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Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Recently we were trying to level in a State Park site that was "rough" because the pad was uneven, full of broken asphalt, and tree roots.   There were only a few sites that would accept our 27' Rig and all of them were in the same condition.  We moved the rig several times trying to get reasonably level with our heavy duty plastic levelers which have worked well for us for 3 years.  One (1) leveler was not flush with the ground because of a tree root, but it was the best we could get after several attempts.  The next day we learned that leveler split on one (1) corner and is probably not worth trying to repair.

So the lesson Margee and I learned is that all the levelers need to be flush with the ground or run the risk of breaking them.  Hoping that our recent lesson might be helpful to others.
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #1 –
Ed,

I’ve seen some leveling blocks that were made of thick rubber “stall” mats cut to size that are then stacked in levels to increase height.

https://youtu.be/6c2nFUeD6nA

This may be useful when levelling in conditions such as those you mentioned. They would be flexible and contour to the uneven surface.

That being said, it isn’t unusual for me to raise the rig upward to six inches so it may take quite a few of these DIY mats to do the trick. Especially if you you have multiple tires to raise.

Just an FYI for a DIY. 

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #2 –
I recently added the horse-stall mat home-made levelers to our LD kit and wish I had done it a long time ago. I kept running into situations where I needed more height than I had levelers for with our yellow plastic stepped levelers - maybe Camco, not sure. A few time I had these plastic stepped levelers shoot from under the wheels as I tried to drive up onto them. Once I drove a tent stake through one to get it to stay in place so I could get on it. But, their tendency to move like that and also to prevent them from sinking into softer surfaces, I decided to try the horse mats.

I bought the mat at Tractor Supply. I believe it's a standard item for them. The store I went to in Watsonville, CA, had mats in 1/2 and 3/4" thicknesses. More height is what's needed in most cases, so I got the 3/4" version, which came in a 4 x 6 foot sheet. It was so heavy I needed a helper to get it into the vehicle to take it home. The cost for that size was about $50.

It took a while but it was pretty easy to cut with a utility knife. You have to make multiple passes for each cut to get through the material, which I think is made of ground-up and molded recycled car tires. I cut multiple long, medium and short pieces - all about 10 inches wide (just a bit wider than the Michelin tires). The different lengths let you arrange them to form steps and more easily drive onto them. Because they're solid rubber, I can put the "old" plastic levelers on top of the mat levelers too.

When I got done cutting up the whole sheet I had what appeared to be too many levelers to fit in the LD's storage compartments. But, it turned out that because each is only 3/4" thick, I could fit almost all of them in - like wedging more books into an overstuffed bookcase. We've used them now on a few camping trips and love having a bunch of 3/4" levelers that can be setup however needed to fine-tune.

The only bad things are the weight and crumbly nature of the material. I didn't weigh them but, since I could barely move the mat alone, I'm guessing they add 150 pounds to the RV. You only handle a couple levelers at a time so they're not too heavy when leveling. The other thing is that the ground-up car tire material crumbles as you use these levelers. I don't see any signs of wear, but when you take them out of the storage compartments, you see small back rubber pieces that have fallen off.

Overall, I'm very happy with how much easier it is to level with these home-made levelers.

Hope this is helpful,
Jim & Deb
2016 TK

Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #3 –
"...our yellow plastic stepped levelers - maybe Camco, not sure. A few time I had these plastic stepped levelers shoot from under the wheels as I tried to drive up onto them."
---
I don't use the stepped levelers, but I had one set of yellow plastic blocks many years ago; they lasted one trip. They "scooted" on dirt and gravel surfaces, then shattered into shards in softer grass; as Judie pointed out, this type of leveler needs to be fully and evenly supported to stay together. I gathered the shards from the broken ones and dumped the whole misbegotten outfit into the recycle.

Lynx Levelers are far sturdier; they are much less inclined to scoot on dirt and gravel, don't shatter on uneven surfaces, are lightweight, configurable, and relatively inexpensive.

YMMV, as always.
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #4 –
Those heavy rubber mats are an excellent suggestion and one that I might not have ever discovered.   We've added heavy mats to our list.   Thanks to Kent and Jim ... great ideas from the LD Faithful.
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #5 –
Lynx Levelers are good, but they will get bent out of shape when you park on golf ball size gravel/rocks. They will cheerfully replace them just by sending a picture of the damaged ones.
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #6 –
I also found that the blocks seemed to slip on pavement or concrete, and being wet made it worse. I solved the problem by caring an old bathmat, and I put the frst block in the stack series on the edge of the mat. That way, the tire actually holds the blocks from slipping.. the weight of the tire on the mat at the same time it starts to climb the blocks works great..no more slipping.
At 04:07 PM 8/22/2018, you wrote:
Quote

"...our yellow plastic stepped levelers - maybe Camco, not sure. A few time

Quote

I had these plastic stepped levelers shoot from under the wheels as I tried
to drive up onto them." I don't use the stepped levelers, but I had one set of yellow plastic blocks many years ago; they lasted one trip. They "scooted" on dirt and gravel surfaces, then shattered into shards in softer grass; as Judie pointed out, this type of leveler needs to be fully and evenly supported to stay together. I gathered the shards from the broken ones and dumped the whole misbegotten outfit into the recycle.
Lynx Levelers are far sturdier; they are much less inclined to scoot on dirt and gravel, don't shatter on uneven surfaces, are lightweight, configurable, and relatively inexpensive.
YMMV, as always.
2003 TK

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Gini Free and Junah, canine xtrodinaire
"CHERRYOTTE" our little red home on wheels
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #7 –

We ordered a set of heavy plastic levelers from Amazon to replace the damaged Camco leveler. 

Amazon.com: Camco Yellow Drive On Tri-Leveler, Raises Your RV Up by 3-7/8"...

They arrived today and are clearly much heavier and robust than the smaller and lighter Camco leveler that we damaged.  In addition the third tier is higher at 3 7/8" than the damaged Camco.   The Amazon price was $15.44 each as compared to a local RV shop at $28.99 each.  Free shipping and they arrived in two (2) days.  I'm just guessing but I'd bet these are going to last a good long while especially if we follow some of the advice posted above.

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #8 –
Comments: there's discrepancy between the load limit in the initial "ad" description and the product description; the weight limit per each is 3500 pounds, not 4000.

Note that if the step ramps are used for the rears, two ramps, i.e. one ramp per tire, will be needed; both duals should be supported.

The listed ramp width of 7.8" is adequate, but a step depth of 5 1/2" may be shorter than is optimum to provide full support for the tire; IMO, this is a problem with almost every step leveler that I've seen.

But, as ever, YMMV!

2003 TK has a new home
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #9 –
Quote from: JCT  - 
Comments: there's discrepancy between the load limit in the initial "ad" description and the product description; the weight limit per each is 3500 pounds, not 4000.

Note that if the step ramps are used for the rears, two ramps, i.e. one ramp per tire, will be needed; both duals should be supported.

The listed ramp width of 7.8" is adequate, but a step depth of 5 1/2" may be shorter than is optimum to provide full support for the tire; IMO, this is a problem with almost every step leveler that I've seen.

Our drive axle weight is 8,660 pounds fully loaded which averages out to 2,165 per tire.  We always level both drive tires and would never consider leveling a single rear tire.  At any rate, the rated leveler as mentioned by Joan is 3,500 pounds.  Cabela's has the same ramp and lists the load capacity at 4,000 pounds.
https://www.cabelas.com/product/Camco-RV-Tri-Leveler/717129.uts

So who knows?  At any rate, these heavier ramps ought to be fine.

Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #10 –
"We always level both drive tires and would never consider leveling a single rear tire."
----
I mentioned the need to support both rears when leveling only because I've seen quite a few with blocks under only one dual.  The need to support both duals may be common knowledge to some, but, in my experience and from observations, it is not "common knowledge" for all.  :)

2003 TK has a new home
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #11 –
Ed,

Joan has a good point about the overall length of the tiered levels. When I built mine, I allowed enough room in each step to accommodate all of the tires ground level tread. Even the levellers I purchased from the Mothership allow for full support of the tire tread. Always a concern.

While I made my levellers out of 2x6” pine, my next set I build will be made of plywood (not particle board) which I plan to laminate in opposing layers for strength, flex and durability. One of my current levelers is splitting along the grain.

I hope your new set serves the purpose. Like Joan, I’ve seen many systems that seem better suited for smaller tires than our LDs. Not quite sure why that is. Perhaps the manufactures figure we all have automatic levellers.

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #12 –
I installed Big Foot levelers last Fall.  It makes setting up so nice.
2011 31' TB
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #13 –
I am interested in having big foot levelers installed. What is the best way to do that.?
Dale from Downey 27’ 2012 RB,”Casa Verde”, 2000 Jeep Wrangler. Formerly1991 RB & 1990 Jeep Wrangler.
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #14 –
Quote from: nccampguy  - 
I installed Big Foot levelers last Fall.  It makes setting up so nice.

Indeed...I love my Big Feet--but Joan's mantra prevails: YMMV!

Hi, Dale--

Since I'm here in the midwest, I just went to the Quadra home factory in White Pigeon, MI; I believe they also have a factory-owned installation facility somewhere in Florida.  When I went to the 2015 Escapade in Tuscon there was a booth for what I think was a factory-authorised dealer rep.  I've also read some discussions of folks who just have the system shipped & use their own trusted mechanic for installation.  The folks in White Pigeon were great to deal with--especially after I found a small puddle in the drive upon return from my maiden voyage back home....just contacted one of the local tractor repair guys who tightened some fittings/topped off the fluid, & sent paperwork to White Pigeon...& they've been trouble-free, no matter how ucky the weather outside when I quit for the day.

Lynne
Lynne
LDy Lulubelle, Green '05 31' TB
Lilly, the 4-Legged Alarm
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #15 –
Quote from: dollinsdale  - 
I am interested in having big foot levelers installed. What is the best way to do that.?

I too went to the factory in White Pigeon, Michigan.  It's just over the border from Indiana.  They did a wonderful job.  The control system was installed in the entrance well.  Perfect spot actually.  Can run it from inside or out.  I usually step outside and press the auto deploy button and watch the jacks go down.  Same with retract.

Big Foot Control Panel
2011 31' TB
 
Re: Broken Leveler - Another Lesson
Reply #16 –
You can't do this in a campground of course but when boondocking I carry a small shovel and sometimes you can level not by adding height to one wheel but reducing height  instead by digging out a depression to roll into. I once found a great spot backed up to a boulder field that left the front end very low. I dug out for the rear wheels and drove up on blocks for the front wheels and got reasonably level in a place my wife said was impossible. Showed her! LOL
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