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noreenz · 12-09-2007, 09:38 AM

Hi All,

Just bought a used 2005 Bambi and my driveway is at a 20 to 28 degree slope. I have no other place to park the RV for now. Local lots seem a bit scary and lacking security and the added cost is not a do-able thing right now.

So how can I park it on a slope. I have been looking at Chockes and levelers stackers, and hydralics. Can anyone give me a best practice to make sure this puppy is secure and stable?

Thank you in advance for your ideas!

Noreenz

bryanl · 12-09-2007, 11:09 AM

That kind of slope is going to have more than a 5 foot change in elevation over the length of your trailer.

That doesn't make sense.

Anything more than 5 or 6 degrees (10% grade) is going to make things very difficult. Backing on a slope like that can be very hard on transmissions.

Getting level is going to require some rather high lifting. Getting secure is going to take more than just your usual chocking. Getting in and out might require a ladder to get to the door.

Some re-thinking might be necessary here.

HowieE · 12-09-2007, 11:39 AM

For any suggestion we need a better discription of your driveway. You are stating a 50% difference in your assumsion.

If you have a 2 or 4 ft level place it on the drive and while lifting the lower end measure the height when the level is level. That will give us something to work with.

If you do this you should come back with a discription like 4 ins. in 2 ft or 8 ins. in 4 ft. These are just illustrations and not expitations.

5cats · 12-09-2007, 03:17 PM

How about a picture of the proposed parking spot?

Cheers,
-jd.

markdoane · 12-09-2007, 03:43 PM

Here's a parking pad put on a slope by a real expert.

Note the tripod to hold the coupler. Your incline may be more, but this one is pretty steep.

Tim A. · 12-09-2007, 08:36 PM

20 to 25 degrees is anything but a slight incline. That is a 40-50% slope. I know the driveways in Oakland are steep, but please tell us that you overestimated.

Condoluminum · 12-09-2007, 09:22 PM

Noreenz-

Having been through the Oakland Hills, 20 degrees plus is very believable... There are ways to do it, but it depends on whether rear is higher or lower than front, and whether there is side slope also.. Goal is to get close to level if possible, but keep safe from rolling away and stable if you need to get inside while it is parked. Wheel ramps from auto poarts stores can help raise wheels and axles to avoid dragging rear, and have a recess to hold tires in place even at angle. Search (using tab above and key words) for "ramp" and "incline" and "level" to see some other ideas..

John

**moosetags** · 12-09-2007, 11:08 PM

We really need to see some photos before offering any advice.

Brian

2airishuman · 12-10-2007, 12:04 AM

what's a little slope...

here's a really parking challenge.

cheers
2air'

Airhog1 · 12-10-2007, 08:41 AM

The boat or the trailer?

G

Melody Ranch · 12-10-2007, 09:01 AM

You should just forget about getting it level. If you don't hurt yourself you will hurt the Bambi....somehow. Those tri pods look precarious. Chock up both sides really well and move it out of the drive when you want to use the trailer or work on it. Backing into such a place is another whole area of problems. Good luck.

Fyrzowt · 12-10-2007, 09:30 AM

With that slope, you don't have too many options. I don't see how you can get anywhere close to level with a 20 - 28 degree slope. We don't allow that in our town for fire access reasons. I don't like the chock idea too much but may be the only thing you can do. If you try the chock, attach the chocks to a piece of plywood so the chock won't slip. The wheels will set on the plywood and rest against the chock. Make it a BIG chock.
My first choice would be another location...but I understand financial restraints.
Dave

urbanfood · 12-10-2007, 09:33 AM

that's a steep slope anyway you cut it. i'd recommend looking for a storage yard in the area, not ideal, but better than having a precarious setup in the driveway. i sure wouldn't want to be your neighbor down the hill

Airhog1 · 12-10-2007, 09:35 AM

i agree...check with your local mini- storage facility...sometimes they are a little less expensive...just make sure it is a secured area.

G

HiHoAgRV · 12-10-2007, 09:52 AM

A quick check indicates the rear bumper will drag at about 15 degrees so to get 20-25 degress of leveling, the tires will need to be on a slightly over 12" high platform. I have no practical idea on how to accomplish that feat.

pmclemore · 12-10-2007, 04:42 PM

Sell the trailer if that's the best you can do. Sorry. But a 25 degree slope is not an option.

Pat

Lumatic · 12-10-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leipper

Anything more than 5 or 6 degrees (10% grade) is going to make things very difficult.

I guess I assumed wrongly 5 degrees = 5%. How is the "% grade" figured?

Lumatic · 12-10-2007, 05:52 PM

If you try it watch out you don't get the stabilizer jacks or anything else on the belly hung up and rip them off.

wagnerda · 12-10-2007, 06:23 PM

I don't remember a whole lot of the Physics classes I had years ago in college, but since a 25 degree slope is about the same as the pitch on the roof of my house, it seems to me that there is going to be about a 1,000 lb forward force from the 3000 lb trailer just due to gravity. I think it will roll right up and over about any type of wheel chock you would put under it.

Also, even my trailer drags the rear bumper a little getting in/out of my relatively normal driveway so I don't think you can back into a driveway like that. The rear bumper will hit, and even if you have the horsepower to continue pushing you will just lift the trailer wheels off the ground or wreck your hitch.

I know you mentioned money is tight, but you already put out a pretty decent chunk of money for a 2005 model so you need to find a proper place for it and I really do not think your driveway is it. I also cannot store my trailer at home (due to Homeowners Association --the neighborhood nazis) and for a while I had it at a "Public Storage Lot" which I didn't like because it was too public. I now have it at a year-around campground 60 miles away.

So while it would really be nice to have your trailer at home, my suggestion is to be open to various options and be willing to look a medium distance outside your neighborhood if you have to.

regards, Dave

2airishuman · 12-10-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumatic

... How is the "% grade" figured?

where is the resident math guy (nick) when ya need him!

keep this figure in mind...

a 45 degree incline is a 100% of grade...

i think.

it's really high school trig.

% of grade is a tangent related to rise over run...

there are tables for these tangents and calculators have formulae that can do the duty...

here are some incremental examples of the the 3 concepts.

-1 foot of rise over 100 feet of distance is a ~1% grade or .6 degree angle...
-1 foot of rise over 10 feet of distance is a ~10% grade or a 6 degree angle...
-1 foot of rise over 4 feet of distance is a ~25% grade or a 14 degree angle...

-1 foot of rise over 2 feet of distance is a ~51% grade or a 27 degree angle...

which is one really STEEP driveway!

the problem folks get into is saying 'percent grade'

when they should be saying 'percent OF grade' which makes it all clearer...sort of

anyway rise over run times 100 is the 'percent of grade' or rise/run X 100 = % grade.

road inclines/declines are usually? described in % (of) grade not degrees of angle.

so the op with a "20-28 degree slope" has a 36-53 % grade driveway...YIKES!

this is crazy steep (if true), and would take a significant amount of power/force to get up...

then forget about 'leveling the trailer' they're gonna need an anchor and chain, frame mounted and...

rated to something like 8-10,000 lbs + to keep the trailer from rolling down hill...

and a LOT of traction and power to get it UP there...

or they could build a scaffold under the trailer once it's up there and launch it like a boat, see the picture above.

cheers
2air'