freddc1
NY-PA
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Joined: 09/10/2011
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We just did our first weekend in our new 20ft TT. Went to full service campground as wanted to practice with all of the hookups. After the usual yelling,cursing and dog running under the moving trailer finally got it into place. The spot looked pretty level and i squared it up with the tongue jack but didnt think of side to side as it looked ok. However, you could feel it was a little off side to side when we went to bed that night. The next day we stopped in at the dealer to pick up some of those orange leveling blocks. The parts manager mentioned that if we had a bottle jack, and it was only off a couple of inches, i could raise it that way. He said as long as I dont raise it high,like wheels off the ground high,it wouldnt be a problem. He also said that once you get it up, just readjust your stabilizer legs and bring them down a little more. It turns out i do have a small bottle jack so put under the frame between the tandem wheels and jacked it up. It was off about half a bubble so 'd say i raised overall about 2 inches then lowered the legs down to stabilize it. Everything seemed ok but dont want to inadvertently do any damage or wind up torquing the frame, or legs, etc. Any thoughts would be appreciatd.
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downtheroad
Pacific Northwest
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My thoughts (you asked)...get in the habit of leveling it side to side with boards or Lynx Levelers...not a jack and the stabilizers....and if it was only a half a bubble off to start with - it is close enough.
My other thought is that the dealer that gave you this advice is a bone-head.
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MitchF150
Washington, the State
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What you could do is jack it up and get the tires off the ground. Put your boards or plastic things down and lower the jack.
I've done that when I 'forgot' to check side to side level and already un-hitched.. Didn't feel like hitching up again...
Worked fine.. 
But, I would not leave it on the jack the whole time. Even if you didn't lift it all that much.
That's what I would do anyway.. 
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
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4x4Bob
California.
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The down side to this procedure is some bottle jacks will slowly bleed off pressure and sink back down. If this happens your TT would then transfer the weight to the stabilizer jacks. They are not designed to hold up the weight of the Unit.
The stabilizers then could buckle causing them damage.
Use blocks or boards for side to side leveling.
Bob
2001 2500 Silverado LS 4x4 6.0, 4.10
2007 Jayco Eagle 288RLS
Cocktails for 6, Dinner for 4, Sleeps 2
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End of dirt road, no signs in sight, sun going down: I am not lost, just getting ready to go camping.
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beemerphile1
I'm 57, I'm not a
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4x4Bob wrote:The down side to this procedure is some bottle jacks will slowly bleed off pressure and sink back down. If this happens your TT would then transfer the weight to the stabilizer jacks. They are not designed to hold up the weight of the Unit.
The stabilizers then could buckle causing them damage.
Use blocks or boards for side to side leveling.
Bob
More than likely the frame will buckle and turn the frame into a taco.
Bad idea to jack a trailer anytime it isn't absolutely necessary.
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freddc1
NY-PA
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Thanks to all, these are all good answers and make sense. We're long time tent campers but this is our first TT and totally new experience. Thankfully this is a great site and good resource for us. I look forward to the day when I dont have to wear the Newbie Hat anymore!!
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TURBODOG1000
INDY
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X2 on using boards or lynx levelers, I use a couple of bottle jacks in the center under the spring equilzer take the bounce out of the center of the trailer, just a touch, not jacking it up.
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Dega500
Alabama
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Hey freddc1,
Greetings from another RV/TT newbie. Going out on our maiden voyage tomorrow evening. At first glance I thought I saw something in your post about a "long story leveling the TT and a Bottle of Jack." That may not have gone too well!
How was your first trip? Any pointers from a newbie's perspective?
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eric james
Sioux Falls, SD
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Been there done that a couple times with the bottle jack.
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MitchF150
Washington, the State
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freddc1 wrote:......I look forward to the day when I dont have to wear the Newbie Hat anymore!!
Let me know how that goes! 
I've been doing this RV thing for awhile, and I still have plenty of "rookie" events...  My "Newbie Hat" still fits really good! 
Same with the wife... If something happens to either of us that we both know is something we've already encountered or did before, the other will simply say "rookie"...
Mitch
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