Levelling:slide out or in?

[Realer]

First off thanks for the great info on this site. So I just want to ask what people are doing for setup. I have always leveled the TT side to side, unhook, level front to back, stabilize and then put slides out. I have just replaced the scissors jacks on the slide-out side of the TT and was wondering if the added weight added to them after putting the slides out caused this? Does anyone put slides out and then level side to side?

[jsmith948]

We have opposing slides so we level side to side, then extend the slides.
I don't think I would move the trailer back and forth or up onto blocks with the slides extended. I think that would really stress the frame/mechanism of the slide. If the added, extended weight of the slide causes the trailer to end up not level, why not allow for that when you level side to side. I would think that after a couple of times you could judge how much extra to raise the slide side of your camper?

[chuckster57]

X2. My previous trailer had two slides on the road side, and I leveled both ways prior to extending. Current fiver has opposing slides and o still do it the same way.

I would bet that somewhere in the owners manual it will say level the unit before extending slides. If you had to replace a scissor jack, I doubt the slide weight caused it. You could install additional supports if you want, but I've never had a failure.

[theeyres]

Same response as the others: before opening, even when we had the bigger fiver. The slides don't change the level once they are out.

[Seabee]

When I get the trailer placed on the site the way I want, I put the slides out and check side to side level, put the slides back in, level the trailer side to side based on how the trailer sat with the slides out, level front to back, put the slides back out and then put the stabilizers down.

[theeyres]

I should add that when we have been parked a long time or on a wet gravel pad, a jack or two will occasionally sink in. I don't hesitate to crank it up a little with the slides out to re-level. Don't see where that would ever cause a problem.

[chris199]

I never...ever...moved the trailer with slides out.

[Realer]

https://youtu.be/0uij_QTGSNE

hope the link works. just to further the discussion. Pete's RV video. Not sure if I'm willing to do this yet.

[barchak]

I have two slides on one side. When I extend them, it drops the slide side 1". I account for the additional inch on my final leveling. I have graduated levels on my trailer which show the inches out of level. So I level side to side with the slide out side 1" high. Deploy slides, level front to back, then deploy the stabilizers. Perfectly level.


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[SteveC7010]

Like most others, I level first and then run the slides out. We have four slides; three on the street side and one really large one on the curb side. I don't find much difference in the level after the slides are out. I do double-double check the fridge for level. That's an old habit from the days when the fridges were real finicky about being level.

FWIW, the standard scissors jack style stabilizers are not the best quality. If they get too much grit in them, the threads, bushings, and bearings begin to wear. I would not place too much stock on changes in trailer weight affecting the life of these jacks.

Also, remember that they are stabilizers and not intended to lift the weight of the trailer. Cranking them too much will hasten their demise.

Last point as someone mentioned it above, I recommend that people always use cribbing or boards under the stabilizers, landing gear, and/or tongue. The larger footprint of the boards will prevent the jacks from sinking into the ground very much. I've found that the stabilizers in particular are much more effective if they are not extended out very far. They seem very wobbly when fully extended. Building up under the stabilizer feet with cribbing seems to help a whole bunch. I carry a bunch of 4x4 pressure treat pieces cut to about a foot in length. It's super handy for sloped campsites. Since I have the Steady Fast feet on all four corners of the trailer, I follow their recommendation using two pieces of this cribbing in a V shape under each foot.