kakampers
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Joined: 04/02/2004
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Thomasmnile...Thanks for asking! Heartland was great, they shipped parts to Wilkins RV in Bath, NY before we even got there. The parts showed up just a few days after we arrived and Wilkins did a fantastic job on the repairs. They even have 50amp electric and water, so the wait was not a problem. If anybody ever needs service Wilkins will accommodate, even if they didn't sell you your rig...fantastic service and sales. While we were there we watched them sell over 35 new and used units.
We have filed our claim with Goodyear and are waiting for their answer...have our fingers crossed that they'll step up and take care of things...5 new tires cost us $1,393 and the damages came to $1,360. With luck we'll get the majority of that back. If not, we've already notified our insurance company who will take from there if GY denies the claim.
Hope that's the end of our "troubles" this season out...our winter roost is looking better all the time...wish we'd have known about the Kielbasi, DH loves it!
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SuperDutyMan
Western PA.
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Joined: 02/23/2008
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Man I'm missing something here....I back in,look at my side to side level,it's usually perfect,if not I throw a lego behind tire on one side,back up 8" ,perfect,push SW for landing gear to unhook (Ya I know it's already chocked!)once unhooked,I push SW for landing gear till level mounted right in front of me says level,I go to back and push SW for power rear stabalivers,so....I'm going to spend 4200.00 so I have to push one less SW...! You have to unhook anyway.....? I'd say it doesn't get much easier than that..??
2011 Palomino Sabre 31RETS,5th Wheel,Triple Slide,4000W Onan Genset
2006 Super Duty,XLT, V10, 6 Speed, 4.10, Tow Command, Tow Pkg. 4X4,Dual Exhaust,K&N,Reese 15K,Air Bags
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RetiredGuy
Texas
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Joined: 09/12/2006
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SuperDutyMan wrote:Man I'm missing something here....I back in,look at my side to side level,it's usually perfect,if not I throw a lego behind tire on one side,back up 8" ,perfect,push SW for landing gear to unhook (Ya I know it's already chocked!)once unhooked,I push SW for landing gear till level mounted right in front of me says level,I go to back and push SW for power rear stabalivers,so....I'm going to spend 4200.00 so I have to push one less SW...! You have to unhook anyway.....? I'd say it doesn't get much easier than that..??
I suppose if you only stay in sites that are level or mostly level, Big Foot would be a waste, at least for you. We have stayed in sites where BF lifts the tires on one side several inches off the ground, I don't know how much the wheels droop but my guess is several inches. That would mean you would need to add something like 4-6 inches of leveling boards on one side. I watch guys spend 15+ minutes adding boards and pulling back and forth trying to get level side-to-side. I push a button and go on the hook up utilities.
And as a bonus, I can use BF to lift any wheels off the ground if I need to change a tire.
Robert
'09 International DuraStar 4400 (Snowflake)
'07 HH CE 35 CKQG Plan 2 (Carpe Diem)
"Being retired means waking up with nothing to do,
. . . and going to bed with half of it done!"
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kakampers
Fulltimer
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Joined: 04/02/2004
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SuperDutyMan wrote:Man I'm missing something here....I back in,look at my side to side level,it's usually perfect,if not I throw a lego behind tire on one side,back up 8" ,perfect,push SW for landing gear to unhook (Ya I know it's already chocked!)once unhooked,I push SW for landing gear till level mounted right in front of me says level,I go to back and push SW for power rear stabalivers,so....I'm going to spend 4200.00 so I have to push one less SW...! You have to unhook anyway.....? I'd say it doesn't get much easier than that..??
You're a weekend camper aren't ya?? When you start living in your rig you will find out how much easier a leveling system can make it...that's when you find out just how unlevel a whole lot of sites can be!!
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SuperDutyMan
Western PA.
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Joined: 02/23/2008
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kakampers wrote:SuperDutyMan wrote:Man I'm missing something here....I back in,look at my side to side level,it's usually perfect,if not I throw a lego behind tire on one side,back up 8" ,perfect,push SW for landing gear to unhook (Ya I know it's already chocked!)once unhooked,I push SW for landing gear till level mounted right in front of me says level,I go to back and push SW for power rear stabalivers,so....I'm going to spend 4200.00 so I have to push one less SW...! You have to unhook anyway.....? I'd say it doesn't get much easier than that..??
You're a weekend camper aren't ya?? When you start living in your rig you will find out how much easier a leveling system can make it...that's when you find out just how unlevel a whole lot of sites can be!! Don't plan on living in it,ever. Been camping with TTs or 5ver for over 10 years and NEVER had to put more than two 2x8s on top each other under one side,if my spot needs 8-10" of lift,I won't camp in a spot like that period JMO.
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kakampers
Fulltimer
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Joined: 04/02/2004
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SuperDutyMan wrote:kakampers wrote:SuperDutyMan wrote:Man I'm missing something here....I back in,look at my side to side level,it's usually perfect,if not I throw a lego behind tire on one side,back up 8" ,perfect,push SW for landing gear to unhook (Ya I know it's already chocked!)once unhooked,I push SW for landing gear till level mounted right in front of me says level,I go to back and push SW for power rear stabalivers,so....I'm going to spend 4200.00 so I have to push one less SW...! You have to unhook anyway.....? I'd say it doesn't get much easier than that..??
You're a weekend camper aren't ya?? When you start living in your rig you will find out how much easier a leveling system can make it...that's when you find out just how unlevel a whole lot of sites can be!! Don't plan on living in it,ever. Been camping with TTs or 5ver for over 10 years and NEVER had to put more than two 2x8s on top each other under one side,if my spot needs 8-10" of lift,I won't camp in a spot like that period JMO.
Well, when you've been RVing for more than 30 years like us...let us know how you still want to get down and put blocks and boards under your trailer...I'd be willing to bet you have a considerable change of heart then...
At this point in our life, we don't want to have to climb under anything if we don't have to...to each his own...and that's just MHO...
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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Joined: 03/19/2004
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We had our Teton built with the Bigfoot....best investment we made!
Dianne (and Terry) (Fulltimed for 9 years)
Donnelly, ID
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2010 Ford F350, 4x4 SRW, xcab, longbed
2009 Lance 971 Truck Camper, loaded
Life Member Good Sam
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RV net Blog
Camping...nature's way to feed the mosquitoes...
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RECVEH2005
Camano Island, WA, USA
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Joined: 11/10/2004
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We don't full time, but after RVing for 13 years and traveling as far as Nova Scotia in 2007, I'd "kill" for a leveling system. In fact, we're now considering either a Carriage Cameo or a Hitchhiker Discover America with the Bigfoot leveling system. Many of the campgrounds across the country have sites that are far from level. While we don't want to own a motorhome, it's the one thing that I envy on them.
Mike
Mike & Donna Scheer
Camano Island, WA
2006 GMC 2500HD D/A(LBZ), 4wd, Ext Cab, SB
2004 Okanagan 29-5Y, 1 slide
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Delaine and Lindy
Linden Tn. (The View)
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Joined: 02/20/2005
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I can tell you its hard to explain the cost factor to someone who has never had the Level up System. The Big Foot system as well as the Lippert system are both excellent system. I know Dale F. and Bob T. both personnaly and spent time at the Mobile Suites rally in Colorado Spring in June with them very smart people and knows the Level up Sytem front to rear.
Its also hard to explain the difference in Camping and RVing. I don't Camp and hope I never do again. Why would I want to give up 50 amps and full hookups. I'm a RVer period.
I don't want to get down and place boards or blocks under the tires to get the 5er level. I had much rather push a button and in less that 10 minutes I'm set up and level front to rear and side to side. Over the few years we have been on the road both full timing and Some timing. We no longer are full timing, but are on the road 8 + months a year. We also like level long sites, stay hooked most of the time and we are 57' long just Truck and 5th wheel.
I have found that many campers go to the same camping area and haven't had to go in places that are unlevel many times. We always have reservations, many times the web sites show things that aren't as good as it looks. We are in Colorado and have found its hard to get a extended stay sites because there is so much week-end camping or RVing.
I do believe if you ever have a level up system you want go back to boards and blocks. Its a choice which in our case is easy to make... GBY...
2012 Chevy Silverado 3500HD DRW's LTZ
CM Hauler Bed
Trailer Saver Air Ride
Pressure Pro Monitor
2011 Chevy Tahoe
2010 Mobile Suites 38 RSSB 3
"Montana" our Sweet Furr Kid
12/21/10 "RIP" miss you!!
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We are BLESSED!!!!
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StirCrazy
Kamloops, BC, Canada
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Joined: 07/16/2003
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kakampers wrote:
Well, when you've been RVing for more than 30 years like us...let us know how you still want to get down and put blocks and boards under your trailer...I'd be willing to bet you have a considerable change of heart then...
At this point in our life, we don't want to have to climb under anything if we don't have to...to each his own...and that's just MHO...
I never knew there was a 30 year requirment to know something about camping? guess my 27 years means nothing for a few years yet.
generaly some one who fulltimes will fuss with there landing gear less than most weekend campers, unless there full timers who can't sit still.
now would I like a hydraulic self leveling system, you bet, whould I pay 4200 for it retrofitted, no way. 1500 for a option yup, but not 4200. the only time setting up is a pain is when I am traveling and just stopping to sleep on a long trip, or when I am doing a road trip to visit relitives.. then I do a night here a night there and so on.. so ya it would be nice to have, but in reality it only takes me 10 min to level side to side, unhook, level front to rear and then put out the slide. so a self leveling system might cut that down to 5 min.. so is 4200 bucks worth a 5 min savings?
now if your more advanced in age and dont want to haull around 2X8s to level or bend over to hold the drill to lower your gear then ya it would be a good thing to have, and I would never knock anyone who has it as I would like it myself.
Steve
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