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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 02, 2019, 02:35:18 pm

Title: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 02, 2019, 02:35:18 pm
When Bigdog was next to us, he had a failed attempt to level, where we were fine. What do you 'bag people' do when you're on a slope?
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: DavidS on January 02, 2019, 02:40:13 pm
Add planks to the low side.. I have some 4x4 I carry for this reason, double stack if needed.
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: jor on January 02, 2019, 03:07:31 pm
I have found that raising the coach manually and then leveling often overcomes that problem. The HWH systems always lowers the high end first so you have more leveling capability if you start high. The downside is your entry step may be higher off the ground than you like.
jor
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on January 02, 2019, 03:24:56 pm
What do you 'bag people' do when you're on a [excessively steep] slope?
Move.    :dance:
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 02, 2019, 03:43:40 pm
Still the best idea! In the 'early days', I made three 'lifts' out of 2 x 10s about three feet long, beveled, with a second 2 x 10 screwed on top, so I could pull up and get 1 1/2" lift or, by pulling forward, get a extra 1 1/2". After that, moved.
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: kb0zke on January 02, 2019, 03:50:51 pm
We camped at the same place as Red Tractor a couple of years ago (by accident) and found he had a good solution for that particular campground at that time. We parked parallel to the road, rather than perpendicular to it, because of the slope. The air bags can easily handle six inches of slope in eight feet, but turned 90* would have been more like 24" of slope.

I carry a bunch of 2x8 planks for leveling if needed (a half-dozen times in five years) or for putting under the tires when I need to park on grass (a couple of times in five years). If it looks like we'll need the extra boards I'll get on them before even trying to level.

When we've landed I get out and check. If I'm satisfied I plug in the electric cord and put the tire covers on. Then I can shut off the generator and level. Unless it is a really odd situation, I let the HWH system level it automatically and then have Jo Ann watch a bubble level while I tweak it. I don't mind being a bit tail high, but I really want to be dead on side-to-side. That keeps the pocket doors closed while the bathroom is is use.
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 02, 2019, 04:03:42 pm
I 'tweak' my kick-downs, as well.  I've found two things that work for me: (A) Giving a small downward slant on the port side gives me a better drain for the tanks. (B) What I get with the tweak over to the port, is my mid entry door opens and closes perfect ! ^.^d
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: nitehawk on January 02, 2019, 04:51:58 pm
After we had HWH repair our leveling system (new pump, motor and reservoir--comes as a unit) and we got home I discovered that some dumbass (no names here please) had placed a box under the couch that "leaned slightly" on the sensor unit. Needless to say that after the box was removed leveling was way, way off. I called Lon at HWH, got the info on adjusting the sensor, and proceeded to level the coach so that the bathroom door, fridge door, and entry door would stay in whatever position I set them at.
Love the leveling system now.
When I do a dump I raise the passenger side all the way. Can you imagine the looks we get when folks see the coach tipped??
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Carol & Scott on January 02, 2019, 04:55:11 pm
We use 2 of these cut into 12" wide strips and varied length.  No splinters, impervious to water.  We also have a stack of CW leveling blocks.  4 ft. x 6 ft. x 3/4 in. Thick Rubber Stall Mat at Tractor Supply Co. (https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/4-ft-x-6-ft-x-3-4-in-thick-rubber-stall-mat?rfk=1)

Although a couple of years ago we had the back drivers jacked up 8" on wood. 
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: bbeane on January 02, 2019, 06:34:23 pm
I carry 4 4x12 18" long wood blocks of that won't do it I'll move. I do find it necessary to use them quite often.
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on January 02, 2019, 07:28:06 pm
Some bring a whole lumberyard...
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on January 02, 2019, 07:57:03 pm
  :)  ;)  :)  :)  :)
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: kb0zke on January 02, 2019, 09:26:16 pm
And then they crawl underneath! See "women live longer" at the oops list (http://www.oopslist.com/)
Title: Re: You can level a GV with kick-downs, but not a coach with air bags?
Post by: Old phart phred on January 03, 2019, 12:28:08 am
May have to add some blocks to my coach must have