Tired of carrying 2x6 boards for levelling.

[rjsurfer]

I'm tired of carrying two 2x6 boards for levelling my 5th wheel.,there a pain to carry, they sometimes slip when using two of them and occasionally warp.

Two questions:

What do people recommend as an alternative? I'm thinking something plastic easy to use and carry in the bed.

And does anyone think the boards are the best way to level?

Ron W.

[RedRocket204]

Second Chance wrote:
Yes - our current GD Reflection is what broke them (13,980 across the scales with 3,000 of that on the pin - so 10,980 divided among the four wheels.

In the first two instances, there were larger rocks - perhaps a couple of inches in diameter - hidden under soft soil. This resulted in a large portion of the weight being put in one spot on the leveler causing the breakage. This last time, we were trying to set up on a very unlevel, uneven site in the rain. We ended up moving to another site (couldn't get level enough on our assigned site). I was in a hurry and didn't take the time to examine the ground where the leveler broke... I was just pi$$ed, tired, and in a hurry. None of the breakage events happened on surfaced (asphalt or concrete) sites.

The new levelers are heavier and the plastic/resin appears to be of a different type. I'm hoping for better luck (and I plan on being more careful in the future!).

Rob

Thank you for that!

I do have a boondocking trip coming up where parked on dirt so I will be on the lookout for hidden rocks within soft dirt.

If my Andersen's ever break, I'll probably go with the black levelers linked. Leveling with curved ramps are the way to go and I don't want to give them up!

[bpounds]

I just carry a few short 2 x 8 pressure treated pieces. I guess about 10 or so. Easy to work with, and if you forget to pick them up before leaving a site, no big deal. (done that once, probably learned my lesson) Can put them under landing gear or stab jacks, so just one thing serves multiple purposes.

Cost almost nothing, and endlessly useful around a campsite, besides just leveling.

If you're hauling long pieces of lumber, not surprising that you're tired of all that hassle.

[allen8106]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Why not just cut the boards you now have into small pieces like the Lynx levelers. All you need is a board a little bigger than the "footprint" of the tire and merely drive up on them. Need more height than one board? Just put the bottom board sideways to the top board and drive up.

This is what I do. My only issue is that over time as the wood dries out it tends to split, most of the time breaking the board into two pieces. They usually last about 2 seasons before breaking.

[RollandB]

Years ago I went from wood to the yellow plastic blocks mostly so I don’t have to handle wet wood when winter camping. The yellow blocks do brake on gravel so have been thinking of making some long boards from 3/4 plywood. Now having a 4 pt leveling system when on fairly level ground I let it do the work. Recently I added Snap Pads, they are a great addition., the only time I need to blocking under is to help with its “reach”.

[fj12ryder]

Don't forget there are a ton of "Leibert" frames out there with no issues at all. You only ever hear about ones that have problems, and I would imagine that most frames out there are Lippert frames, and trundle down the road without shedding parts.

[Puddles]

I decided that 6" plastic levelers were too hard on the tire belt... went to a treated 2x8, cut to fit closely between the wheels... cut a 45 degree angle on each end.. if more than one is needed to get level, just lay two more behind each wheel with the cut angle matching... back onto the new boards and lay another 2x8 on the original boards and then pull up on them.

By only going up 1.5" per move the boards do not move. This procedure can be repeated as many times as you want. If I can't get level with 3 boards, I look for a different site. I do carry 2 pcs of 3/4" plywood cut to the same width for a smaller lift if necessary. Carry the boards standing upright in a plastic milk crate in the truck bed.

I always wonder about the auto leveling systems that are now sold... adding stress to "Leibert" frames. 🙂

[FLY_4_FUN]

started with scrap spruce, moved onto bevelled 15/16" pressure treated wood stacked...got fancy with plastic decking and now its anderson levellers. Wish I had discovered them sooner!

[gwalter]

I used to use 2 x 8s but since I redid my deck, I had pieces of Trex left over in several lengths. They are about 9/16" thick and easy to layer without cutting angles on each end.

[GON2SKI]

For loading and unloading at the residence I do use two glued 2X8's, but camping I just hit the auto level button.......sometimes the wheels are a couple inches off the ground!

[Second_Chance]

RobWNY wrote:

RedRocket204 wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
We've used the Andersen (it's spelled with an 'e') levelers and a LevelMatePRO digital Bluetooth leveling device for several years. Having broken three of the Andersen levelers in as many years...

Hoping you could shed some light on how you've broken 3 of the Andersen Levers? I'm certainly not doubting what you are saying, just curious if there was something you've done that we all could learn from to hopefully avoid the same?

Is your loaded RV extremely heavy, trying to level on very uneven/rigid ground?

Not going to assume your currently listed 2016 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS trailer is what broke them... but maybe so? The darn things seem very solid and I would never have thought they could be broken, but live and learn.

Thanks!

Yes I too would be interested to know how you broke three sets of the AndersEn levelers. I've had them for 5 years and they have been wonderful on both my 9,500 pound travel trailer and now with my 10,000 pound 5th wheel. Other than a few scratches from laying on gravel sites, they have no damage to them.

Yes - our current GD Reflection is what broke them (13,980 across the scales with 3,000 of that on the pin - so 10,980 divided among the four wheels.

In the first two instances, there were larger rocks - perhaps a couple of inches in diameter - hidden under soft soil. This resulted in a large portion of the weight being put in one spot on the leveler causing the breakage. This last time, we were trying to set up on a very unlevel, uneven site in the rain. We ended up moving to another site (couldn't get level enough on our assigned site). I was in a hurry and didn't take the time to examine the ground where the leveler broke... I was just pi$$ed, tired, and in a hurry. None of the breakage events happened on surfaced (asphalt or concrete) sites.

The new levelers are heavier and the plastic/resin appears to be of a different type. I'm hoping for better luck (and I plan on being more careful in the future!).

Rob

[RobWNY]

RedRocket204 wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
We've used the Andersen (it's spelled with an 'e') levelers and a LevelMatePRO digital Bluetooth leveling device for several years. Having broken three of the Andersen levelers in as many years...

Hoping you could shed some light on how you've broken 3 of the Andersen Levers? I'm certainly not doubting what you are saying, just curious if there was something you've done that we all could learn from to hopefully avoid the same?

Is your loaded RV extremely heavy, trying to level on very uneven/rigid ground?

Not going to assume your currently listed 2016 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS trailer is what broke them... but maybe so? The darn things seem very solid and I would never have thought they could be broken, but live and learn.

Thanks!

Yes I too would be interested to know how you broke three sets of the AndersEn levelers. I've had them for 5 years and they have been wonderful on both my 9,500 pound travel trailer and now with my 10,000 pound 5th wheel. Other than a few scratches from laying on gravel sites, they have no damage to them.

[Wild_Card]

cruiserjs wrote:
23 years of pulling fifth wheels! When we started I had 2 8ft 2x6s. Cut on on the diagonal ( to make two triangles. screwed the second onto the two triangle pieces to make a *ft (nominal) ramp. Leveler on the pin box, in view of rear view mirror told me which side was low. Place the ramp behind that wheel pair and backed on until the leveler said stop. Blocked the trailer up and set it up for easy living!!

What you got now?

[cruiserjs]

23 years of pulling fifth wheels! When we started I had 2 8ft 2x6s. Cut on on the diagonal ( to make two triangles. screwed the second onto the two triangle pieces to make a *ft (nominal) ramp. Leveler on the pin box, in view of rear view mirror told me which side was low. Place the ramp behind that wheel pair and backed on until the leveler said stop. Blocked the trailer up and set it up for easy living!!

[RAS43]

Dick_B wrote:
We continue to use the boards because they can be relied upon to support the entire footprint of the tires which the narrower plastic ones may not.

X2 I may be old school but a small assortment of boards works fine for me. I store them in a storage box that fits easily in the front compartment. They have lasted for years and when they start to crack I just cut a couple of new boards from scraps I get from Home Depot or Lowes. I even have a set of double thick boards I need at a certain state campground. I tried the yellow plastic blocks and they have broken and not held up.