Since I have a seasonal site, I was thinking after the pu is put in place, to have the campground level it off. I believe it can be done......has anyone leveled it off with cinder blocks and did it feel different when you were inside the pu. How did you do it and is there anything I have to look out for? Thanks for any info!
FoxyladiesWhy cinder blocks ? Don t you use it at any other camp grounds,anywhere ?
I use the BAL leveler and it works fine. I have a seasonal area also but pull it out to go somewhere differ.
Quotehas anyone leveled it off with cinder blocks and did it feel different when you were inside the pu. How did you do it and is there anything I have to look out for? Thanks for any info!
FoxyladiesI once went to a park where the only shaded campsite was quite un-level. I went to a home supply in the next town and bought a couple of cinder blocks. They worked fine and it all felt the same once I chocked the wheels.
FoxyladiesMaybe I didn t explain myself well. I m not going to be taking it out of there. I noticed on the large TT they are up on cinder blocks. My sis says it keeps the TT from moving or rocking. I guess you support it on all 4 corners. I think it might take the place of stablizers.....I don t know.....thats why I was asking for info.
Foxyladies
QuoteORIGINAL: Foxyladies
Maybe I didn t explain myself well. I m not going to be taking it out of there. I noticed on the large TT they are up on cinder blocks. My sis says it keeps the TT from moving or rocking. I guess you support it on all 4 corners. I think it might take the place of stablizers.....I don t know.....thats why I was asking for info.
Most pop-ups aren t designed to the bulk of their weight anywhere other than the axle(s). Supporting the pop-up by the corners might be more stable, but would probably void any warranty and could possibly warp the frame.
The weights supported by the stabilizers (which are in the corner) should be fairly small. They are designed to stabilize, not support, the pop-up.
IMNSHO, most pop-ups would not be damaged, but it s not something the designers had in mind.
Austin
FoxyladiesRosie, following up on Austin s message; what you might want to try is just embedding some patio blocks where the stabilizers hit the ground. That way you ve got a nice solid base for them and you won t have to readjust them during the season as rain and movement in the PU slowly settle the stabilzer bases into the ground.
Other points for owners on seasonal sites to watch for is the south facing side of the PU. Leaving it up all the time will degrade the thread holding the canvas together much faster and the tire on that side will tend to weather check faster due to the constant exposure to the sun. One more thing is it check your tire pressures at least once a month. It not only helps with the movement & sway but tires last longer at full pressure than being underinflated with weight on them.
FoxyladiesI finally got a chance to read the posts today.....but its too late. The campground moved my pu in the place that I wanted and also put it up on cinder blocks. Its completely level. I hope I haven t done another SPUT......tell me no!
FoxyladiesIf they put the blocks under the main frame you should be OK. If they put them in the corners you need to get it down before the frame bends.
FoxyladiesMy parents had a pop up in a seasonal site for 20+ years. They never used cinder blocks, I believe they used 4 stabilizer jacks. Of course this was with a 1968 vintage camper. Anyway, it didn t feel any different, just very solid.
Hope this helps.
Sharon
FoxyladiesRoseann, it depends on WHERE they blocked it up. If the entire trailer is supported on blocks at only the corners, then they have done it wrong. If the whole idea is to get the trailer off the ground (or the tires off the ground), blocks should be as close to the axle mounts as possible, fore and aft. Then the corners can have blocks under them, with " shims" to take up the slack for a *snug* fit, but not a *supporting* role. Make sense? But why they wouldn t use the stabilizing jacks to STABILIZE, not lift, the trailer is beyond me. Are they at least still using the tongue jack?
FoxyladiesThe cinder blocks are on the four corners and the tongue jack is still down. The wheels are still touching the ground. They used the blocks to stabelize the camper not lift if off the ground. I don t understand how there could be a problem doing it this way if all the TT do it that way. Please enlighten me! I would think the cinder blocks would make it much more stable.
FoxyladiesTwo phone calls and one follow up ride to the campground will settle this problem.
Darlene called where I bought the pu and they said as long as its on the main frame where the stablizers are, then there is no problem.... plus make sure that they also used some wood because you don t want the cinder blocks to touch the pu. She also has a call to the person who did the leveling to ask how he did it.
I need to bring more stuff up there so were also calling to check it out.
Thanks for all info....of course its greatly appreciated.
FoxyladiesR&D if the PU is still supported by the wheels and axle your OK. Lot s of seaonals where we go do the blocks on the corners. Only thing to watch for as the season goes by is any sinking. If the PU wheels sink the frame will bend over time.
But the more common occurance in for the blocks to settle. Our park owner kept a box of old cedar shakes to use as shims when something settled. They also make great fire starters.[:D]
FoxyladiesMike,
I noticed that the wheel on the right side is touching the ground....not the side where you put the hoses and light the heater. Anymore input? I can t wait until we go tonight....its driving me crazy![:o]
FoxyladiesThis is a follow up on our visit last night....the back frame where the stablizers are is where they put the cinder blocks and the front cinder blocks is on the corners near the stablizers. Darlene pulled down the front stablizers and we put a board under the wheel that wasn t touching the ground. It was so colddddd there so while I was making the bed for friday nite we put the heater on. I figured it was a great way to see how the propane line is running....it did take awhile to lite up. Its so depressing to see the trees with no leaves and the ground brown and bare.....it still looks like winter.....[: (][: (][:(][:(]
FoxyladiesIf the wheel is not touching the ground then the blocks are supporting the PU. If the blocks are not under the main frame of the PU, the weight of the PU may bend the frame. You need the weight to be on the wheels or the main frame.
FoxyladiesRosey, have the guys jack the PU up a little and put a patio block or wood under that wheel so it s taking some weight. No sense in wanting to move it 2 years doewn the road and having the frame cockeyed enough that the trailer won t track or the floor starts to crack. Been there.
FoxyladiesMike,
We have already put a block under the wheel that was not supported. They put the blocks right next to the stabelizer jacks. It looks to me that they are under the main frame. I personally think these guys know what they are doing since they level and support trailers all the time. I also lowered the front stabelizers so that they are touching the ground and helping with the support. I personally don t think that we needed to do all this extra work since they had already supported the pu. My blocks under my trailer are right next to the stabelizing jacks also and I have not had any problems what so ever. I personally think that people are scaring Roseann more than anything. These guys are certified technicians for all sorts of trailers, I don t think that they would have done it wrong.
Roseann, just enjoy the camping and the darn rain that is coming this weekend...lol. See you tonight at the campground.
FoxyladiesSorry, Darlene, but I ve been there and obviously if the " certified technicians" had done their job correctly you wouldn t have had to block up the wheel.
PU s don t block up like normal TT s where in most cases you d actually take the tires and wheels off for extended placement to prevent them from degrading. I ve had to crawl under a lot of PU s, 5th wheels,TT s & small mobile homes to reset blocking during the year and come every spring.
I was trying to prevent what s happened to a lot of owners that depended on a one shot blocking and expected it to last without checking it.
Ernhrts3n8Darlene I am not trying to scare Roseann, just trying to save her problems down the line.
QuoteORIGINAL: Ernhrts3n8
We have already put a block under the wheel that was not supported. They put the blocks right next to the stabilizer jacks. It looks to me that they are under the main frame.
If you can slide a block under the wheel, the wheel is not supporting the weight of the trailer. Mike has a good suggestion in just having them jack up the side where the wheel is off the ground and put a block and board under that wheel so that the wheel is supporting the PU. The stabilizing jacks are just for stabilizing the trailer and not for supporting the weight of the trailer. On my trailer the main frame is back under the PU and not along the edges.
FoxyladiesWhat is the difference between the main frame and the frame? There is a black frame all around the trailer where the box is attached to. When you look under the trailer there are many other what I think are support beams (I don t know if that is the correct word to use). The blocks are right next to the stabelizing jacks so I would think that that is the main frame. The blocks that are put under the wheel cannot be moved at all. The wheel is resting on top of the blocks. The other wheel is firmly on the ground. The tongue jack is down, it looks and stable to me JMHO. I don t think that there will be any problems with the way that it is. It looks good and secure and stable.
Ernhrts3n8Could someone please explain to me, how the frame or pu would bend? Isn t the cinder blocks and pieces of wood that level it.....taking all the weight of the pu? How does just the wheels hold the weight of the frame? Am I overlooking something.....I just don t understand.
Ernhrts3n8You guys have got it right, wheels taking some weight and the corners blocked up. should be nice and solid.
As for the main frame and frame. They re the same thing.
For Rosey, It won t bend right away, it takes time. but eventually if the weights not supported where it was designed to be the frame takes loads where it shouldn t and will bend/twist We re not talking weeks here, but months and years before it happens.
. A PU is designed for the axle to hold the majority of the weight and the stabilzers to keep it level and take any weight movement inside the PU toward the ends. If supported just by the corners the center will " hang free" and stress the frame.
Just check out the underside a couple of times this season as " new construction" tends to move and shim if necessary. Other than that enjoy. It s a great feeling just to unload the clothes and food and start campin . I miss my lot & mobile home camp on the lake.