BAL Leveler

[josh0511]

I just purchased a bal leveler. Is that pretty much all I need for quick leveling or do I need more stuff? Someone told me to get one bc I heard it saves time. 

[AZbirddog]

bc---?

[gec66]

bc---?

short for because

[ghacker]

I tried blocking for a while but the BAL beats it hands down. Faster and more accurate.

[mountainrev]

I just purchased a bal leveler. Is that pretty much all I need for quick leveling or do I need more stuff? Someone told me to get one bc I heard it saves time. 

For side-to-side leveling, yes, all you need is the BAL.  You will want to chock the low side tire.  For front-to-back leveling, you use the tongue leveler, of course.  You'll also want a decent level.  I have cheapie stick-on bubble levels mounted to the front of the frame (for side-to-side) and the side of the tongue (for front-to-back).  I also use a torpedo-type level on the floor of the camper to double-check.

[mike4947]

Folks don't mention a major improvement when using a BAL. THe stopping of the movement of the camper. A neighbor had his camper and if you walked around it even with the wheels chocked tight would cause a lot of motion in the camper. He bought a BAL leveler and their single wheel chock for the other side and when we got in the camper with them on for the first time we both said at the same time, "is this the same camper?"

[austinado16]

I just purchased a bal leveler. Is that pretty much all I need for quick leveling or do I need more stuff? Someone told me to get one bc I heard it saves time. 

You did good, and you're going to love the thing.  Simply toss under the low side wheel and spin the screw jack until the BAL lifts that wheel and that side of the camper until your little torpedo level shows dead level.  Then spin the tongue jack up or down as needed to level the camper front to back.  A lot of people also chock the high side wheel (the wheel you don't have the BAL on).  Sometimes I do, sometimes don't.  Remember, after you've raised the roof, you'll put down your stabilzers at all 4 corners, and set them with enough "snug" force to very securely hold the camper in position.   So with the BAL and those 4 stabs down, the camper's not going anywhere.  I'll still kick a wheel chock under the non-BAL wheel, but honestly, I don't think it does much.

Enjoy your ease of leveling, and for grins, watch someone in the campground who doesn't use one.....kinda entertaining.

[josh0511]

Im glad I bought it now.  The carpenter level you were talking about is that just like a small 6 in level?  Thank you all for all of the helpful input.

[austinado16]

Yes, just one of those little "torpedo" levels they sell at the hardward store.  Some have a magnetic strip along the bottom, which can be handy.  Some don't. 

I like to set mine just inside the doorway when I'm leveling.  If I'm using the BAL on the other side of the camper, I'll have DD watch the level and tell me when the bubble is centered.

[luv2campsum]

I just purchased a bal leveler. Is that pretty much all I need for quick leveling or do I need more stuff? Someone told me to get one bc I heard it saves time. 

You did good, and you're going to love the thing.  Simply toss under the low side wheel and spin the screw jack until the BAL lifts that wheel and that side of the camper until your little torpedo level shows dead level.  Then spin the tongue jack up or down as needed to level the camper front to back.  A lot of people also chock the high side wheel (the wheel you don't have the BAL on).  Sometimes I do, sometimes don't.  Remember, after you've raised the roof, you'll put down your stabilzers at all 4 corners, and set them with enough "snug" force to very securely hold the camper in position.   So with the BAL and those 4 stabs down, the camper's not going anywhere.  I'll still kick a wheel chock under the non-BAL wheel, but honestly, I don't think it does much.

Enjoy your ease of leveling, and for grins, watch someone in the campground who doesn't use one.....kinda entertaining.

I thought you put down the stabilizers before raising the roof?
Is a cordless drill powerfull enough to raise the BAL?

[ghacker]

You'll need a good 18v cordless drill to use on the BAL. Takes a lot more torque than raising the roof, especially if you have to raise it by more than a couple of inches. Want something over 400 in/lbs minimum, 450 is better.

It's generally recommended that you leave the stabilizers up until you raise the raise. My Coleman owners manual mentions this specificly.

[austinado16]

[I thought you put down the stabilizers before raising the roof?
Is a cordless drill powerfull enough to raise the BAL?

Refer to your camper's owner's manual for it's specifics.  Some camper's CAN have the stabs down during roof operation, others can't.  My Starcraft can't.

Regarding operation of the lift system or the BAL with a cordless drill, I know some people do, but I'd urge caution.  None of these are designed with the intent of having the torque of an electric motor on them and would be a real shame to rip the threads out of the BAL, or do damage to the roof lift system (as one PUX member recently did).

IMO, it's not race and I'm willing to spend the full 60 seconds it might take to level my camper and another full 60 to raise my roof.

[Cagey]

The BAL was one of my best pop up purchases.  I can't use it anymore because my new trailer has dual axles.  Too bad, I miss the thing.

I used a drill to raise and lower my BAL and it worked great.  Austin doesn't mind the extra time and that's cool ... but I found it really sped up the process and saved my wrist and knuckles to boot.  I never used the drill full power so I was pretty easy on the threads.  And I kept the threads greased up as well.  Never had a problem.

Another plus is that since you have your drill with you, you could also use the drill to raise and lower the stabilizers.  Save's even more time.

[ghacker]

[I thought you put down the stabilizers before raising the roof?
Is a cordless drill powerfull enough to raise the BAL?

Refer to your camper's owner's manual for it's specifics.  Some camper's CAN have the stabs down during roof operation, others can't.  My Starcraft can't.

Regarding operation of the lift system or the BAL with a cordless drill, I know some people do, but I'd urge caution.  None of these are designed with the intent of having the torque of an electric motor on them and would be a real shame to rip the threads out of the BAL, or do damage to the roof lift system (as one PUX member recently did).

IMO, it's not race and I'm willing to spend the full 60 seconds it might take to level my camper and another full 60 to raise my roof.

I agree with Todd that using a cordless drill on the roof has some inherent risk as opposed to doing it manually. I used a drill for about a 1 1/2 years. But using a it results in losing any feel you get while raising/lowering which could indicate a problem. Since I was using the drill as a matter of speed/convenience as opposed to strength, I decided to opt for caution and went back to doing it manually.

OTHO, while the BAL screw gear can be stripped, as long as you keep it clean and lubricated I don't think it's an issue. And it is a major improvement over doing it manually so I still use a drill there somtimes, especially if I know it's going to be a high lift. YMMV.

BTW, a cordless drill also comes in handy with the stabilizers.

[yooperguy]

 I thought you put down the stabilizers before raising the roof?
Is a cordless drill powerfull enough to raise the BAL?
[/quote]

It depends on the manufacturer and what they recommend.  My Starcraft manual says to raise roof BEFORE setting the stabs.  My Rockwood manual is just the opposite. 

I use my 18v DeWalt to lower the stabs.  They have a long way to hit the ground on my current PUP!  I do not use it for the BAL leveler.  It may work but it seems like a lot to ask of a cordless drill to me.  My current PUP is heavy.