10 replies to this topic

[M and L]

I have been delightfully using my Casita for years, mostly solo and with other outdoor women, but now I feel the years!

I would like to find an easier way to level the trailer. I have a new BAL leveler, but it only works well on surfaces like concrete, hard dirt, and pea gravel (I think on pea gravel). It doesn't slide under a wheel on the river rock we placed at home for the trailer yard (placed as the most permeable ground cover to protect roots and water quality).

Is there such a device as would give me a signal to the driver's seat of my SUV whether Pearl is level?

Once as level as possible, is there a device I could attach to each side of the trailer frame that would (upon the flick of a switch!) lower itself and in a motorized/hydraulic / or pneumatic fashion pump up the trailer till level was reached?

Arthritis in my spine makes doing crouch-and-reach actions painful. I priced other rigs like camper van$, but they are too expensive, and anyway, I love Pearl very much!

Your advice is appreciated! Help keep me Casita-ing, please!

[vermilye]

I've seen the CIPA Wireless RV leveler advertised - no idea how well it works.

There are automatic electric & hydraulic levelers used on motorhomes & large trailers (HWH is a popular manufacturer as is Power Plus) however they are heavy, expensive, and depend on a frame heavy enough to lift a a single point.  Most fiberglass trailer frames are designed to be leveled at the axles, not the frames, although I know some do it. Maybe a pair of electric lifts at the axles or something like this might be possible.

Edited by vermilye, 11 February 2012 - 09:13 AM.

[M and L]

Uh oh! I have been supposed to place my bottle jack on the axle?? Holy cow; I missed the orientation since I bought her used.
Thanks so much for the links--will certainly check them out!!

[vermilye]

M and L, on 11 February 2012 - 01:03 PM, said:

Uh oh! I have been supposed to place my bottle jack on the axle?? Holy cow; I missed the orientation since I bought her used.
Thanks so much for the links--will certainly check them out!!

Not on the axle, but on the frame near the axle...

[M and L]

Whew! Thanks!

vermilye, on 11 February 2012 - 02:54 PM, said:

M and L, on 11 February 2012 - 01:03 PM, said:

Uh oh! I have been supposed to place my bottle jack on the axle?? Holy cow; I missed the orientation since I bought her used.
Thanks so much for the links--will certainly check them out!!

Not on the axle, but on the frame near the axle...

[Jim & Carol]

Here is a link that provides some info on using a scissors jack attached to the frame near the axle as a way to level.  There is are a lot of posts to follow but you can find it in the RGILL post.  The scissors jack combined with an electric drill provides a simple, low cost electric system, although still involves some amount of crouching.  Perhaps you could add some kind of extension to the electric drill to minimize that.    

http://www.casitafor...10324-leveling/

[M and L]

Thanks! I will go find out!

[packrat1]

M and L, on 11 February 2012 - 07:37 AM, said:

I have been delightfully using my Casita for years, mostly solo and with other outdoor women, but now I feel the years!

I would like to find an easier way to level the trailer. I have a new BAL leveler, but it only works well on surfaces like concrete, hard dirt, and pea gravel (I think on pea gravel). It doesn't slide under a wheel on the river rock we placed at home for the trailer yard (placed as the most permeable ground cover to protect roots and water quality).

Is there such a device as would give me a signal to the driver's seat of my SUV whether Pearl is level?

Once as level as possible, is there a device I could attach to each side of the trailer frame that would (upon the flick of a switch!) lower itself and in a motorized/hydraulic / or pneumatic fashion pump up the trailer till level was reached?

Arthritis in my spine makes doing crouch-and-reach actions painful. I priced other rigs like camper van$, but they are too expensive, and anyway, I love Pearl very much!

Your advice is appreciated! Help keep me Casita-ing, please!

Talk to Larry Gamble (LHC)> He's installed electric motors on the scissor jacks operated by switches inside the trailer. A set of levels next to the switches and you're level.

[Casita de Glenritas #1002]

To level your trailer :

Mount a large ball level on the front of your trailer. One big enough to see from the drivers seat.

Always level side to side first.
Pull or back into the site to where you want the trailer, watch the level.
If your on pavement put the appropriate block or blocks in front of the tire on the low side and pull onto it.
Same goes for unimproved sites but some times by moving back or forth you can get level.

Next level front to rear.
Disconnect from the tow vehicle use the tongue jack to level then crank the front down 20 turns,
Drop the rear stabilizers to the ground use blocks if necessary,
Crank the front up to level.
Done.

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[Casita de Glenritas #1002]

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[M and L]

You're all so helpful, and I am learning a lot. Never heard of a ball lever before, though I do have a BAL leveler! I don't know how you'd mount a ball leveler; I guess you have to get out and balance it on the propane tanls? (Which I can't see from the driver's seat.)
Anyway, thanks for taking the time for me!