How many leveling 2 by's do you carry on board to make up for irregular sites. I have no idea of what the hwh system is capable of?
+/- how many inches can it compensate for?
Every coach I understand is different?
Looking for a reasonable starting point +1 after that it it may be prudent to look for another site.
I carry 12. 3x 1',2',3'. That gives me 4½" on the rear where I almost always need it. Be sure to put boards under both wheels for your duellys.
Edit: Oops that should be 4x not 3x...
see ya
ken
I have never carried lumber in 10 years of full-timing in my 42' coach, and have never had a problem leveling.
Phred,
We don't carry any boards - no problems, yet. We have less camping experience than other members, especially in "unimproved" areas.
I have never measured the total range of adjustment, but it seems pretty generous. I found one old post on this subject (link below).
Leveling ???'s (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=159.0)
The air bags on all Foretravel (air suspension) coaches are the same - they have the same total range of travel from fully deflated to fully inflated. However, the ability of the coach to adapt to non-level conditions varies with the length (wheelbase). Shorter coaches fare better than longer ones in extremely sloped conditions. They are also a bit more maneuverable in "tight" situations.
If a coach has a residential fridge, being perfectly level becomes less critical. The fridge doesn't mind parking on a slope, so your own physical tolerance becomes the limiting factor. Personally, if my drink doesn't slide off the table, I'm good! ^.^d
I carry 4 3" blocks, if that doesn't do it I change sights. We do have to use the blocks quite often.
in 4 years and 50K miles, I have only been outside the HWH capabilities once, at Glacier NP. I found some large flat rocks for the front right corner to raise it about 3 inches.
I don't carry blocks.
I have some at home for getting me higher clearance for working under the coach.
Rich
Our coach has leaf springs (remember those?) and the HWH kickdown leveling jacks.
We carry (4) 12" square x 1" thick plywood pads and (4) 12" square x 1/2" thick plywood pads.
I have mounted a small level crosswise on the dash for L-R leveling indicator and another level on the HWH console to indicate lever F-R. I first used a 3' construction level sitting on the countertop to get the coach level, then mounted the small levels with--what else?-- Shoe Goo.
If I can't drive the coach level I will get it as level as possible, then try putting plywood pads under the appropriate wheels until levels indicate we are level. Then pad under each leveling jack and traverse downward until coach is solid on the ground--no rocking motion.
Then I verify level---I try the bathroom door. If it stays where I stop it we are good to go--in more ways than one!! >:D >:D ^.^d
I do it this way to reduce any chance of twisting the coach and having a windshield crack, come out of its seal, or have the dash reinforcement fiberglass come loose from the front end.
Can't do this with the 99' We have to find less remote spots for it.
leveling (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=27125.msg221129#msg221129)
Phred, Much easier to respond if we know what coach you are talking about. And while you are at it , please add your name, too.
Phred
This may help. We carry two 30 inch long 2x8s. I can either put one under each front or both on one reae dually set. So far been sufficient except one site we frequent.
In that case, I learned to dig out under the passenger side dually about 1.5 inches of gravel and stack my two carry boards under the driver front.
No point in this arrangement rests on a tire. However some air springs about one inch below max extension, others near fully down
Hope gives you idea if going to a less improved site. Ours is 40 ft coach.
Ditto Barry...helps folks help you.
Barry, according to his profile he does not own one, click on his Avatar to see.
JohnH
Haven't found The coach yet, but the in-laws driveway is horrible and that will probably be the first trip, and I don't want to look stupid. Plan on using the coach to tour SW Colorado. Phred's a nickname I picked up in HS.
For the '99 I am building a 7" inch system, as the coach can level that same amount. It will give me a 14" off level ability. If the low end can't raise with the 7 inches I will use 7 inch blocks and start again from there. As the coach can adjust from there I don't need to carry smaller sizes.
I started out with no lumber, and after an experience of sinking, I started carrying 8 2x8 boards about 4' long and 8 about 2' long. If I'm going to be on soft ground I put those out. Over the past couple of years some of those have not survived and became firewood.
Twice I've had to use some of those boards because the site wasn't level enough. In each case I tried leveling with the HWH system and found that I couldn't get level, so I put down a couple of boards and tried again. The worst spot had two boards under each front tire, front raised to the max and the rear sitting on the tires. That's when we bought a small step to carry for when the coach's step was too far up in the air.