The chicken or the egg....

[bigdave442]

On my soon to arrive Zinger 26bh, should I put the stabilizers down first , then put out the slide or should I put out the slide, then put down the stabilizers. I don't want to over stress the stabilizers to much. Thanks much!

[spinella]

i always put my jacks down first...then open the slide. good luck w/ your new trailer.

[Dayle1]

It doesn't matter, I have done it both ways. In fact, there are times I don't use the stabilizers at all, just open the slides and camp. Also, I don't think you need to worry about overstressing the jacks as long as you aren't trying to lift the tires off the ground. If the front jack is electric, then one trick is to start with the trailer low in front, lower the rear jacks lightly, then use the front jack to level and tighten the setup. This takes less muscle power.



Another point, when leveling side-to-side, the slideout side should be slightly high initially as it will settle as soon as you extend the slideout. This is another reason that sequence doesn't matter. Once the slideout is extended, you will probably have to re-tighten the opposite side jack anyway.

[Stan]

One other note....I usually recheck both stabilizers and wheel chocks a couple hours after setting up. The tires cool and the rig settles a bit which usually means tightening things up again.

[anaro]

Weusually will run my slide out and finish leveling before we put the stab jacks down.

[seabee]

the chicken to lay the egg

[gossamar]

Scrambled....but I put jacks down first...then recheck after slide goes out...

[geondebi]

I am a level, jacks down, then the slides. It has worked so far

[sking]

I lower the jacks first then level then slide. The one time I slid the slide out first I never got the TT level. I choose to use a level in the freezer for my leveling, the rest of the trailer is dead on when I do this.Edited by: sking

[KennyB]

We do it both ways. My DW sets up the inside of the trailer while I set up the outside. When ever she puts the slides out is fine with me.
Stan, thanks for the comment about hot tires. I wondered why my Bal Chocks were loose sometimes in the morning when I went to take them off. I was afraid I was maybe spreading the axles

[spinella]

Originally Posted by Dayle1

It doesn't matter, I have done it both ways. In fact, there are times I don't use the stabilizers at all, just open the slides and camp. Also, I don't think you need to worry about overstressing the jacks as long as you aren't trying to lift the tires off the ground. If the front jack is electric, then one trick is to start with the trailer low in front, lower the rear jacks lightly, then use the front jack to level and tighten the setup. This takes less muscle power.

Another point, when leveling side-to-side, the slideout side should be slightly high initially as it will settle as soon as you extend the slideout. This is another reason that sequence doesn't matter. Once the slideout is extended, you will probably have to re-tighten the opposite side jack anyway.

must feel like your camping on a boat....

[shoetravel]

Done it both ways... If its raining when we arrive the slides are the first thing done, even before unhitching.

Tho, I prefer to get everything else done first before puttingout the slides so I don't have to walk around or duck under slides to get the water, elec, sewer hooked up. Campsite we were in for Memorial Day weekend sloped off quite a lot on the street side so with the main slide out could not walk past.

[bigdave442]

Thanks for all the great info!

[ntrsandman]

This is from the

Lippert Components, Inc. Electric Slideout System Operation and Service Manual that came with out CTX:



PRIOR TO OPERATION



Prior to operating the Lippert Electric Slideout system, follow these guidelines:



1) Coach should be parked on the most level surface available

2) Leveling or stabilizing system should be actuated to ensure coachwill not move during operation of Slideout System.

3) Be sure battery is fully charged

4) Be sure to keep all persons and pets clear of Slideout System operation.



The magic word is "should". Edited by: ntrsandman