Leveling blocks vs Tri-leveler
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7948
Printed Date: 06 May 2024 at 5:13am
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Topic: Leveling blocks vs Tri-leveler
Posted By: PodDude
Subject: Leveling blocks vs Tri-leveler
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:14pm
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Hello, Would you recommend the camco or lynx leveling blocks - http://www.amazon.com/Camco-44505-Leveling-Blocks-pack/dp/B00480BWCI - http://www.amazon.com/Camco-44505-Leveling-Blocks-pack/dp/B00480BWCI or the camco tri leveler - http://www.amazon.com/Camco-44573-Yellow-Tri-Leveler/dp/B000BUQOFO - http://www.amazon.com/Camco-44573-Yellow-Tri-Leveler/dp/B000BUQOFO For those of you that use either setup, what do you do about chocking your wheels on the "lifted" side? |
Replies:
Posted By: Q7-retired
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:30pm
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I use something else, a screw up BAL leveler. See http://www.amazon.com/BAL-28050-Light-Trailer-Leveler/dp/B000BH5MAA. It simultaneously chocks and lifts the low side. ------------- Best regards, Jim 2015-RP178 TV 2015 Audi Q7 TDI and 2017 Ford F150 At home in "Our Pod" |
Posted By: PodDude
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:32pm
| Thanks the BAL looks great but I was looking for a lower cost solution |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:32pm
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For a number of reasons I recommend the yellow "Lego Blocks". Buy two sets because they are also useful under the stabilizers and tongue jack in soft soils. Also buy a set or two of matching chocks. They can be used with the blocks on either or both sides. My impression of the Tri-Level thing is it would be a small target to get the desired height and the trailer would tend to roll back off the ramp. Not a user friendly setup.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:33pm
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We use the leveling blocks when needed.
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 8:41pm
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We have not used the tri leveler. Early on (we're RVnewbies) we bought the BAL leveler. The Lego blocks are the best. Easy Peasy. We didn't like the BAL leveler |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 9:28pm
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Our Lynx leveling blocks are orange (like the yellow ones) and as sailor states "easy peasy." Also use the wheel chocks on both sides of the blocks to stabilize the wheel, sometimes have to mount upside down to make it work, but have never had an incident in the 5 years we have used them.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 10:12pm
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I use the orange blocks, and wood blocks. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 10:27pm
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I tried (and still have) the Andersen leveler (looks like a curved wedge). One places it with the point of the wedge toward the low-side tire and then drives up onto it until the (hopefully) correct height is reached. Then one uses the other wedge to block the first wedge. The other wheel is then chocked. I also used the leveling blocks. They can be set to provide more lift than the Andersen leveler, but they are not exactly easy to use. The BAL leveler is not the cheapest by any means. However, keep your eyes out on Ebay. You may find one at a price you would be willing to pay. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: xyzhollyxyz
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 10:36pm
I second the Andersen levelers. I also put a giant bubble level on the center of my trailer so I can see it in my rear view mirror - the combination of the levelers and the level makes leveling for one a snap...
 ------------- 2015 Fun Finder 189fds 2013 Nissan Frontier SV 4x4 |
Posted By: Mountainrev
Date Posted: 16 May 2016 at 6:13pm
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I'll put in another plug for BAL levelers. If you typically camp on concrete or very level surfaces (e.g., RV parks), they probably aren't what you want or need. But if you often find yourself camping on very uneven, sloped sites (e.g., National Forest), the BAL is great. You can raise one axle up to 8" or so if need be. It does take a bit of elbow grease, but not too bad. And it effectively chocks your wheel on two sides, making the camper very stable.
------------- 2014 177 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel "I lift my eyes to the hills." 
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Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 16 May 2016 at 6:37pm
I wonder if a battery-operated impact driver would work on the BAL's screw. I know a regular Ryobi 18V drill doesn't. I ended up using a 300 ft-lb torque wrench I had in my car when I had to crank my BAL up rather high because it gave me plenty of leverage. That cheap wrench that came with the leveler is destined for the trash heap: I couldn't keep it from flipping directions on its own. |
Posted By: Mountainrev
Date Posted: 16 May 2016 at 7:21pm
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You do work up a bit of a sweat if you have to raise the BAL to the maximum height on a hot day. And I agree about the cheap ratchet it comes with--the lever flips too easily. But all in all, it's very do-able and the end result is well worth the effort. No guessing on how many blocks or driving back and forth and back and forth... Just raise until the wife hollers "That's good!"
------------- 2014 177 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel "I lift my eyes to the hills."
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Posted By: osage
Date Posted: 16 May 2016 at 7:31pm
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we bought a 2x8x8ft treated board cut it 18"for the tires and 12" for all the jacks cost less than $9.00 if we need it higther on one side we just move one of the boards |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 16 May 2016 at 9:27pm
| I'd like to disagree with mountainrev. We found that the BAL leveler was easiest to use on sites that were already more or less close to level. It required a LOT of effort on sites that were not close to level. Add to that the difficulty of getting the thing in place and removing it and it is an exercise in frustration. Our BAL leveler is for sale |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 16 May 2016 at 9:50pm
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I use the orange blocks and 4x4 wood chunks under stabilizers. Orange blocks are easy, 'specially if wife just picks up corner of pod and I slide 'em under wheel. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: Mountainrev
Date Posted: 17 May 2016 at 10:05am
If you camp on relatively level sites, then the BAL is not the way to go, IMO. Where it shines is when you have to raise one side 5" or more in order to level. You would need a lot of boards or "Lego" blocks to do that! It is a bit challenging, but I don't find it that hard. But again, if you are in a site that is very sloped or rugged, like National Forest campgrounds often are, then I believe the BAL is the best option for leveling. The BAL can be challenging to get under the tire, especially if you have the 15" tires that come with the Hood River Edition. If you drive unto a 1" or 2" board first, then it's quite easy to slide the BAL under the tire. I don't think you'll have much trouble selling yours. They're pretty popular. ------------- 2014 177 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel "I lift my eyes to the hills."
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Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 10:22am
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"Thanks the BAL looks great but I was looking for a lower cost solution" Several years ago a forum member described chocks made from 2X4s, a roughly 20 inch long crossbar with 10 inch lengths at each end splayed out. He said it held airplanes so why not an r-pod? I made them, they are heavy and bulky but the price is tight.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 10:42am
A picture or sketch of what you are describing or even a more thorough description would help. I am having a hard time visualizing what you are describing. One other option for leveling that is pretty easy to use is an https://smile.amazon.com/Andersen-Hitches-3604-Camper-Leveler/dp/B001GC2LVM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490196892&sr=8-2&keywords=anderson+leveler - Andersen leveler . It is in essence, a curved ramp that one simply drives onto until the wheel is lifted enough to level the trailer. It is limited to 4" of lift, but that is often sufficient. I have used the BAL leveler and agree that it is quite a workout to use it. Greasing the screw helps. It is capable of a higher lift than the Andersen leveler and has the advantage of not requiring driving onto of off of like boards or blocks. What I don't like is that the platforms that hold the tire are welded so that they do not stay flat to the tire, but tilt which distorts the tread and sidewall. That is the main reason I have not been using mine lately. Otherwise, I like that one can simply park the trailer and then level without having to guess, move, adjust, move, etc. until it is leveled. At small elevations, the distortion of the tire is not bad. For that though, the Andersen leveler is easier. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 11:53am
| The impact wrench idea for the BAL leveler was a bad one. It severely damaged the screw. We use the Anderson leveler now and it's so much easier to deal with. I mounted a level on the front of the Pod where we can see it in the rear view mirror, which makes it very easy to determine when you're level without having to exit the TV. |
Posted By: riotkayak284
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 2:48pm
| Give me old-school wood 2x6, they work every time!!!! |
Posted By: rawest50
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 6:48pm
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Have you checked out Andersen levelers. Simple and easy ifyour out of level is 4" or less across the R Pod. ------------- 2017.5 RPod 179 2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler 2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab 2 Weiner dogs Great wife puts up with my BS ❤️ Thoroughbred Racing. 
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Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 8:06pm
I'll try - The shape is a 'V' with a crossbar, the tire resting between the arms of the 'V'. The degree of 'splaying out' of the short lengths is predicated on the width of your tire, immediately adjacent to the leading edge of the 2X4 crossbar. Too short and it pinches the tire, too wide and its unnecessarily wide. The crossbar is raised above floor level on the short lengths of 2X4 and is the part that actually blocks the tire. Now that I think about it, pointing the open end of the 'V' AWAY from the tire might, from an engineering standpoint, actually be more effective. I'm not an engineer. The person who originally described it said that it was used without problems on parked private airplanes in winds, my version works and is certainly inexpensive, but it is both bulky and heavy, so now I just use the orange things.
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2017 at 8:36pm
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I am with you Happy, the orange blocks are quite simple to use. I park the pod where I plan to unhook. I place my level on the floor parallel to the way I enter inside. By picking up the low side of the level I can tell how many block's I need to add just by seeing how many inches I have picked up the low side of the level until the bubble is dead center level. If it is 3" low I need 3" of blocks and so on. By using this method I nearly always spot on level after the first try.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |