How to level a hi-lo - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

guilbeau · 03-24-2011, 08:55 PM

I just bought a 2007 27 foot hi-lo camper. The back of the trailer is higher than the front when towing. How do you level it?

retiredcamper47 · 03-24-2011, 09:26 PM

What are you towing with? If you are using a receiver hitch, you can purchase a ball mount/hitch bar with different height levels from 3 1/2" up to around 9". If you are using a ball on the step bumper, you can purchase a new ball with a longer shank that sits on top of the bumper. These are the simplest methods.

Bob

guilbeau · 03-24-2011, 09:44 PM

Thanks so much

JackandJanet · 03-24-2011, 09:47 PM

Get a good Weight Distributing hitch. The instructions that come with it tell you how to level it. Without a WD hitch, you have too much weight on the rear axle of your tow vehicle (possibly overloading it) and not enough weight on the front axle, compromising steering. AND, when you need to stop, the weight transfer is increased to the rear axle, decreased on the front (where your most effective braking is) and your stopping distance is longer.

- Jack

TrulyOregon · 03-24-2011, 11:56 PM

Concur with Jack. A WD hitch is money well spent and peace of mind that you're towing safely. Besides your own safety, consider the other traffic. I've seen too many rigs ill equipped going down the road and tried to avoid them.

TJM · 03-26-2011, 08:21 AM

What is the quickest,easiest way to level a Hi-Lo once in a campsite?

retiredcamper47 · 03-26-2011, 10:50 AM

I have a "bullseye" level mounted in front of my jack on the tongue. The wife puts a level on the kitchen counter. Either way tells us whether we have to elevate a side with leveling blocks. Front to rear is controlled by the jack.

Bob

JackandJanet · 03-26-2011, 12:04 PM

Instead of a bullseye, I glued two levels in a "T-pattern" on the tongue. (I adjusted them so they indicated "level" when the trailer WAS level (using a long level along the side and front of the trailer parked at home). But, same idea.

- Jack

RichR · 03-26-2011, 12:32 PM

Do you find that using the level on the tongue doesn't give the same reading as it does inside on the floor? I always use the inside check, but does it really matter. Either way is probably close enough.

campthewestcoast · 03-26-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR

Do you find that using the level on the tongue doesn't give the same reading as it does inside on the floor? I always use the inside check, but does it really matter. Either way is probably close enough.

I use a level on my tongue to get side to side reading, then I'll pull up on blocks for this leveling. Because I have a crown in my frame and the floor from someone jacking up the trailer in the wrong place (before I bought the trailer) to change a tire. I check the lower wall at the head board to check for level for front to back. Then I lower the stablizing jacks.

PaulS · 03-26-2011, 02:15 PM

I put 2 levels in the camper on the floor in a T format and level it that way and also on the bathroom floor.

JackandJanet · 03-26-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR

Do you find that using the level on the tongue doesn't give the same reading as it does inside on the floor? I always use the inside check, but does it really matter. Either way is probably close enough.

That may be, Rich. But, I made certain the trailer was absolutely level before I mounted the levels on the tongue. Then I shimmed them (using some very thin acrylic sheet) so that they agreed with the real condition before I glued them down (with silicone caulk).

I actually have larger levels on the outside bottom half too. One on the front right side for "fore-aft" leveling and one on the right side of the back for sideways leveling. These are very accurate, but I discovered after mounting them that I couldn't see them unless I raised the top. So, I was always playing with the side to side leveling with the top up. The tongue level makes things so much easier and quicker.

- Jack

jfb · 03-26-2011, 07:22 PM

Similiar to Paul..I just use one level, 24 inch type. Open the door, place it on the floor front to back, then use the tongue jack to level front to back. Then place it side to side, and use my crank down leveling jacks to level side to side. That works as long as you are close on the side to side to begin with.
If I am out side to side when pulling in, I do that first, then front to back. I always like a little pitch toward the fridge side, seems to help the gas fridge operation.

JMDoering · 03-29-2011, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichR

Do you find that using the level on the tongue doesn't give the same reading as it does inside on the floor? I always use the inside check, but does it really matter. Either way is probably close enough.

Rich, you're probably right in that its close enough.

I also have problems getting the same reading from tongue to floor. In fact I can't get the same reading from one patch of floor to the next in our 2704T!

I've ended up doing something similar to Jack's solution of leveling the trailer and the mounting the little levels on the tongue. My reference point for the 24" level is the top of the reefer cabinet, which is very close to the level point of the reefer itself. This is a hold over (in my mindset) from the yesteryears when having a level reefer was more critical than it is today.

Jim

RichR · 03-29-2011, 07:52 AM

It isn't rocket science. The main thing is to have the trailer reasonably level so as to not cause excessive stress on the lift system. Being within inch or so left to right and two inches front to back is fine. Agonizing over being level is not necessary. DO NOT try to level by using the stabilizer jacks.

TMWillis13 · 05-29-2017, 09:34 AM

Are you supposed to level the trailer with the top up or down does it matter? Also i keep reading about blocks to level what are you referring to? New to camping with a trailer and trying to learn as much as i can so i dont make a rookie mistake and cause costly damage. Also i know the stabilizers are only to keep the trailer from moving side to side. But how do i make sure its level from front to back. I have a leveler but wondering am i missing something? Ive never owned a camper or been around a camper so excited to experience this life at 56 y/o!

JackandJanet · 05-29-2017, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMWillis13

Are you supposed to level the trailer with the top up or down does it matter? Also i keep reading about blocks to level what are you referring to? New to camping with a trailer and trying to learn as much as i can so i dont make a rookie mistake and cause costly damage. Also i know the stabilizers are only to keep the trailer from moving side to side. But how do i make sure its level from front to back. I have a leveler but wondering am i missing something? Ive never owned a camper or been around a camper so excited to experience this life at 56 y/o!

Hi, TM - welcome to the forum!

I don't think it matters too much if the trailer is leveled with the top up or down, but ideally, you want the trailer level during use, for comfort as well as proper refrigerator operation. Also, a level trailer reduces the strain on the guide blocks in the upper half that follow the tracks on the lower half during raising and lowering.

Leveling blocks are pieces of wood or commercially available plastic squares that are about 1" thick that can be stacked as needed to level the trailer from side to side. You pull the trailer up on to leveling blocks on the low side to do this. You can also put blocks under the tongue jack to raise the front of the trailer higher without extending the jack so much.

The trailer is leveled front to back using the tongue jack.

When you crank the stabilizers down to make firm contact with the ground, you'll find they can actually make fine adjustments in the level condition. But they should not be used to make large adjustments. With my "bubble levels" I don't worry about moving the bubble about half a bubble width.

Hope I'm making sense here. Don't forget to chock your wheels (both sides) to prevent any trailer movement if you are on ground that is not perfectly level (do it then too).

- Jack

Treeclimber · 05-29-2017, 10:33 AM

I keep a three foot level at the ready in a handy cabinet. Here's my take on leveling.
We position the trailer where we want to. Place the level on the floor (top NOT raised yet!) from side to side to determine how many leveling blocks I need. My DSO places the blocks along side the tires, I back up (or forward), she whistles to stop, places the blocks in front (or back) of the tires and I pull on to them. Recheck the level. Chock the wheels. Unhook, use the level fore and aft and using the tongue jack, level the unit front to back. Using blocks at each corner, stabilize the trailer (don't jack up the unit!) very snug. NOW you can raise the top and continue set-up. Leveling block are readily available at wally world or amazon. I keep 10 blocks at the ready.
Tree

hilltool · 05-30-2017, 01:44 PM

I do pretty much what tree does except I just use the tongue jack for fore-aft leveling. I then raise the top (my crank for stabilizer jacks is in the rear bumper compartment and only accessible with top up) crank down the jacks until they just touch- chock wheels and grab a beer.

Rick

azmike88 · 05-30-2017, 09:50 PM

I find most phone apps useless but i find myself using this one alot. the toolbox app for android phones. it has a nice level feature that I just set on the floor. no more carrying a 2' level. I'm sure they have something similar for iphone. just noticed it has a decibel meter also for those that run a generator.