When to level - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

When to level

pkhalin · RV-Dreams Family Member

Interesting! I was always under the impression (from somewhere) that you shouldn't have your slides out when the rig isn't level. Therefore, I've always leveled first. It'll be interesting to see other comments.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

I level first then slide out.

Then slide in then retract jacks.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Level first and then put out slides. With the leveling jacks down, those help to prevent any possibility of frame flexing, especially on uneven ground when putting the slides out.

You might have a Suites with the side bathroom. The model in your signature has the "S" and the "B" transposed. If yours is a side bathroom, the bedroom slide may have what is called a flow diverter in the hydraulics. With our 2010, we were told to always operate the slide fully in or out without stopping. That prevents the flow diverter from messing up. What I don't know is whether the 36TKSB3 models have the diverter.

Also, there was someone at a rally for Suites that recommended that the slides also be operated in a specific order so that any air in the hydraulic lines gets pushed toward the reservoir to be cleared out. The sequence we follow is below:

Order of Operation of Slides and Level-Up

Setup:
1. Front landing legs
2. Level coach with level up legs and landing legs
3. Bedroom slide
4. Kitchen slide
5. Door side slide

Close up:
1. Door slide
2. Kitchen slide
3. Bed slide
4. Level up legs
5. Front landing legs

Terry

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Look at your manufacturers INSTRUCTIONS. Monaco (IIRC) is one that says to put slides out first then level, and reverse when getting ready to go. It all depends upon how the manufacturer put in the slides, etc. Do as they instruct, not what your neighbor or someone on a forum tells you to do it.

Barb

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barbaraok wrote:
Do as they instruct, not what your neighbor or someone on a forum tells you to do it.

Barb

OUCH.........Hahaha. But, yes that's so true.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

When levelling, the chassis will flex and twist lots if forced to.
How many with motorhomes have popped their windshield out of place or cracked it??
I haven't but when I bought my motorhome the top corner of the drivers windshield was popped out from the previous owner. I had to get it reset. I try to park as close to level as I can to start with then just barely have to move around with the jacks.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry if I came across as harsh, but this is a debate on sites with Class A motorhomes all of the time and it is really important to follow the instructions because of the different ways that different manufacturers assemble their rigs. Popped windshields and slide misalignments are just a couple of things that can go wrong. Gets even more complicated when you include when to dump air bags for diesel pushers, especially for those that air level or use a combination of air leveling and jacks. Then, if you really want to complicated it, you get into the hydraulic versus electric levelers.

Barb

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Barbaraok wrote:
Sorry if I came across as harsh, ..................... Gets even more complicated when you include when to dump air bags for diesel pushers,
Barb

Not harsh................Thought it was kind of humerous a bit.

When I go to let my hydraulic jacks down, the systems sequence will first dump the air in the bags. Then can proceed with the jacks.

Anyway..............Swayed off track a bit, sorry 'bout that.

Someday · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've always levelled then put slides out and in before retracting jacks. For us noticed in past if we are slightly not level and trying to retract slides even marginally up hill it's almost as though she struggles to bring them in. Also read on another forum quite recently and didn't even occur to us as being part of our problem with sluggish slides but makes huge sense to us now. The pressure issue putting slides in and out and ensuring you have an open roof vent, open window or open door.

-- Edited by Someday on Friday 27th of March 2015 12:48:34 AM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are many brands of slide mechanisms and leveling mechanisms, so it makes sense there are different instructions from different RV manufacturers and it can even vary by model year and model. Some brands, National RV on some models, also recommend the engine being on to move the slides.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

So this thread has raised a question, what do you do when you are stopping for one night only, staying hitched up and not necessarily putting all the jacks down? We just had an enroute stay (Casino camping) for one night last weekend and we didn't put any jacks down, but we did put the slides out so we could access everything.

We also have times when we need to be on the road early so we'll hitch up the night before, with the slides out, so we can make a faster departure in the AM.

We also, occasionally stop when enroute to shop, grab something to eat, etc. In those cases I usually close the pocket door to the bedroom, put one slide (door side) out so we can leave the cat in the 5th wheel and not have to crawl over the counters and dining table to retrieve her when we're ready to continue down the road.

Just wondering about all the situations where we find ourselves once again breaking all the "rules".

cheryls-other-half · RV-Dreams Family Member

NWescapee wrote:
So this thread has raised a question, what do you do when you are stopping for one night only, staying hitched up and not necessarily putting all the jacks down? We just had an enroute stay (Casino camping) for one night last weekend and we didn't put any jacks down, but we did put the slides out so we could access everything.

We also have times when we need to be on the road early so we'll hitch up the night before, with the slides out, so we can make a faster departure in the AM.

We also, occasionally stop when enroute to shop, grab something to eat, etc. In those cases I usually close the pocket door to the bedroom, put one slide (door side) out so we can leave the cat in the 5th wheel and not have to crawl over the counters and dining table to retrieve her when we're ready to continue down the road.

Just wondering about all the situations where we find ourselves once again breaking all the "rules".

mitch sez:

When wallydocking, we (since first time when we disconnected, and they almost had us towed) always stay hitched, and will put down the front jacks. Since it's on pavement, we've never felt like being disrespetful. But we usually wont put wood under the jacks when paved parking lot.

We've also camped/boondocked at a few flying J's, and also put jacks down.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most times it probably doesn't make much difference BUT. As an example when I pull away from a dock after my 53 foot refrigerated van has been loaded i stop and close the doors. 99% of the time they close smoothly. However, occasionally, even if the ground looks level, there might be a slight twist making it difficult to close the doors. If you were to encounter that while operating your slides you might at least increase wear to moving parts and at worst cause hidden damage that would show itself at the worst time.

I; lower my landing gear, disconnect the truck, level, then put out the slides.

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't know if it's "wrong" to level after putting out the slides, but I level before. My reasoning is to keep any "bind" on the slide mechanism from the trailer being tweaked because it's not level. By leveling before deploying the slides, the frame is as square as possible and the slides should not bind. Again, I don't know what the "right" way is, but that's how/why I do it.