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Old 11-01-2021, 07:55 AM   #1
nurse1nicole
 
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Leveling my fifth wheel on a steep incline

A little help needed! I have a 42 ft fifth wheel and just moved to a new rv park. I will be here for at least the next 3 months. There is no other site available now. I am parked on a very steep incline and my front jacks are fully extended. I am level but the front end is wobbly and I don't like it. Please let me know what would be the easiest way to relevel to get the front jacks more stable! Thanks!
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Old 11-01-2021, 08:03 AM   #2
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Could you back up even a little bit? From the picture, it looks like that would leave your front jacks a little less extended (which is the key to solving the problem). Then perhaps get some solid cinderblocks to make a platform so that your jacks wouldn't be extended much. Lastly, some people like the "x" style braces between the jacks. Please post again so we'll know what worked for you.
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Old 11-01-2021, 08:16 AM   #3
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I agree with Tinkerreknit. From the pics it looks like you could back up and get your wheels even with the power pedestal. That should help significantly to get those front jacks lower.
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Old 11-01-2021, 08:40 AM   #4
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Thank you both for the quick replies, I would only be able to back up a couple of feet. My backend is almost to the road, but I could give it a try. Do you think getting the tires up a little would help, drive it up on leveler blocks??
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Old 11-01-2021, 08:58 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by nurse1nicole View Post
Thank you both for the quick replies, I would only be able to back up a couple of feet. My backend is almost to the road, but I could give it a try. Do you think getting the tires up a little would help, drive it up on leveler blocks??
Raising the tires will make the problem much worse. And to elaborate a little - the biggest problem occurs when extending the front jacks very far. There is some play between the jack's leg parts, and the more extended they are, the more pronounced that play is and the more wobbly the camper will become. A solid platform of blocks as high as possible means that the legs would be minimally extended.
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Old 11-01-2021, 09:19 AM   #6
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One of these braces will make a surprising difference, I used one under the rear of our 5th wheel, I think it would help steady yours up some if it were under the front.
https://www.campingworld.com/univers...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

One of the tripod stabilizers under the pin would be a more effective solution, they work quite well to keep the front overhang from moving around. We used one of these along with the other one under the rear and between the two of them the trailer sat quite steady.

I have never used the braces such as the JT’s strong arms but I have read many good reviews of them. They look like they would be the easiest to use once they are installed.
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Old 11-01-2021, 09:19 AM   #7
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How about JT Strong Arm system?


C.B.
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Old 11-01-2021, 10:13 AM   #8
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Thanks, that's kinda what I figured about the tires. I would love to be able to put more blocks under the front jacks but when it's connected to the truck, they're really close to the ground, it doesn't leave much room to stack anything under them. Do you think I should try manually leveling with the level up system? My back jacks are barely extended.
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Old 11-01-2021, 10:24 AM   #9
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I see what you mean. Maybe someone familiar with that leveling system can answer. My landing gear is adjusted manually.
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Old 11-01-2021, 12:28 PM   #10
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I built 12x12 x6 blocks for my 5th wheel that I park on my sloped drive way. Not as long as yours, but it sure helps. You could make the blocks bigger and taller. I used to stack about 1.5’ of blocks and use a Jack all on the tongue to get my travel trailer level, now that was scary.
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Old 11-01-2021, 01:21 PM   #11
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Leveling 5th wheel

I’d be careful about using stacks of anything. My truck is set with what I would consider normal clearance and I’ve had it fall on my trucks sides. Just be very careful and gentle when hitching back up.
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Old 11-01-2021, 01:22 PM   #12
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Ditto on the better cribbing.

I cut 2”x 6” x 12” boards and made nice cribbing. Lay two on the ground. Set two at 90 degrees. Four long drywall screws. Three of these are tall enough. About 10”

Got to shorten the pistons on the legs.

We carry about 3’ of cribbing. 1’ of LEGO’s. 2’ of wood.
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Old 11-01-2021, 01:31 PM   #13
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Hi, could you back up and move the rig to the passenger side some more, the front drivers side jack looks to be sloped a little much for my liking, makes me nervous. I too think that if you back up some it would help. Good luck.
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Old 11-01-2021, 01:43 PM   #14
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Just a thought, but could the camper be turned 180 and face the opposite direction. It is difficult to see from the pictures, are the wheels chocked?
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Old 11-01-2021, 01:44 PM   #15
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Try this: I've got one I use in the winter during storage.
https://www.amazon.com/Eaz-Lift-Camc...750937003&th=1
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Old 11-01-2021, 02:36 PM   #16
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This or something like it might be useful. 1200 pound capacity, and the landing jacks are reinforced from lateral motion in any direction.



Copy/paste the URL to view the video.
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Old 11-01-2021, 02:38 PM   #17
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Here's a review of three stabilizer systems that might interest you.
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Old 11-01-2021, 03:03 PM   #18
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Finally, any blocking or cribbing should interlock to ensure one block won't slide off the other as might happen in wet weather. Cribbing should also sit on a level surface. If the surface is sloped and you just drop the cribbing on the ground, you begin with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the landing jacks'
natural tendency to slide downhill will be encouraged by the slope of the blocking. One can use a shovel to create a level spot, but on a hard packed driveway, a pick mattock is a far better tool. Mine is always in my truck toolbox.

Choosing a good stacker block is important for the weight applied by the landing jacks on your rig. These claim to be better:

One recommendation I'd add is that a chunk of semi-truck RUBBBER mud flap helps prevent the steel/aluminum landing jack pad from skidding off your cribbing. Another chunk of mud flap on the underside of the jack pads protects them from damage by stones.

There's no substitute for really good wheel chocks, but a set of X-Chocks can help lock the RV in place from fore/aft motion.
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Old 11-02-2021, 05:10 AM   #19
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Thanks for your replies, to answer some questions, Yes, I have the wheels chocked with blocks and scissor chocks. I would only be able to back up a couple of feet, as I am almost to the road at the RV park. Question, how can I get the front jacks off the ground high enough to put more blocks under them? When I put it back on the truck there's only about 8 inches of clearance. Also, I have the Lippert level up system on my rv.
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Old 11-02-2021, 05:58 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nurse1nicole View Post
Thanks for your replies, to answer some questions, Yes, I have the wheels chocked with blocks and scissor chocks. I would only be able to back up a couple of feet, as I am almost to the road at the RV park. Question, how can I get the front jacks off the ground high enough to put more blocks under them? When I put it back on the truck there's only about 8 inches of clearance. Also, I have the Lippert level up system on my rv.

Every inch of travel on those front jacks = more play and less stability.

Go to a home supply store and buy two 8x16 cinder blocks. Also a single 2x6 board and ask them to cut two 16" pieces from it.

Connect your camper to your truck and raise the levelers,

Then set the cinder blocks on the ground (under the front landing gear) with the 2x6s on top of each.

Then disconnect and level up your camper.

The resulting 9 1/2" less extension on the front landing gear should = a much more stable platform.


PS. ask them to cut the rest of the 2x6 into 6" pieces. You can set a piece under each jack's foot to keep the feet off the ground and shorter run for each one. Some RV parks down here, that have asphalt pads REQUIRE something like that under the feet so the jacks do not damage the hot asphalt in the summer, so they are always good to have with you.
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