Leveling with tongue jack while still hitched?

[klash]

Towing a 25FBT with pro pride hitch, I often Boondock without unhitching the trailer. Can I use the tongue jack to raise the front of the trailer for leveling without unhitching the pro pride?

[jeffb831]

It would put a lot of stress on the hitch, jack, and front of the trailer frame because it would also be raising the back of the TV.

Generally, when I don't unhitch, I don't level. If I need to level, then I unhitch.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by klash

Towing a 25FBT with pro pride hitch, I often Boondock without unhitching the trailer. Can I use the tongue jack to raise the front of the trailer for leveling without unhitching the pro pride?

Yes, as long as the leveling isn't too radical....like 3 " or so.

[ROBERT CROSS]

IMHO...The rig should be level hitched or not.
We usually stay hitched for all one nite stands, no stab's, tongue jack down.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Bill M.]

When I do it I put something on the steering wheel, like a leveling block or something, to remind me the jack is down.

[Hans627]

I also have a ProPride hitch and I do use the jack to raise the front of the AS without unhitching. But only a limited amount, say 3" of so. If I have to raise it higher than that I unhitch.

[s1000pre]

Get yourself a levelmate pro and a couple Anderson levelers, it’ll change your world! When boondocking/harvest hosting I rarely unhook. Turn on your levelmate and move around until you find a fairly level spot that requires minimal leveling, moving just one foot can change everything. I look for a spot that requires some jack lift 0-3”. You can raise the hitch while hooked up, you can’t drop it. A good rule is to make note of your TV’s spring compression. With trailer added, my f150’s rear sits 2.5” lower than disconnected, my Expedition compresses 1.5”. So I can safely raise my f150 2.5” before adding any additional TV weight on the jack.

[AgBullet]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

When I do it I put something on the steering wheel, like a leveling block or something, to remind me the jack is down.

What a good idea! I've often put the tongue jack down while hitched, and I guess I'm just lucky I never forgot before I drove away. Thanks for the tip.

[Merlintiaga]

+1 s100pre. This is exactly what I do well. I can level my trailer within 1/4” left-to-right in minutes without any assistance using the Levelmate and Anderson Leveling wedges. The Anderson Levelers act as wheel chocks too so if you do unhitch, it’s one less thing. The Levelmate gives me both tilt and left-to-right. Like others, if it’s less than 2 to 3”, I use the jack while hitched, otherwise, unhitch. No need to release the WD either. As you raise the jack, you’re taking weight distribution out so just leave the hitch as-is with WD in place and raise the jack. Easy-peasy.
:-)

[PatLee]

When not unhitching for the night, I lower the hitch post until just lightly resting on the ground, more to take pressure off the TV than to level the trailer. I also unplug the cord and cover it from elements. I like Bill M's reminder tip (above), I think I'll lay a leveling block on the seat from now on to remind me hitch is up and/or cord is out. Thanks.

[drbrick]

I agree with Robert Cross - when hitched the aim is a level trailer if not then I would be rebalancing the rig. There would be no need to use the jack to level the trailer. If there is, which would happen if you're on a slope, then I would unhitch as you are placing the rig under stress.

[superChop]

AgBullet hit me between the eyes! Why you ask? Because we have towed our 1964 Overlander around the country more than once in the five years, post renovation, and had to jack up the trailer to level the front last month at a KOA near Nashville. It exceeded 3” for our Husky jack and the truck’s rear end was definitely lifted, but nothing unforeseen happened.

The amusing part is stating that we should “ensure that we remember that the jack is down before departing”. Seems rather simple, but we all have “OOPS” moments! We have pulled the trailer forward a few inches before one of us is shouting about the error. To add humor and no quantitative advice to the OP, we have also pulled forward about two feet when the xchocks are on the trailer on the street outside my daughter’s home = $80 in replacement chocks, and entertainment for my daughters family and the neighbors. We have also driven over the high side of the Andersen levelers = $0, but added a lot of shouting. Awning latches have also been overlooked, but thankfully = no incidents and initiated the use of zip ties as an added security for them.

Those stories are for entertainment purposes only, since most of my friends have similar stories of “OOPS”!

[DonRich7878]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

IMHO...The rig should be level hitched or not.
We usually stay hitched for all one nite stands, no stab's, tongue jack down.

Bob
����

The world is not level by design or otherwise, particularly when boondocking.

I also drop the jack down for overnight stops, assuming to level I need to lift to level. Just as often, the need to drop nose down for a level trailer may be required. I tow on the naked ball, so not much of an effort either way. Great idea BTW Bill M to hang a notice on the steering wheel as a reminder to do one last walk around before driving off...

[banderabob]

The bubble has to be mostly outside the center marks for me to worry about front to rear leveling., for one night.

[jfreeham]

Originally Posted by banderabob

The bubble has to be mostly outside the center marks for me to worry about front to rear leveling., for one night.

On the top of our jack there is a round liquid filled level thing with a bubble and three circles in the center. I've adjusted the leveler thing so that when the trailer is level in all directions the bubble will be in the center circle. As long as the bubble is within the outer of the three circles all is well and good. When setting up camp my wife looks at the bubble and tells me to go forward or back a little bit at a time until the bubble is within at least the outer circle. It's like magic! If need be, we'll raise the jack (while hitched) only a little bit until the bubble is within a circle. Sometimes there is only one choice, and that is to unhitch (after we've leveled side to side).

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

When I do it I put something on the steering wheel, like a leveling block or something, to remind me the jack is down.

I've gotten into the habit of taking the seatbelt, sticking it through the steering wheel then buckling it. I can't get into the vehicle, until after I've completed my walk-around checklist.

[nadrad314]

One thing to be mindful of when raising your tow vehicle with your hitch jack, is that the only thing keeping your vehicle from rolling is the parking break on TV (and it being in park), unless you've blocked the tires. If the rig is not level that is probably because the ground is not level and taking weight off the rear will decrease the friction that is holding your vehicle in place. Force of Friction = weight on tires X coefficient of static friction.

I often boondock without unhooking. But I've never left the rig overnight with the jack down while hitched. If too far out from being level I unhitch.

I always block the tires whenever I'm sleeping inside, no matter what. If the rig did move, I want to be able to say that the blocks must have failed.

[Life is a Highway]

Great idea! How would I like that idea hmmmm.

[JCWDCW]

We do that all the time, especially in our driveway if leaving early. Just to keep the fridge happy and me who doesn't have to unhook the Hensley.
You have to know your own rig. Our receiver was reinforced by CanAm so it distributes stresses along the chassis in the Benz. On my original hitch on the Dakota it would bend the receiver head. Then I had it reinforced at CanAm. We have lifted the tongue at least 3 inches from time to time, but in a campsite I would be looking for more level ground. In a Walmart parking lot you can't always get front to rear level so the jack comes into play

[moosetags]

We have had both a Hensley and a ProPride. We often stay hooked up for one night stays. We have always done front-to-back leveling with the tongue jack. We always release the jacks on the hitch before leveling. This gives you a lot of leeway to level the trailer without putting any stress on the hitch or trailer.

Brian