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 07-28-2018, 08:47 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 6
Newbie Question on Leveling

Want to be able to use Rockwood Mini Lite 2304 in backyard when not travelling as a 'guest house'. Problem: ground not level approx 3" rise. Have purchased leveling lynx. Black tank output is low to the ground. Unable to maneuver to this height comfortably just using the lynx levelers on one side.

Thought I might use a Bottle Jack to raise tires and slip in the lynx levelers. Then, lower and remove the Bottle Jack, letting the tires come to rest on the lynx levelers.

First, is this feasible? Second, what is recommendation for Bottle Jack? Third, where should jack be located to raise high enough to insert levelers?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
DToutain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2018, 07:56 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
SeaDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
Welcome to the forum its a great place to get your questions answered. Myself what I would do to get a 3" rise is use 2 2x6x4 one cut about 6 inches then the other to provide a ramp to easily drive up on and save the lynx for camping. I would not go the bottle jack route. You could also increase your ground clearance by placing one 2x6x4 and three on the other for a total lift of 4.5 inches.
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
SeaDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2018, 08:01 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 14,428
Before I would do all that Jacking Up and Down I would buy a Set of "Anderson Type Levelers"! Youroo!!
__________________
youroo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2018, 08:12 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Astatula, FL
Posts: 193
I needed about 3" to level my TT where it sits in the yard. I did something similar to what Seadog said only I used 2x8 (7 1/4" wide vs 5.5" for the 2x6). I cut the 2x8 with one piece long enough for both tires (my TT is dual axle) to fit and the other piece about 2' longer. I beveled the ends and fastened them together using deck screws. If you go this way be sure to use ground contact rated pressure treated wood to avoid a surprise after the termite feast.
__________________
Mark Wilson

No trees were harmed while sending this message;
however, a rather large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.


TT: 2018 Surveyor 243RBS TV:2019 F-250 XLT 6.2L 4x4 Crew Cab
mawilson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2018, 07:09 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,475
Jacking should pose no problems. You should jack the trailer frame...never the axle. Block the uphill wheels, and secure the tongue, perhaps to the tow vehicle hitch, so that the trailer won't pivot off the jack.

You need to have a proper jack and good blocking to place under the jack. You also need a "high-lift" hydraulic bottle jack, because the jack travel must overcome both the suspension drop (for a tire change) and the additional 3" to 4" lift you desire.

But that's a lot of work every time you have to park the trailer after a trip.

I agree that the lumber platform(s) make more sense. What might work even better is to get some good gravel fill and some concrete pavers. Create a LEVEL pad on which to park the RV. No screwing around with planks or jacks.

It only needs to be large enough for the axle(s) and tires, but a permanent paver installation will be easier to back onto, and it won't rot. Also, lumber can be slippery when wet, whereas the pavers will have good traction, so your RV won't slide off. Use the gravel to create a "ramp" up to the paver parking area.

Best material is called "Crusher Run" with a gauge of about 1 1/2" for the largest pieces. Crusher run is a material that packs and drains well. It goes from "dust" sized particles to rocks up to about 1 1/2" across. The best stuff is limestone crusher run, but they make granite crusher run, too.

A local quarry or landscaping company can deliver a small dump truck load to your driveway, then you move it with a wheelbarrow. Get a "tamper" to pack the material as you put it in place. All you're doing is making a small "patio."

If you abandon this system, removing the pavers and gravel fill won't be a big chore.

While you're at it, plan for the trailer tongue. Will it need to be raised quite high to be level? If so, get a "drop leg" for your tongue jack, and perhaps build a small platform for the jack using a old railroad tie. You may need to lift the tongue in stages. If so, a second tongue jack that's removable could be helpful. This concept but with a clamp on mount might be useful. Use the main jack to lift, and use the second tongue jack to hold while you reset the main jack for more lift.

Any time you work on uneven ground and/or lift the tongue very high, you must use really good wheel chocks to ensure the trailer tongue won't pivot left or right...a potentially life-threatening move.

Don't forget landing pads for your stabilizer jacks. You can buy stacks of plastic pads, and they are inexpensive. If you need real height on, say, one corner, get a decent concrete block and top it with a 2" x 6" board to distribute the load. If people are "living" in the parked RV, the stab jacks should be dropped for, well, stability. P.S. Don't try to "level" with stab jacks. You'll break or bend stuff.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
jimmoore13 is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
leveling, newbie


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 12:12 PM.