Rookie Mistake?

[beman1956]

I have a question, how common is it to bend a leveling jack? Bought my first TT(Keystone Springdale 28') last weekend and drove it up to CT from southern VA without any problem. I stay in Gettysburg the first night and was great, a big difference from tent camping. When we got it to the place where we're parking it ( my mother-in-laws free of charge) and had to go down a short steep decline and that's when it happened, I bent my front right leveling jack. I've removed the bent one and ordered a pair of new ones( a spare). I'm thinking of removing them all and replacing the bolts that hold them in place with quick disconnect pins. Then at campgrounds just putting them in place quickly. My fear is every time I come and go from storage area the same thing will happen. Am I asking for trouble or can any one suggest something else. Thanks

[SAABDOCTOR]

well another Berman greatings from ct. is it common not real sure i never bent one but if the landscape is right anything is possable. i might try again before i would go to quick disconnects. why crawl under it if you don't have to!

[hankaye]

beman1956, Howdy;

Did you bend it during the process of, comming off the
downgrade and onto a more level area... ? keeping some 12"
2X4's handy will allow you to build some 'dip fillers'. By placeing them
cross ways in front of the tires in the low spot you raise it and also the
bottom of the trailer as it crosses the low point. Also helpful when trying to
climb a curb to park it in the yard.

hankaye

[christopherglenn]

The whole idea is to limit motion in the trailer, pins will have some slop, and it will take most of the fun out of things.

[EcoboostKev]

Hello from another Connecticut resident! I ran into the same problem with bottoming out on the rear of the trailer when backing into my driveway.I went from a 21' trailer to our new 33' and i didn't give it any thought until we got home with the new unit and realized i might have a problem! I now have to back up the driveway on a angle? If i back straight up my driveway i bottom out. But if i come on an angle i am able to clear it without a problem. Good luck, Kevin

[ls1mike]

This a chance to upgrade! I hate the stock leveling jacks.

[hankpage]

If you are replacing them with more expensive jacks try moving them closer to the wheels ... even a few inches will gain some clearance.

[msp2jxr]

Many TT add wheels to the back of the trailer to keep the rear from dragging. You can get them at Camping World.

[hdblues]

I have a 2010 Keystone Passport 285RL. I bought it this last March and after the first use I replaced the OEM scissor jacks with BAL 24" scissor jacks. One heck of a lot better jack. I would try seting the jacks a little closer to the wheels.

[x96mnn]

Do not think you made a rookie mistake, I have seen seasoned campers do that, inclines and declines can be very deceiving.

Usually the rookie mistake with bent jacks is trying to use them to level the camper instead of stabilize. I did that with my first camper, lucky I did not hurt myself!