Using Bigfoot Levelers while still hitched

[walkerl]

Hi All,

We are new to your board but have been learning a lot by lurking. We are headed to the factory on August 15 to order a 38 LKTG so we can "Most" time for the next 3 to 5 years (and hopefully longer  ). It appears our TV will be a Volvo 770 truck. For the past 6 years we have been traveling about 6 months per year using our Silverado Diesel pickup to pull a 30' pull trailer so 5ers are new to us.

We are "pretty sure" we want the automatic Bigfoot system.  Is it possible to use the Bigfoot to help stabilize/level the unit if one doesn't want to unhitch and is this impacted by whether it is a manual or automatic system? Intuition says no but I thought I would ask the experts. Thanks in advance for any answers, hints or advise.

Walker & Evelyn

[Rob McDonald]

As we have the 38 LK model, and love it btw, I'll give you our experience with the auto BF system. We have the 2008 3500 Chevy Silverado dually. From my understanding on the 2008 model they raised the rear end of the truck and it IS high (or maybe I'm just too short..... ). But I can tell you this. There is no way we can use the auto BF system to level the trailer without totally unhooking the truck. The front of the trailer is always lower than the truck bed when it is levelled. If I tried to level it hooked to the truck, the front of the trailer would crush the bed of the truck.  And I have to raise the trailer much higher to clear the bed rails to hook the trailer up. I can, however, lower the front feet to get a little weight off the pickup if I wanted to keep it hooked up overnight, though I have never done that as, in my opinion, it's not that hard to unhook the trailer, level it, and get it set up. The auto system is a snap. But I can't comment on your Volvo truck. But when you level the trailer, you have to have the front a bit higher than the rear to start the auto system. The first thing the BF does is then lower the front to close to level. Not sure you have that much play in the 5th wheel latch to allow that to happen. Hope that helps.

[5er4life]

You can run the bigfoot down in manual mode while still hitched.  The auto level has to be 8 to 12 degrees higher than level for the auto function to activate

Wayne

[Jeff Collingwood]

I don't use the Auto Level when I want to stay hooked.  I just put the front legs down and then I put down the rear Electric Stabilizers.  When you order BF from NuWa, they do a delete on the electric rear stabilizers.  You should ask them to include it.  This is much easier than putting BF in manual mode.  I feel that even with BF you still need the electric rear stabilizers and I use them even when I disconnect and auto level.
...Jeff...

[Hawk Holiday & Miss Muffin]

I would never use Big Foot still hitched to the truck. If we park for 1 night without unhitching we leave the jacks up. What little movement we experience in the trailer isn't enough (in our opinion) to get all freaked out about for just overnight. Trying to use BiG Foot while hitched could really cause  some serious damage to the trailer or truck in the auto mode.

Darin

[Big Greg]

We usually unhook and auto level and hook up again in the morning because it's easy to do.  A couple times we have stayed hooked up and just lowered the front feet to firm up the HH for the night by taking weight off the truck.  No way would I consider auto level hooked up.   Greg 

[walkerl]

Thanks so much for the input so far. I had previously read that one can request they leave the rear electric stabilizers when adding the Bigfoot system and we intend to do so.

Remember I have not seen or experimented with either the manual or automatic Bigfoot system so be kind while I demonstrate my stupidity On the automatic Bigfoot am I understanding that one can run down just the front feet without leveling the whole unit? I can't imagine ever wanting to let it level while connected to the TV but it would seem that just putting a little load on the feet would stabilize it a lot. My nightmare would be to want to run down just the front legs and the "automatic" part takes over and attempts to level the unit with disastrous results . If this is possible, then maybe the manual Bigfoot system would be better than the automatic one in this situation?

[Bill Teetz]

My nightmare would be to want to run down just the front legs and the "automatic" part takes over and attempts to level the unit with disastrous results . If this is possible, then maybe the manual Bigfoot system would be better than the automatic one in this situation?

The Auto mode does not start until you push the Auto button.  You can easily run down the front legs to stabilize the trailer without worrying about the Auto mode.

Bill

[walkerl]

Great - Thanks for that information. Another option decided (we are having a great deal of difficulty deciding on options)  . I would love to go to a dealer but there is only one in Oregon and One in Washington - both have limited or no inventory  and both are over 150 miles away.

[Big Greg]

Walker, the basic steps for using the auto leveling BF system:
1. turn BF power on
2. press "front' to lower the front legs
3. after weight is off truck disconnect and move truck away
4. press "front" again to lower the front legs more & ensure the front of HH is higher than the rear
5. press "auto" and the front will lower and come close to level, the rear legs will now lower to the ground and then the BF will finish the auto level process
When we pack up an leave turn the BF system on, press "retract" & "rear" together until the rear feet are fully retracted, press "front" to lower the front BF so you can connect the truck (if the front is high press "retract" & "front" together to lower so you can connect the truck), press "front" to raise the front feet a little off the ground allowing a tug test, press "retract" & "front" to fully retract the front feet, check BF panel to ensure "all up" light is on, turn the BF power off.

All we use to stabilize our HH is the BF system.  Jeff had NuWa keep his electric rear stabilizers on to help reduce any HH movement, especially when using their washer/dryer.  We do not have a washer/dryer.  Some also put chocks between their wheels, we don't. 
BF is a great option if you move around, if you just snowbird and move a couple times a year it might not be worth the $$$.  Now you have to figure out all the other options you want!!!!  It will be fun.    Greg

[walkerl]

Thanks to everyone for the infomation. Greg, thank you so much for that list. I now have a much clearer understanding of how the system is controlled and how it functions.

We are looking forward to seeing all this in person in just 56 more days - can you tell i'm not anxious? Yeah right 

[LeRoy FJ]

Walker & Evelyn,

I  have the Big Foot MANUAL system.  I didn't want the AUTO system for just the reason that you described.  Also, with the manual system, it is just a push of a button to raise one of the wheels, for instance to change a tire, while still connected to the truck.  The manual system is also less expensive.  I have had my Big Foot for two years now.  I would only order a trailer with the MANUAL version.

LeRoy

[JLM]

We've had our MANUAL Bigfoot for a year and a half.  I have not experienced ANY less satisfaction than those who have the automatic system and enjoy the ability to be in complete control for less $. 

JLM

[Big Greg]

When we purchased BF in 2007 the only system available was the auto system.  You can put it into manual mode so you can then manually level the 5W and then save that setting as the new level.  You could also use it to raise one side of the 5W if you wanted to change tires.  Now there are two BF systems to choose from which is great.       Greg