My brand new BAL leveler broke

[The Tree Top Inn II]

I bought a new BAL single axle light trailer tire leveler from Camping World online because they offered me $1 shipping.  I'd heard rave reviews about these things on several websites and on the various boards.  

It arrived in good shape.  We took it with us on our Memorial Day weekend camping trip with our pop-up.  The right hand side tire pad (as one is facing the BAL unit) broke away from the frame of the BAL unit on its first use.  

I emailed customer service at Camping World for a week with no response.  Then I called them.  They told me to call BAL as the unit was under a lifetime limited warranty.  Rather than call BAL, I looked up their website and emailed their customer service email address.

I'm unhappy with Camping World.  I'll report back what the BAL people have to say.

This thing looks like a great product.  I think mine was the rare lemon with faulty welds.

[garym053]

I bought one, used it for two years, now it's stored in the barn!
I now use Lynx Levelers. The BAL leveler had a tendency to slide out from under the tire when the tire (and angle of the tire plates) was jacked up near the max.
Now, being a little more choosy about where to place the camper on a site, I can usually get away with one or two lynx levelers. And even backing in, looking at the level, pulling ahead, placing the Lynx blocks, and backing back on to them is faster that screwing the leveling screw on the BAL to the proper height!
I WAS one of those that gave rave reviews on the BAL, but I'm on a mission to cut back all the "stuff" I haul with me and Lynx blocks are far lighter and easier to handle than a greasy or well oiled BAL!

[ForestCreature]

Unfortunately it's not a rarity these days. Seems BAL has had quality issues of late. They will stand behind the product and replace it, that's the good thing. Their customer service is excellent from what I have read.

[The Tree Top Inn II]

Unfortunately it's not a rarity these days. Seems BAL has had quality issues of late. They will stand behind the product and replace it, that's the good thing. Their customer service is excellent from what I have read.

Good news:  Kathy from Norco Industries (BAL Products) just telephoned me and said she'd received my email at their Compton, California corporate office.  She said they would ship me a new BAL leveler unit from their Elkhart, Indiana office on Monday.  She said they had indeed had some quality control issues of late and wanted to stand behind their product.  If I see a new unit on my porch late next week, I'll be a happy camper.  Scott

[Rustyone]

Maybe in defense of BAL they state that it is intended for 13, 14 and "most" 15 inch wheels.  I recently saw a poll at PUX about this thing and the results seemed to indicate that failure was directly in proportion with tire size.  Anything under the minimum of 13 inch looks like a sure thing to fail.  Then again what do I know?  It's worth looking into though.

Russ

[PopUpMomma]

We had ours break also after the first time used.  We contacted BAL directly.  They shipped another one immediatly.  We received it in just a few days.  They did not want the other back

I bought a new BAL single axle light trailer tire leveler from Camping World online because they offered me $1 shipping.  I'd heard rave reviews about these things on several websites and on the various boards.  

It arrived in good shape.  We took it with us on our Memorial Day weekend camping trip with our pop-up.  The right hand side tire pad (as one is facing the BAL unit) broke away from the frame of the BAL unit on its first use.  

I emailed customer service at Camping World for a week with no response.  Then I called them.  They told me to call BAL as the unit was under a lifetime limited warranty.  Rather than call BAL, I looked up their website and emailed their customer service email address.

I'm unhappy with Camping World.  I'll report back what the BAL people have to say.

This thing looks like a great product.  I think mine was the rare lemon with faulty welds.

[The Tree Top Inn II]

We had ours break also after the first time used. We contacted BAL directly. They shipped another one immediatly. We received it in just a few days. They did not want the other back

Yes, see message #4 above.  BAL (Norco Corp.) said they'd ship me a new one this week and suggested that I toss the old one.  They said they were having quality control problems (China).

[The Tree Top Inn II]

Maybe in defense of BAL they state that it is intended for 13, 14 and "most" 15 inch wheels. I recently saw a poll at PUX about this thing and the results seemed to indicate that failure was directly in proportion with tire size. Anything under the minimum of 13 inch looks like a sure thing to fail. Then again what do I know? It's worth looking into though.
 
Russ

My tire size is 13" and the trailer weight is well under the weight limit for the unit, i.e., the BAL leveler should hold up a much larger trailer without breaking.

[Campaholics]

We ordered a BAL leveler from a local RV dealer.  He expected it to be in in a few days.   I stopped in to pick it up the following Monday, 9 days.  They could get one from either of their distributors.  It is unavailable from BAL.  Looks like they pulled it off the market until they can resolve the quality issues.   Nor response to mail to Norco a week and a half ago.  Guess I'll stay with a couple of 2x6s.
 
Bob

[mgwerks]

I bought one, used it for two years, now it's stored in the barn!
I now use Lynx Levelers. The BAL leveler had a tendency to slide out from under the tire when the tire (and angle of the tire plates) was jacked up near the max.
Now, being a little more choosy about where to place the camper on a site, I can usually get away with one or two lynx levelers. And even backing in, looking at the level, pulling ahead, placing the Lynx blocks, and backing back on to them is faster that screwing the leveling screw on the BAL to the proper height!
I WAS one of those that gave rave reviews on the BAL, but I'm on a mission to cut back all the "stuff" I haul with me and Lynx blocks are far lighter and easier to handle than a greasy or well oiled BAL!

So Gary, do you still have it?  Want to part with it?