Auto level- tires off ground

[Redrider007]

1st time using auto level has one side tires off the ground- is there any problem doing this?

 

[jnbhobe]

I have had this many times, if the rig is level there is no problem, if not you need to recalibrate the Level-Up.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

If the jack need to lift the trailer to a point where the tires need to be off the ground to make the trailer level, then I'd go "manual mode". Let the trailer level (tires off ground) then manually lift the trailer even higher, so you can get wood under the tires....add enough wood, so that when you lower the trailer back down and auto-level again, this time the tires will still be on the ground.

...or you can raise all the jacks...pull forward...then back up onto the wood blocks and then auto-level.

I would never leave the trailers tires off the ground. These trailers have two axles for a reason..to distribute the weight. Leaving them off the ground and only support the trailed via the 12" or 10" frame is a mistake (IMHO of course).

 

[DocFather]

O_C: I agree completely. From the Lippert Operation and Service Manual, Page 1. "NEVER LIFT THE COACH COMPLETELY OFF THE GROUND. LIFTING THE COACH SO THE WHEELS ARENOT TOUCHING GROUND WILL CREATE AN UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE CONDITION"

 

[porthole]

The axles attach to the same points on the frame that the jacks do. Same weight distribution.

There is no issue with wheels off the ground. That comes right from the mouth of the guy who built and designed the system. Heard the same thing from him 3 times at 3 different rallies.

The manual warning is boilerplate legalese.

 

[cookie]

Just to add to what others have said, mine has sat for months at a time with the wheels off the ground.

Peace
Dave

 

[donr827]

At one CG we stayed at I had one tire that was slightly off the ground. As someone else mentioned I think that the statement was made up by their legal eagles.

Don

 

[JohnD]

I don't know . . . but it just seems that leaving your tires hanging wouldn't be good for the suspension.

I've got the exact opposite problem, though . . . my springs are shot and need to be replaced!

As it sits next to our garage, I can't even fit a finger between the top of the tires and the floor of the trailer.

Maybe if I jack up the trailer and leave the tires hanging, perhaps that will stretch the springs back out???

Actually, I know that won't help . . . will be going to a repair shop tomorrow to arrange the repair/replacement of said springs!

 

[EPaulikonis]

Keep an eye on the hydraulic lines if you have the coach completely off the ground. I just recently had a line rupture when the coach was completely off the ground, but nobody was home. I had the unit in storage (empty and just about dry weight) and I set it up so it was completely off the ground so I could rotate the wheels slightly. Got side tracked and departed without lowering the coach back onto the wheels. Came back a week later and found hydraulic fluid on the floor. I was fortunate that the leak was on the curb-side middle jack hydraulic line, so the coach didn't move much. It could have been a bad day if it was one of the corner jacks because the coach could have shifted.

While the probability is very unlikely except under the perfect conditions, if you have one or more wheels off the ground and that side has a hydraulic failure you could possibly roll the coach. I'll do as others have mentioned and put supports under the tire(s) if that's what it takes to level the coach. Just too many points of failure on hydraulics to take the unnecessary risk of damaging the coach or injuring someone.

 

[porthole]

Don't know the answer to it, but it would be a good question for Bob Teague at the rally - are there check valves in the rams?

 

[jnbhobe]

Thats a good question Duane, since the center and rear jacks are hooked together and operate off the same valve.

 

[porthole]

And check valves would eliminate or at least minimize any loss of ram pressure when a hose fails.

 

[Brazos]

I found when my tires were off the ground slightly on one side, the rig appeared to be more unstable and there was some creaking and popping when I walked around and down the steps when I got up in the morning. I think it was the suspension making the noises. My cure was to lower the front some and recalibrate. Lowering the rig was done in the manual mode. This would let the tires sit on the ground and the noises would go away. Just my observance as a novice with auto levelers.

 

[AAdams]

The problem I have found with lifting the unit off the ground is that the E-Z Flex system shackles can flip in to the wrong position. This has happened to us on our triple axle trailer. I do not think that the two axle trailers will have enough play back and forth to be able to flip the shackles in to the wrong direction.