Quote:
Originally Posted by SAVGirl
Hoping some of you can assist us. On our current trip, we have been in three, yes THREE parks where the campsites are not very level - and have really experience anxiety/frustration/concern about how to properly auto level our VISTA 35F. We try to park where as few as possible orange flashing lights are on (1 max, opposed to 2) before setting parking brake, and attempting auto level. We have experienced the rear lifting the entire unit off the ground several inches (we do not get the SUCESS sign when this happens) and having to move the coach over and over and try different locations on the campsite before we get the SUCCESS sign on auto level. This is very frustrating and we know someday we will get a small campsite that has NO LEVEL location for our coach. Yesterday, I honestly thought the thing broke when we retracted because it rocked the coach so hard retracting the jacks!!!! This is scary and I am hoping some of you with more experience can offer suggestions....Thanks. Happy Trails to You!
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SAVGirl,
Well, here's the deal. It's quite simple actually. Trying to make the mechanical operations of your leveling system compensate for off-level camp sites in many cases, can be futile, as you've experienced. They are designed to ASSIST in leveling your coach, not compensate for parking on the side of a mountain, just kidding.
So many folks think that the leveling systems will COMPLETELY level a coach, no matter how un level the campsite is. Well, as you've seen, not true. And, while the manufacturers of the now-a-days leveling systems do a fair job of making these systems work, they're not infallible. They have their limits.
So, with all that being said, I'll suggest what I've suggested a few zillion times before. And that is to carry along, a small lumber yard with you in your travels. Sometimes, it doesn't take much lumber, to get you really close to level so that, your jacks only need to FINE TUNE the leveling process and, not be over worked. Many people simply want to push a button and, not even think about it.
Well, if you're in an EXCLUSIVE RV PARK, where each individual spot is concrete and a marble won't roll in any direction 'cause it's that LEVEL, then yes, you can just push the BUTTON and, it won't have any trouble leveling your coach 'cause IT'S ALREADY LEVEL.
But, the small lumber yard I'm speaking of is not all that much. A few short pieces of 2"x6" x 18" or so. Some small 2"x4" x 8" or so. And, some Jack pads of whatever you want. Some double layered 3/4" x 10"x10" plywood will fill that need very nicely. Now, one thing, not all coaches have the room for storage of such a variety of lumber. But, here's the deal. If you have the room, and, are dedicated "boon docking" campers or, are frequent users of many State/Federal and even private, NON-HOOKUP campsites, that IN MANY CASES, pose un-level circumstances, then you already see the need for the sacrifice of space, for such a lumber yard.
You see, if you take just a little bit of time, to drive up on some of the lumber I've suggested, TO PRIMARILY LEVEL THE COACH, then, use your jack pads (due to the need for your jacks to not travel so far, due to you already lifted one or more sides or ends, to accomplish primary leveling) to FINE TUNE what's needed for the rest the leveling process, then you've not strained the coach, the leveling jacks/system and, YOURSELF!
Once you learn to analyze a parking spot, you'll automatically think: "I'll need to raise this tire or that set of tires with my blocks, and, we'll be fine with a just a touch of the jacks helping". And, sometimes, moving the coach a few inches forward, backward, to one side or the other, can make leveling quite easier. I hope this has helped some.
Scott
P.S. This is what we carry but, we have the space for it, and, I've USED IT SEVERAL TIMES in many camping spots. I'm surely not advocating you carry what I do, just something to help with your situations and, less frustration.