smile>

aceinspp · 05-21-2016, 06:43 AM

Not bad of a slope. Pretty easy to park and get level compared to my drive. Before unhooking from trailer put an extra block under tongue jack should be able to bring up to close to level once un hitched. Just make sure to chock wheels. Later RJD

itat · 05-21-2016, 06:50 AM

This was how I parked my Roo in my driveway. The new TT is too long to fit. You only need it level to run the refrigerator and operate the slides. Otherwise it doesn't need to be levelled.

Witch Doctor · 05-21-2016, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Not bad of a slope. Pretty easy to park and get level compared to my drive. Before unhooking from trailer put an extra block under tongue jack should be able to bring up to close to level once un hitched. Just make sure to chock wheels. Later RJD

I agree that is not a bad sloop at all, mine sloops the other way and about 3x's yours that I can tell by the pictures, I always have to drive up on 2x8" wood for my back wheels. But also I have a 5th wheel, when I had a tag along I had to do the same thing but it was harder to set the WDH. You should be fine block the tires and call it good. You'll know exactly what to do the first time parking....

PS: You probably know this but besides the refer, you need to level for any slides or they will bind.

jking46 · 05-21-2016, 07:13 AM

I have had sites that sloped more than your drive and they were fine. Good chocks, wood or concrete blocks under the tongue jackand you're good to go. Just be careful unhitching from your tv. It will have a tendency to pop off the hitch at times. As long as you have it chocked securely, no worries.

wrvond · 05-21-2016, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jking46

Just be careful unhitching from your tv. It will have a tendency to pop off the hitch at times. As long as you have it chocked securely, no worries.

Good point! Worth mentioning that the safety chains are the last things to come off, too.

**Flybob** · 05-21-2016, 11:32 AM

As an extra safety precaution, when unhitching (or hitching) keep the breakaway cable within easy reach just in case there is a problem. You can always pull it and stop the TT until you can rechock.

rbq · 05-21-2016, 05:25 PM

Looks like about the same slope as I have in my driveway. I bought a flip jack for the tongue jack that lowers when the jack comes down that gives me the height to level the trailer. Before that I used some pieces of wood which worked fine, but not as easy to use as the flip jack.

taz_co · 05-22-2016, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbq

Looks like about the same slope as I have in my driveway. I bought a flip jack for the tongue jack that lowers when the jack comes down that gives me the height to level the trailer. Before that I used some pieces of wood which worked fine, but not as easy to use as the flip jack.

Just installed the flip foot on my jack on my 233s for the same reason. Yes, you can stack wood and pull the pin for the manual foot extension, but the flip foot makes it easier.

DaveandSue · 05-22-2016, 02:49 PM

Piece of cake. On our driveway I can walk under the 5er pin box.I'm 6' on a good day.

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