Extending slide without using leveling jacks

[Bob Denman]

[Golfbum18]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

There are instructions in the Thor "manual" for recalibrating the auto levelers...sounds like that might be something to do if it always wants to take your wheels off the ground. As for opening a slide before leveling, a thread on here some time back said "never, never" do that since the jolting of the levelers might screw up the extended slide..

[gmc]

As others have commented - you will likely find you can 'level' closer to the ground doing it manually... The automatic setting will typically get you level - but often higher up than needed. Whether that is an issue to you (wheels off the ground is one of those 'religious' topics you won't get agreement on) or not depends... There is no way to partially lower jacks - so the only choices are go higher or start over.

I do at times extend slides without jacks down... Typically in my driveway or parking pad where I know I am reasonably level and for short term packing/unpacking.

I don't extend slides or lower jacks when 'camping' at Chateau Walmart or such... (One of my criteria for a coach is usable for at least overnights with slides in.) OK - I did lower jacks once when a severe T-storm blew through a Walmart in Missouri and I wanted the stability of the jacks for the occupants.

I don't operate the jacks (extent or retract) with the slides out - as that certainly twists things around in a way I choose not to...

[JamieGeek]

I would imagine that it is perfectly fine to extend/retract slides without the jacks down. If it wasn't they wouldn't sell coaches without jacks (hello Axis/Vegas units that don't have jacks--and there is an Axis/Vegas floorplan with a "full wall slide" (yeah granted its only about 15 ft long LOL)).

[The Gritz Carlton]

I use jacks less than 50% of the time. Slides in and out as desired. Most places are fairly level and the frames along with the bodies hold the coach pretty square. If I do need jacks, level first then extend slides. I use jacks mostly for stability...not to raise coach. If it isn't fairly level to begin with, I'll move on. The bed slide is small...I extend it most anywhere if it's safe, like end spaces at rest areas. Since everything can be accessed with the full wall slide in, I rarely extend it unless it's a weekend stay or longer. I would never use jacks either way with slides extended but especially with the full wall slide extended.