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Rear Levelers Too Low When Retracted- Hazard

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  • Rear Levelers Too Low When Retracted- Hazard

    When retracted, my rear levelers on my 2020 2930RL are very close to scraping when going up/down driveways. See my attached photos. It appears I can unbolt them and move them up but I will only gain about a 1" as they would hit the bottom of the slide out if I tried to move them up any more. This will also make it difficult to manually retract with a tool in the event of a leveler failure. Any suggestions?
    Rich & Terry's Radical Sabbatical & Beyond
    2020 S-Class 2939RL
    2019 RAM 3500 CC SRW HO Cummins Diesel

    https://www.facebook.com/radicalsabbatical41/

  • #2
    We've had people wave us down on the freeway thinking we didn't raise our levelers enough. There is some adjustment but ours can't be raised any more. Removing the pads when you travel gives you an extra inch but we quit removing them and just watch and move carefully when entering or exiting driveways. So far we've been okay.
    Dennis & Phyllis Manley
    2018 Reflection 27RL; 2008 Silverado 2500HD 4X4

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Senerity View Post
      When retracted, my rear levelers on my 2020 2930RL are very close to scraping when going up/down driveways. See my attached photos. It appears I can unbolt them and move them up but I will only gain about a 1" as they would hit the bottom of the slide out if I tried to move them up any more. This will also make it difficult to manually retract with a tool in the event of a leveler failure. Any suggestions?
      The second photo looks like the OEM's (Lippert) installation instructions. Can you take a picture of the side of your RV (entire side) and post it? While it won't be perfect, I'd like to overlay the pictures for comparison purposes.
      Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

      2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Senerity View Post
        When retracted, my rear levelers on my 2020 2930RL are very close to scraping when going up/down driveways. See my attached photos. It appears I can unbolt them and move them up but I will only gain about a 1" as they would hit the bottom of the slide out if I tried to move them up any more. This will also make it difficult to manually retract with a tool in the event of a leveler failure. Any suggestions?
        Did you measure the departure angle in accordance with the diagram to see if it was within specifiction?

        Jim
        Jim and Ginnie
        2024 Solitude 310GK
        GDRV Technical Forum Moderator
        GDRV Rally Support Coordinator

        Comment


        • #5
          The "departure angle" is a design parameter that applies only to a level road transitioning to a straight slope. As depicted in the OP's picture . . . how often does that happen? There is almost always a curb/step/gully to get over. I wonder how difficult it would be to put this leveller leg on a swivel mount as is often used on a trailer tongue wheel?

          Rob
          Attached Files
          Cate & Rob
          (with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
          2015 Reflection 303RLS
          2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
          Bayham, Ontario, Canada

          Comment


          • #6
            Rob

            I have often thought of putting the rear jacks on a swivel as you have suggested above. My only thinking is that the swivel will have to support quite a bit of weight when in use. I think this is a good idea that I may visit when I have time , the new shed is taking a lot of my free time right now.

            Brian
            Brian & Michelle
            2018 Reflection 29RS
            2022 Chevy 3500HD

            Comment


            • #7
              Thanks everyone for reply.

              Howson, I can't get a photo as the rig is sandwiched between my house and a fence.

              TucsonJim, the leveler as mounted by the factory does not sit within the departure angle as per the diagram. Although it is 7" above the roadway when on a flat roadway.

              As for a swivel mount, cool idea but i would be concerned about ability to handle load.

              Thanks to all for input
              Rich & Terry's Radical Sabbatical & Beyond
              2020 S-Class 2939RL
              2019 RAM 3500 CC SRW HO Cummins Diesel

              https://www.facebook.com/radicalsabbatical41/

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Senerity View Post
                ...the leveler as mounted by the factory does not sit within the departure angle as per the diagram.
                I'd ask GD why it isn't installed per Lippert's instructions (assuming what we know is "gospel"). Did GD have a different set of parameters from Lippert for your unit?

                Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

                2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

                Comment


                • #9
                  [QUOTE=Country Campers;n9771]Rob

                  I have often thought of putting the rear jacks on a swivel as you have suggested above . . .

                  Brian[/QUOTE

                  Hi Brian,

                  I realize that the OP is not looking for a "new design", but I have used swivel manual jacks in the construction of some reasonably heavy trailers. The idea of a stub welded to the frame and the jack assembly rotating on this, could be "up-sized" to whatever load carrying ability was desired.

                  Rob

                  Attached Files
                  Cate & Rob
                  (with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
                  2015 Reflection 303RLS
                  2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
                  Bayham, Ontario, Canada

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    [QUOTE=Cate&Rob;n9781]
                    Originally posted by Country Campers View Post
                    Rob

                    I have often thought of putting the rear jacks on a swivel as you have suggested above . . .

                    Brian[/QUOTE

                    Hi Brian,

                    I realize that the OP is not looking for a "new design", but I have used swivel manual jacks in the construction of some reasonably heavy trailers. The idea of a stub welded to the frame and the jack assembly rotating on this, could be "up-sized" to whatever load carrying ability was desired.

                    Rob
                    If using a swivel, you would have to have a strong locking mechanism. There is not a lot of room on mine to swivel up and out of the way. Imagine being up on your jacks and having them begin to swivel. Could get ugly. And the swivel bolt would have to be big enough diameter to support 1/4 or 1/6 of the trailer weight depending on whether 4 or 6 jacks. My jacks will actually lift the wheels off the ground to level it. I did raise up my jacks physically as much as I could on the back (I think two holes max) to gain some height when raised. They are still low though. I do carry 4 X 12 X 12 blocks in case I need more height to the jacks. Not very often, but helps to have them. Food for thought.

                    I think GD could have designed this better as they do seem to sit too low. Being behind the wheels puts them at risk of dragging. Closer to the wheels would help.
                    Tony G
                    2020 Chevy Silverado 3500 Highcountry
                    2016 Grand Designs Reflection 303RLS
                    KTM 250XC

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I too am concerned about levelers being too low particularly the rears. Behind the tires my left side Jack is even further back than the right side. Then I added snap pads and it's even worse, looks like I've dragged the left side snap pad just a bit. I have decided to raise the rear levelers one hole to improve my departure angle and see how that goes. Currently they are not quite 7" off the ground. Keep on truckin....
                      2023 Momentum 351MS pulled by Casper, Tri-Coat Platinum 2012 F350 Super Cab single RW 4WD. Toys: 2003 Screaming Eagle Deuce, 2003 Screamin Eagle Roadking, 2017 CVO Ultra Limited. Secured in garage with B&W Biker Bars.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Addendum to above post...did raise all four levelers adjacent to wheels one hole=1". Now even with the snap pads I am in spec with Lippert's angle of approach and departure. I also found one bolt that was not tight, prolly never be an issue but the way these are slapped together not a total surprise.
                        2023 Momentum 351MS pulled by Casper, Tri-Coat Platinum 2012 F350 Super Cab single RW 4WD. Toys: 2003 Screaming Eagle Deuce, 2003 Screamin Eagle Roadking, 2017 CVO Ultra Limited. Secured in garage with B&W Biker Bars.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Vortex

                          I discussed the issue in the thread with a senior GD product specialist during the last moderator visit to the factory. The lower installation is so the manual override (on top of the drive unit) can be accessed when there's a system failure. Due to floorplan layouts, some installations are lower than others. (When I had the discussion we were standing near a new 303RLS and 337RLS. The installations were at a different height so that reminded me to ask about the issue.)

                          Depending on the exact model jack installed, there may also be a manual override on the lower side of the motor assembly. Snip below is from the Ground Control 3 Owner's Manual (available on Lippert's Support Documentation website):

                          Click image for larger version

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                          Consider looking underneath and trying to access a manual override on the jacks that were raised. If an override is still accessible there's no issue. If an override is not accessible, then give some thought to the action plan should there be a failure to retract (electrically). One obvious method is a bottle jack with appropriate blocking to (safely) lift the trailer off the malfunctioning jack to facilitate unbolting it from the frame.

                          Howard
                          Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

                          2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            howson Howard, It should be noted that top of the assembly method I believe is direct drive to the screw mechanism that raises and lowers the jack. The bottom of motor will run you through the gear reduction (less effort more turns).

                            Unfortunately I have seen parts of the inside of the assembly (previous trailer axle failure)

                            One other thing and I need to check this on the trailer is jack orientation. If you look a the LCI instructions for the GroundControl system it distinctly shows the motors toward the rear of the unit (away from the tires). https://support.lci1.com/documents/g...point-assembly my previous unit the rear jacks were reversed with motor forward thus with the axle failure, the motor was snapped from the gearbox (lost somewhere in west Texas with the tire). I would hope the designers intentionally as shown in the link intended for the motors to be away from the tires for protection.
                            Joseph
                            Tow
                            Vehicle: 2024 GMC K3500 Denali Ultimate Diesel
                            Coach: 303RLS Delivered March 5, 2021
                            South of Houston Texas

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Thanks so much for the info and I appreciate you asking and responding. This does not apply to my Momentum as all leveling jacks are hydraulic. I did have to pull on the hydraulic lines just a bit to create enough slack to move the jack.
                              Last edited by Vortex; 01-02-2024, 08:06 AM.
                              2023 Momentum 351MS pulled by Casper, Tri-Coat Platinum 2012 F350 Super Cab single RW 4WD. Toys: 2003 Screaming Eagle Deuce, 2003 Screamin Eagle Roadking, 2017 CVO Ultra Limited. Secured in garage with B&W Biker Bars.

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