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03-14-2014, 05:13 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Posts: 188
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Landing Gear Question
We just picked up our Rockwood 8285IKWS yesterday and are excited about getting it ready for our first trip. This is our first fifth wheel, having upgraded from travel trailers. I guess my questions are basic so I apologize for that.
The first is about plastic leveling blocks. I have always used them on our TT to level the wheels and then for pads underneath the stabilizing jacks. Are they strong enough to put under the fifth wheel landing gear? It seems to me that there is a lot of weight on the landing gear.
The second question is about getting the landing gear even. If you get the wheels pretty level from side to side with blocks, then find that the ground under the landing gear is uneven, how concerned are you with getting both landing gears pads to hit the ground at the same time? I would think you could carry a 2 x 8 board that is 1.5 inches thick and another that is half that (like a deck board). Do you also need one that is half that too so that you can get really close?
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Ron and Elizabeth
2014 Rockwood 8285-IKWS
2006 Ford F250 6.0 Diesel 4x4
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03-14-2014, 05:25 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
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Plastic blocks are strong enough and interlock not like wood, but not good during the winter. they will freeze into the ground.
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Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC
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03-14-2014, 07:51 AM
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#3
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Always Learning
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Four Corners, FL
Posts: 21,890
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I generally prefer wood under my landing gear. Not sure why, though.
I also try to get my landing gear to make contact with the ground at as close to the same time as possible. I carry 4 or 5 pieces of 2 x 10 rough cut lumber and a piece of 1 x 8 for "fine tuning" the contact. The 2x10s are different thicknesses, so depending on my mood- I may try a thinner or thicker one.
Whatever you do, watch out for aliens:
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Officially a SOB with a 2022 Jayco Precept 36C
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | Was a Fulltime Family for 5 years, now we're part-timing on long trips
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03-14-2014, 07:55 AM
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#4
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gljurczyk
Plastic blocks are strong enough and interlock not like wood, but not good during the winter. they will freeze into the ground.
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Some folks even cover the top & bottom of the plastic blocks with alum tread plate and bolt to the pads to keep them from breaking on gravel and sinking/freezing to the ground.
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03-14-2014, 08:34 AM
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#5
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldCoot
Some folks even cover the top & bottom of the plastic blocks with alum tread plate and bolt to the pads to keep them from breaking on gravel and sinking/freezing to the ground.
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Is your horn broke yet?
TURBS
Sabre owners united!
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03-14-2014, 08:41 AM
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#6
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Somewhat right of center
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 264
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I cut up some 2x10''x10ft PT wood into a bunch of 10x10s and stack them grain opposite to whatever height I need. Don't care much for plastic.
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2014 Crusader 260RLD Champagne Touring Edition
2013 Silverado 2500 6.0 HD
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03-14-2014, 08:54 AM
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#7
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SC Lowcountry
Posts: 1,449
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I got a PT 4"X6" from Lowe's and cut it down to about 13" and have one under each of the landing gear and the rear stabilizers. Works well. They just ride in the back of the truck just inside the tailgate so once I'm level side to side (I use the orange stackable blocks) I put one on the ground and disconnect 5'er from TV. The 4"X6" blocks work well in the sand. As far as both landing gear touching down at the exact same time, rarely does that happen. I haven't had a problem yet and I've seen the landing gear 2" off from one to the other.
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John & April & "Scout"
2013 Sabre 32RCTS-6
Nights Camped 2013-(44) 2014-(59) 2015-(47)
2016-(32) 2017-(13) 2018-(20) 2019-0
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03-14-2014, 08:55 AM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,327
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rburns4147
The second question is about getting the landing gear even. If you get the wheels pretty level from side to side with blocks, then find that the ground under the landing gear is uneven, how concerned are you with getting both landing gears pads to hit the ground at the same time? I would think you could carry a 2 x 8 board that is 1.5 inches thick and another that is half that (like a deck board). Do you also need one that is half that too so that you can get really close?
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You can set the landing gear legs different one side to the other...I think the hole spacing is about 1". I carry a 1/2" thick board if I need something between.
Dave
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Nights camped in 2013 - 55, 2014 - 105, 2015 - 63
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03-14-2014, 10:03 AM
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#9
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f1100turbo
Is your horn broke yet?
TURBS
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Not the only one that has them. na, na, na, na.
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