User Tag List

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 24
  1. #11
    Fireside Member JessJoe4168's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    PA - some of the time
    Posts
    51
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by geotex1 View Post
    Welcome @JessJoe4168! Sorry for a delayed response. My activity here ebbs and flows depending upon what life has me focusing on!

    So your setup is quite similar to mine. You have two choices in order not to fight the automatic features your RAM has. The first, is obvious, and sort of like you said - just unhitch. Honestly, it is what I mostly do because I can hitch and unhitch incredibly efficiently! Side note, seeing you're from PA, have you taken your test for the non-commercial Class A license yet? If not, depending where you do, you might find one of your requirements is a timed unhitch/re-hitch. I have been the licensed escort for quite a few test-takers now and have witnessed about half of them being asked to do it! Anyway, onto the second, which simply entails pulling the fuse on the air suspension to disable it for the night. I took that approach when I overnighted on the Ohio Turnpike rest stops running back and forth to the factory.
    Hello and thank for your reply. A few comments
    I have not heard of a PA non-commercial Class A license requirement that I need to take
    Our tow vehicles are similar. The differences are I have a short bed 2500 SRW.
    Your Solitude is 17,000 lbs my Reflection is 11500 lbs
    I am a little hesitant to pull the fuse wondering what the ramifications might be. I am going to try and un-decking with the Alternate Trailer Setting off, not moving the truck, and then try and level manually.
    I have prepared a checklist for decking and un-decking my FW, it reduces wasted motions/time. But unfortunately do not see an icon for me to attach them.
    Keep the shiny side up and have a good day

  2. #12
    Long Hauler geotex1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Posts
    2,837
    Mentioned
    83 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by JessJoe4168 View Post
    Hello and thank for your reply. A few comments
    I have not heard of a PA non-commercial Class A license requirement that I need to take
    Our tow vehicles are similar. The differences are I have a short bed 2500 SRW.
    Your Solitude is 17,000 lbs my Reflection is 11500 lbs
    I am a little hesitant to pull the fuse wondering what the ramifications might be. I am going to try and un-decking with the Alternate Trailer Setting off, not moving the truck, and then try and level manually.
    I have prepared a checklist for decking and un-decking my FW, it reduces wasted motions/time. But unfortunately do not see an icon for me to attach them.
    Keep the shiny side up and have a good day
    Yeah, I has assumed you were running a dually, and the combination would meet the 26,001 pound requirement for the Class A. You're probably eeking just under it a bit.

    The automatic feature on the RAM will fight you, and what you need to be very careful of is it causing overload of your rear jacks when it does. You will find yourself in a game of teeter-totter. With your relatively light pin weight, you may have success manipulating with the system in tire jack mode.

    As for the fuse, I understand your hesitation but it will cause no issue at all, especially if you do so after the truck is parked and off and then reinstall before your start again.

    You would need to make your list an image file format and could upload it that way. Nonetheless, looking and the steps and motions is fantastic because it builds muscle memory as well and helps escape the damage-inducing forgets! I run LEAN principles in my manufacturing plants so we examine such for every step of the process! Good stuff!
    Rob & Nikki + Cloverfield
    2020 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3350RL
    2015 RAM 3500 Longhorn Laramie Crew Cab, Long Bed, 4x4 Dually Cummins/AISIN

    Mountains of Pennsylvania

  3. #13
    Fireside Member JessJoe4168's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    PA - some of the time
    Posts
    51
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    The best option may ultimately be: to get good a un-decking fast and pull straight ahead so the Goosebox on the FW clears the tailgate. Then pull straight back in the morning to align the ball in the bed with the Goosebox.
    I attached the PDFs. I never used this format and did it from my office. I will insert them, back to back, in a plastic see thru folder and make changes/additions as I go.
    This is for a Reese GooseBox, hence a bed mounted fifth wheel would have different details.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Scan0001.jpg 
Views:	9 
Size:	90.6 KB 
ID:	32493

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Scan0002.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	94.7 KB 
ID:	32492
    Attached Files Attached Files

  4. #14
    Paid my dues 😁 FT4NOW's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    4,570
    Mentioned
    136 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by JessJoe4168 View Post
    The best option may ultimately be: to get good a un-decking fast and pull straight ahead so the Goosebox on the FW clears the tailgate. Then pull straight back in the morning to align the ball in the bed with the Goosebox.
    I attached the PDFs. I never used this format and did it from my office. I will insert them, back to back, in a plastic see thru folder and make changes/additions as I go.
    This is for a Reese GooseBox, hence a bed mounted fifth wheel would have different details.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Scan0001.jpg 
Views:	9 
Size:	90.6 KB 
ID:	32493

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Scan0002.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	94.7 KB 
ID:	32492
    For your unhooking 5th wheel, you might want to reconsider the retract all step for leveling gear, that's a bad button to push if not hooked up to the truck.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
    2023 Momentum 398M-R
    2023 Ford F-450

    SOLD - 2021 Reflection 311BHS
    SOLD - 2017 Momentum 399TH

  5. #15
    Long Hauler geotex1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Posts
    2,837
    Mentioned
    83 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by FT4NOW View Post
    For your unhooking 5th wheel, you might want to reconsider the retract all step for leveling gear, that's a bad button to push if not hooked up to the truck.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
    It's not a bad button at all to push while unhitched. Simply retracts all jacks, and you'll end up nose low on level ground.

    That said, you don't need to touch it while unhitching. In fact, AutoLevel's algorithms are designed around the camper sitting nose high. You could actually outrun the timer and have the system error off on you starting AutoLevel from a far nose down.

    I'm not speculating either. With all the issues that were wrong with our system, I earned another degree! Lol. I actually spoke with the engineers who programmed it, and Lippert's former technical services manager went to work for Grand Design.
    Rob & Nikki + Cloverfield
    2020 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3350RL
    2015 RAM 3500 Longhorn Laramie Crew Cab, Long Bed, 4x4 Dually Cummins/AISIN

    Mountains of Pennsylvania

  6. #16
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    Star, ID
    Posts
    291
    Mentioned
    6 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by geotex1 View Post
    Before unhitching, turn off the alternate height and let the rear of your truck raise. Then, you work the Ground Control. When time to go, you should then be able to use it successfully.
    I have a 2015 Ram 2500 with the factory Air-Ride auto leveling system and when I had my 5th wheel, I would always put it in "Alt ride height" before loading so I didn't have to raise the trailer so high. One day I realized I could actually go even lower and put it in "tire change" mode (I know that's not the correct name but can recall right now)which drops it to the bump stops. This made it so I hardly had to raise the trailer at all to hitch up. Once hitched, hit the button and it would raise right up to the "Alt ride height" for towing. To unhook, I simply lower the landing gear until it touches the ground and then again, I would lower the truck and drive out from under it......This may be slightly different for most of you with conventional 5th wheel hitches (i.e. King pins) as my trailer was equipped with a gooseneck hitch so it was as simple as lining it up and raising or lowering the truck.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1014.jpg 
Views:	7 
Size:	95.7 KB 
ID:	32494 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Panaramic Resized.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	51.0 KB 
ID:	32495
    Jeff and Debbie
    2021 Imagine 2250RK
    2015 Ram2500 Laramie CC 6.7 Cummins Diesel w/air-ride auto leveling
    USMC Veteran

  7. #17
    Long Hauler geotex1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Posts
    2,837
    Mentioned
    83 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Heavysledz View Post
    I have a 2015 Ram 2500 with the factory Air-Ride auto leveling system and when I had my 5th wheel, I would always put it in "Alt ride height" before loading so I didn't have to raise the trailer so high. One day I realized I could actually go even lower and put it in "tire change" mode (I know that's not the correct name but can recall right now)which drops it to the bump stops. This made it so I hardly had to raise the trailer at all to hitch up. Once hitched, hit the button and it would raise right up to the "Alt ride height" for towing. To unhook, I simply lower the landing gear until it touches the ground and then again, I would lower the truck and drive out from under it......This may be slightly different for most of you with conventional 5th wheel hitches (i.e. King pins) as my trailer was equipped with a gooseneck hitch so it was as simple as lining it up and raising or lowering the truck.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1014.jpg 
Views:	7 
Size:	95.7 KB 
ID:	32494 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Panaramic Resized.jpg 
Views:	8 
Size:	51.0 KB 
ID:	32495
    The rear air auto leveling systems work a bit different between the 2500 and 3500 models of the 4th Gen RAMs. Simplest way to explain the difference is that you cannot do anything without additional payload loading past the trigger threshold.

    Towing goose is the best!
    Rob & Nikki + Cloverfield
    2020 Grand Design Solitude S-Class 3350RL
    2015 RAM 3500 Longhorn Laramie Crew Cab, Long Bed, 4x4 Dually Cummins/AISIN

    Mountains of Pennsylvania

  8. #18
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    Star, ID
    Posts
    291
    Mentioned
    6 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by geotex1 View Post
    The rear air auto leveling systems work a bit different between the 2500 and 3500 models of the 4th Gen RAMs. Simplest way to explain the difference is that you cannot do anything without additional payload loading past the trigger threshold.

    Towing goose is the best!
    Thanks for the insight, I didn't realize that....sorry for and confusion I may have added by my post....and yes the gooseneck set up was awesome....
    Jeff and Debbie
    2021 Imagine 2250RK
    2015 Ram2500 Laramie CC 6.7 Cummins Diesel w/air-ride auto leveling
    USMC Veteran

  9. #19
    Fireside Member JessJoe4168's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    PA - some of the time
    Posts
    51
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by FT4NOW View Post
    For your unhooking 5th wheel, you might want to reconsider the retract all step for leveling gear, that's a bad button to push if not hooked up to the truck.

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
    Thanks - I had that not on a scrap of paper and could not figure it out - that is why I have the question marks.
    Thanks for the help I will remove it
    I am on version 12 or `13 ---I can't remember (lol)

  10. #20
    Fireside Member JessJoe4168's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    PA - some of the time
    Posts
    51
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Great new info - I will try this soon

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

DISCLAIMER:This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Grand Design RV, LLC or any of its affiliates. This is an independent site.