Leveling Jacks
Recently I received a call from my lifelong friend, Joe. We’ve shared a lot of adventures over the years, from fishing and camping to long-distance motorcycle trips. We also have a habit of calling each other whenever we’re working through a problem on one of our toys.
This time, the subject was his toy hauler’s leveling system.
When Joe retracted his front leveling jacks, one leg stopped about six to eight inches from fully retracting. No matter what he tried, it wouldn’t go any farther.
He knew I had recently dealt with a leveling issue on our fifth wheel. I had received an “Out of Stroke” error and eventually got it corrected, so he wondered if the same procedure might solve his problem.
While fixing my own issue, I also managed to accidentally reset the zero point on our leveling system. Unfortunately, the trailer wasn’t actually level when I did it, so I had to go back and properly recalibrate the system. It was a good reminder not to rely on memory when working with electronic systems. Taking a few extra minutes to verify the procedure can save a lot of time later.
When Joe called, I was driving, so I wasn’t about to give him instructions I couldn’t verify. I remembered finding helpful information on both YouTube and Lippert’s website, so I suggested he start there.
The next day he called back with the solution.
He had taken his toy hauler to the dealership for some recall work and asked one of the service technicians about the jack problem. The technician walked him through a procedure that involved adjusting the landing gear feet to matching positions, lowering the jacks until they were even, disconnecting one jack temporarily, and then allowing the second jack to catch up before reconnecting everything.
It worked.
After hearing what he had done, I asked why he hadn’t simply operated each front jack independently using the manual controls.
His answer surprised me.
He couldn’t.
His leveling system didn’t allow him to control the front jacks individually the way mine does.
That raised another question. If the jacks can’t be operated independently, how do you properly recalibrate or reset the leveling system?
That’s something we’ll continue researching.
What this experience reinforced is that not all RV leveling systems work the same way.
Even within the Lippert product line there are numerous versions, each with different programming and operating procedures. Some systems use electric jacks, others are hydraulic. Some have four jacks, while others have six. Software revisions can also change how certain functions are performed.
The lesson is simple.
Before asking for help, make sure you know exactly what leveling system you have.
When posting a question online or talking with a technician, include the manufacturer, model, type of system, and, if possible, the software version. Also explain what you’ve already tried. The more information you provide, the more likely you’ll receive advice that actually applies to your RV.
During my own research I found Lippert’s Master Leveling User Guide. It’s a comprehensive manual covering many of their leveling systems. While it doesn’t apply to every model, it’s an excellent resource once you identify which system is installed on your RV.
I’m fortunate to have a friend like Joe. We enjoy bouncing ideas off each other and working through problems together. Between the two of us, we usually find a solution—and we both learn something in the process.
Sometimes that’s one of the best parts of owning an RV.