Another Leveler Question

LandKO · 07-30-2019, 07:56 PM

Last week I called to make an appointment at Quadra Mfg to have The Bigfoot Platinum system installed on my Motorhome in September.
Today, I’m at a local campground and to get the MH level, I had to use my Anderson ramps to raise the front end about 4 inches to achieve level.
This got me to thinking, if I were to park in his same spot in the future, using the Bigfoot levelers, my front tires would probably be off the ground.
My questions are:
Is having the front tires off the ground an ok thing or a bad thing?
Should I use the stackum blocks under the tires to support them?
Am I worrying about nothing?
Thanks for any replies.

TurnerFam · 07-30-2019, 08:02 PM

while you'll hear yea and na from many different RVrs about this' subject '... you have to realize that once your levelers take a single pound of weight off of your front or rear ends, your wheels are technically already no longer 'on the ground', even though they may 'look' like they are, at least from a 'weight control' standpoint.

Your suspension generally allows the wheels and tires to continue slumping down for several inches or more before the suspension reaches it's lowest point, which is when you might start to 'see' light below the wheels, which is what most folks don't feel 'comfortable' with - though the reality is, the wheels have already been 'off the ground' from almost the moment your levelers hit the ground to start lifting them.

We sometimes don't like what we 'see', but the reality is that it matters not - your levelers are perfectly designed to handle the weight. And, because you are now 'level', your coach has no reason to 'go' anywhere on it's own!

LandKO · 07-30-2019, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurnerFam

We sometimes don't like what we 'see', but the reality is that it matters not - your levelers are perfectly designed to handle the weight. And, because you are now 'level', your coach has no reason to 'go' anywhere on it's own!

Thanks for the reply.
I’m not as concerned about seeing light under the tires as I am about potential averse issues with the suspension system with the weight of the wheels and tires hanging on them especially if they are hanging for a long (weeks) period of time.
To me, the suspension components are designed to be in compression not in tension. Yes, any weight taken off of the tires will be supported by the levelers and the wheels will hang to some extent. But, not the full weight of the tires.
I was just wondering what others do in a situation like I described.
Maybe my concerns are baseless.

paulwadley · 07-30-2019, 09:07 PM

I have been in many campgrounds that were so far out of level my front wheels were several inches above the ground. It is not an issue. I do carry wheel blocks/stops that I use if I have to raise the coach up that high just for safety.

be happy · 07-31-2019, 09:42 AM

I like to have my tires on something other than air. Yes it may be ok to let the suspension hang for a few days or a week, but why put the extra stress on the steering system.

If upon first leveling the tires are off the ground, I will raise it up and put Legos under the tires. Then release the level legs and start again. It just makes me feel better.

**16ACE27** · 07-31-2019, 01:04 PM

I don't worry about it for camping. If I was storing for weeks or months I might block them.

Bob Denman · 07-31-2019, 02:16 PM

I was at the Lake George RV Park last year, and saw a Super-C that had it's front wheels almost a foot off the ground...
If that big rig can take it: any rig can!

99dart · 08-03-2019, 05:59 PM

I have a pair of these Andersen levelers we got for free when buying/installing our towing system. I like to put them under the tires if/when they are off the ground and we a staying a few days. I see people pointing and talking about them all the time. (At least it looks like they are...I haven't found a dead bird in the grill they could be looking at. LOL)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4JQV15VzBc

LandKO · 09-12-2019, 12:49 AM

We had the Bigfoot Platinum levelers installed at Quadra this morning. Took them about 3 hours. The folks at Quadra were great.
Tonight we stopped in southern Indiana and had the first opportunity to use them.
As luck would have it, we were placed in a campsite that was nowhere near level. And regarding my earlier concern about having a wheel(s) ending up off the ground to achieve level, I’ve got one front wheel about 2” off the ground.
Since it only for one night, I’ll live with it, but in the future if I get a site that is that much out of level, I will request a different site or move elsewhere.

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