Anderson Leveler - Near Miss

Fiddlinmike

Hey Everyone.  I wanted to share a boneheaded mistake for others who might be new to using the Anderson leveler - which is an awesome tool when used properly!

You never know what your campsite is going to require.  Sometimes you’ll need to back onto the leveler, sometimes you’ll be able to pull on to it.  Sometimes it’s driver’s side, sometimes it’s passenger.  

For a recent setup, I placed the leveler on the passenger side and pulled my 320 forward to level.  All was well.  The problem came when it was time to leave the site.  I forgot to raise the camper’s step prior to backing off the Anderson.  As you back off the device, it will naturally raise on one end.  It’s long enough to catch the corner of your step and bend it.  My wife screamed at me as she saw the step deflecting and I stopped before it went too far.  The step bent maybe 3 inches laterally, enough to restrict it from closing but not enough that we couldn’t bend it back and continue using it.  

This is not a complaint against the Anderson Leveler - I love it.  I’m just hoping to warn others to be careful with the step!

Here’s a staged photo if you’re having a hard time following….

Sharon_is_SAM

When we first used the Andersen, we would drive forward onto them.  Now we backup onto them.  It makes departure much easier.  You may also find that while on the Andersen, in preparation for hitching up to leave, your coupler will not close.  If that happens, make sure your chains are on, pull forward off the leveler, then close the coupler.  The first time it happened to us as newbies, it was a puzzling.  

Fiddlinmike

Great tip on the coupler, and leaving the chains on.  We had some unexpected movement once when we disconnected after leveling - not much but a surprise.

BrianZ

Great reminder, @Fiddlinmike.  Some have recommended pulling forward onto it without any mention of the step problem.  We only back onto it.

YanniLazarus

... and for comic relief,  after I figured out to back onto the leveler on the step side,  I managed to back up AND OVER the leveler- it shot up between the tire and the step.   No damage done,  but solidly on my list of close calls/ lucky breaks. Last season,  so pretty much over the embarrassment.

Michigan_Mike

Good tip and no doubt we could assemble a good book of tips and stories from the close calls and near misses encountered.   I met a young lady at one of my first rally’s attended and she recalled a near fatal accident with her new smaller teardrop trailer.  She had backed into a campsite, removed the safety chains, jacked the trailer up off the hitch ball (forgot to install her wheel chocks) and the trailer suddenly started heading downhill, toward a cliff.  She hung onto the trailer hitch, it was pulling her closer to the cliff edge and by luck the trailer came to a stop on a short tree stump.  😳