Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-21-2018, 07:14 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls , South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,164
Forward or reverse?

We're hosting in a small State park that is pretty busy on weekends, so I'm running around quite a bit when people are setting up. Some people put their leveling devices behind the trailer tires and back onto them, while others put them in front of the tires and pull ahead. Is there any preferred way? Does it make a difference if those comma-shaped levelers are used?


Some day I'll write a book about the "interesting" ways people level trailers. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm supposed to be the friendly face of the park, not an OSHA inspector. I just hope that when they have their accident it is at some other park far away from me.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
AIR 54240
Heartland mpg 181 (sold)
1993 Foretravel U300 (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
kb0zke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 07:29 PM   #2
Retired.
 
Currently Looking...
. , At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
I have suggested pulling forward onto the leveling devices, because when your tow vehicle is in "drive", it will generally be in low gear when starting forward. When reversing, the gear used by the transmission is usually third.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
overlander63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 11:07 PM   #3
3 Rivet Member
 
1974 25' Tradewind
Calgary , Alberta
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 109
Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63 View Post
When reversing, the gear used by the transmission is usually third.
When reversing, the gear used by the transmission is usually “reverse” .

The gear ratio for reverse is usually the same as first or it can be slightly taller but it’s never higher than the second gear ratio.
Alumineer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 04:07 AM   #4
Retired.
 
Currently Looking...
. , At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alumineer View Post
When reversing, the gear used by the transmission is usually “reverse” .

The gear ratio for reverse is usually the same as first or it can be slightly taller but it’s never higher than the second gear ratio.
And here we go again.
Y'all can use whatever gear you want to use.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
overlander63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 04:59 AM   #5
2020 Globetrotter 25 FBT
 
GettinAway's Avatar
 
2020 25' Globetrotter
Wildwood , Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,577
I haven’t been using the drive up, comma shaped levelers for very long, but I noticed when we were in Custer SP this summer on a pretty sloped site, that when I backed on to them, I didn’t have as much resistance to rolling back down the hill. I hope I’ve explained this clearly enough. We didn’t have an issue because we had everything else blocked and locked, but those levelers are like ramps, and mine seemed to be pointed in the wrong direction.
__________________
2020 25GT FBT
2012 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab, 5.7 4x4

Previous AS trailers: (04) 19’ Bambi, and (11) FC 23FB
GettinAway is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 06:11 AM   #6
Rivet Master
 
r carl's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin , Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63 View Post
I have suggested pulling forward onto the leveling devices, because when your tow vehicle is in "drive", it will generally be in low gear when starting forward. When reversing, the gear used by the transmission is usually third.
I can go more than 80MPH in third.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
r carl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:38 AM   #7
4 Rivet Member
 
Chelsea , Maine
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 380
When I took Automatic Transmission 101 at Pikes Peak Community College (Fort Carson campus) Reverse used the gears for First gear. But, that was back in the day when 3 speed automatics were the state of the art.
__________________
2023 Entegra Odyssey 26M
2017 FC 27FB
2017 F250 Lariat Crew Cab 6.2L
Equal-I-Zer 10K/1000
JMynes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:04 AM   #8
Rivet Master
 
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville , Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,095
Blog Entries: 1
I use the Lynx lever blocks and I go either fowler or reverse with them. When I go to put them out I decide whether I want to be 8" further forward or back. Generally that means checking the level of the site and deciding where is best.

Both low gear and reverse gear will climb a 1 or 2" high block with great ease.
Bill M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:00 AM   #9
Rivet Master
 
Caffeinated's Avatar
 
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg , Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
The leveling device does not care which direction you go.

Mike
__________________
2015 27ft FC FB
WBCCI #3960
2019 F150 ecoboost
Caffeinated is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 09:11 AM   #10
Rivet Master
 
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls , South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,164
Thanks. When we had our little mpg I sometimes backed onto the leveling blocks and sometimes I'd pull forward onto them, depending on the site.


After watching some people here try to get onto their leveling devices, though, I started wondering if there was a preferred method. I haven't seen anyone actually measuring, but I have seen some take great care that everything is perfect. Then there are the others that seem to think that as long as some of the tire is more or less on the block they are good.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
AIR 54240
Heartland mpg 181 (sold)
1993 Foretravel U300 (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
kb0zke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 12:06 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
2018 30' Classic
Jacksonville , Florida
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 724
Well I go the direction that puts the sewer, or electric connection closer to the park utility connection as necessary.

I don't use the comma shaped blocks I use 2x8s and 2x6s. I can build up the height I need, get more most anywhere and use the extra for fire starters. The plastic ones smell really bad when you burn 'em.

Either way my pick up has more than enough power to move the 10k trailer...……...or I wouldn't be parking there. Drive or Reverse it only takes a little throttle. If it needs any throttle at all.

To be honest sometimes y'all tend to overthink this stuff.
Overstreet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 12:11 PM   #12
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,674
Hi

Assuming the leveling blocks are also acting as chocks .... which way is downhill on that site? Putting in the chocks on the uphill side only seems a lot less useful than the downhill side. Yes, chocks in both directions are the best bet. Look around the typical campground and see what people do ..... YIKES !!!!

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 01:44 PM   #13
Rivet Master
 
McDave's Avatar
 
2014 23' Flying Cloud
Fair Oaks , California
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 717
I never get the trailer exactly where I want it; it’s really a work in progress. So if it looks like it would be better off back a foot, I’ll back onto the levelers. If it looks like it would be better off forward a foot, I’ll pull forward onto the levelers.

The comma levelers come with a chock, so both sides get chocked (sort of). Of course I always chock the other side of the trailer with real chocks too.
McDave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 01:44 PM   #14
Rivet Master

 
2007 22' International CCD
Corona , California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
I carry both stacking blocks and the curved levelers. Use as needed and what makes sense. I have separate wheel locks that go between the tires, and they will lock the duals together hard enough that the tires will skid before they can turn. I've informally tested this in both directions multiple times if I miss the "remove chocks" entry on the checklist when trying to drive away...

That said, if the streetside of the rig is 2 inches or less out of level to the high side, I don't bother leveling left to right, just fore and aft, so the fridge still works ok. Sleeping head up slightly is fine--it's head down that messes with your head. The head of the bed is on front streetside on this model.

I also don't usually deploy stabilizers either, unless we are parked for long term, or out in excess wind. Our rig does not rock all that much normally, and if DW does not complain of any slight trailer movement, it's good enough for me.

We did park for two days in the Texas Hill Country during a windstorm, and the rig still rocked a bit in the high winds even with the stabilizers down hard and the wheels chocked thoroughly. That was not a good day to travel, so we didn't.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
rmkrum is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Brakes locking up in reverse GreatPumpkin Brakes & Brake Controllers 16 08-02-2012 01:30 PM
I need a reverse light housing!!! gretchen Lights - Interior & Exterior 1 05-21-2007 08:08 PM
Reverse Cove Molding to 1/4 round on cabinets? cosmo9404 Cabinets, Counter Tops & Furnishings 1 05-05-2007 05:28 PM
reverse switch on Fantastic Vent bradk Roof Vents, Skylights & Fans 19 07-12-2006 11:11 PM
Reverse lights till Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 5 09-11-2004 04:29 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.