Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Gulf Stream Owners RV Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-12-2014, 01:34 PM   #1
ryananddavina
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 30
Default leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual System

Just picked up a new to us 2003 GS Friendship 8408 FS - First RV ever. In the midst of going through all the documentation from the previous owners and manuals I have found the power gear manual on the use of the Dewald Manual System but really want to know how will I know when it is level? Use a level on the counter/fridge? Justtrying to figure this adventure out? What method do you guys use? I looked and cannot find a bubble in the coach to show it is level as I have seen in other models...

Thanks!
__________________
2003 Gulfstream Friendship 8408
ryananddavina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2014, 03:41 PM   #2
11B
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 95
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

Just turn on your power gear electronic level pad, then push the auto button on the pad and the coach will level it's self ( one jack at a time). When your ready to move on down the road just push the retract button it will bring up your jack legs for you. Check your fluid level in the reservoir (just use your finger) if its low fill it all the way up with Auto Transmission Fluid. The reservoir will be located in a bay under the coach and will have about 10 hoses running to it. Make sure when you check your fluid level that all the jack legs are in the up position.
__________________
2007 42' Friendship Quattro
2007 Liberty Toad
No Rodents
Kids raised and only barrow money
400 Cummins Bad Milage
11B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2014, 03:55 PM   #3
ryananddavina
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 30
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

I have the Dewald manual system DN12558 there is no automatic button
__________________
2003 Gulfstream Friendship 8408
ryananddavina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2014, 09:50 AM   #4
Frutza
Senior Member
 
Frutza's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 281
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

There are two bubble mounted in my RV, but I dont trust them, I use an electric level on the tile floor, 1st one way then the other, now, I once lifed the rear only then went to one side, when I was done I noticed only 3 jacks down, so I now lift front and rear then do any side leveling I need. With manual leveling you can leave one side a little lower, if needed, to control the ac water run off. Not right or wrong, just the way I do it. Enjoy your new RV
__________________
Mike & Becky
2005 Crescendo 8356
Frutza is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2014, 01:04 PM   #5
ryananddavina
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 30
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

Hopefully someone with a friendship 8408 can chime in and let me know if it has a leveling bubble somewhere in the coach before I go and buy some..
__________________
2003 Gulfstream Friendship 8408
ryananddavina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2014, 07:33 PM   #6
RayChez1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,257
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

There are no bubbles to level out of the factory that I know off. I installed two level bubbles about two inches long on the left side where the control panel, yellow park brake, retarder switch located. It works pretty good. One for cross, and one for longitudinal.
__________________
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
2018 Buick Envision Essence
Neway Freightliner chassis
Aventa II Blue Ox
RayChez1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2014, 11:53 PM   #7
ryananddavina
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 30
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

I think that is what I will do and install a few for sanity sake. The next question is what kind of leveling blocks do you guys use? I know the rear wheels stay on the ground but the manual says to raise the front 3 inches. I looked around at other class a's our size and some folks have the yellow drive up blocks for the front then use the Lego pads for the leveling jacks. Just trying to figure this all out as this is our first coach
__________________
2003 Gulfstream Friendship 8408
ryananddavina is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2014, 10:30 AM   #8
RayChez1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,257
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

I do not use any leveling blocks or composition blocks under the wheels. My coach is equipped with the Quadra levelers by Big Foot. So these jacks operate individually if you so desire and the base plate is big to where it gives a good platform.

What I do when I arrive to destination, lets say an RV park. I dump the air on the air bags. I then extend the two front levelers until they make contact with the ground and lift just a couple of inches on each side. I then extend the two rear levelers until they also make contact with the ground. I then look at the bubble devices and see which leveler has to extend more to level the coach. Start with the side leveling, then the longitudinal leveling. Just watch the bubbles. I also check the French door to the bedroom to see that it opens and closes right. That will also tell you if your rear end part of the coach is level or not, how it swings when you open and close it.

It is a very easy process leveling once you get used to it.

The reason why I dump the air off the airbags is because it gives you more travel on the levelers to adjust, and also the step will not be so high for entering and getting off the coach.

Hope that helps you on how to level your coach.
RayChez
__________________
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
2018 Buick Envision Essence
Neway Freightliner chassis
Aventa II Blue Ox
RayChez1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-13-2014, 08:30 AM   #9
03heritagerider
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 389
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

I have the Friendship with auto levels. It has never worked right.

I have a two way level that I set on the floor in the middle of the coach and wait until the bubbles are centered. After that I do the "Door check" system. I go into the bathroom and open the shower, toilet and medicine cabinet doors half way. If they stay put...I'm level.
__________________
'03 41' Friendship & 24' trailer with HIS '03 H-D Heritage Springer, HER '15 H-D Freewheeler Trike, and '08 Smart Car.
"Adventure is found in the journey, not the destination."
03heritagerider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2014, 04:15 PM   #10
curlyjoe gulf 03
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 11
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

We have a 2003 friendship quatro with the dewald levelingsystem on the control panel I have a round refrigerator level this level is a sticky and just fits on the panel. I use this bubble level just to get an idea how far the coach is off when I get close to level and all jacks are down and taking the weight off of the axels. On this coach we have a all extend switchthat move all 4 jacks at the same time. After getting support on all jacks I open the slides. On the kitchen slide In the right hand corner I have two small levels one set cross ways and one set length ways. When these levels are centered the wife hollers out. THEY ARE GOOD. From then on it is A piece of cake GOOD LUCK AND ENJOY YOUR NEW EXPERIANCE.
curlyjoe gulf 03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2014, 03:37 AM   #11
kennithmacer
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

curlyjoe gulf wrote:'
We have a 2003 friendship quatro with the dewald levelingsystem on the control panel I have a round refrigerator level this level is a sticky and just fits on the panel. I use this bubble level just to get an idea how far the coach is off when I get close to level and all jacks are down and taking the weight off of the axels."

Talking about the jammer, i would like to recommend the wireless camera jammer ,this device was very useful,you can go to worldjammer.com have a look at
kennithmacer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-19-2014, 03:50 AM   #12
cqwanju
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

I think this post write very good!
__________________
be keen on tent outdoor: inflatable projective tents
cqwanju is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 04:42 PM   #13
darbyjudy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 254
Default Re: leveling a 2003 Friendship 8408 with Dewald Manual Syste

I have aa 2004 Sunvoyager, it does not have auto. levelers on it so this is the way I do it. I have a small level that I place on the kitchen counter, I look at it to see which way it is out of level. I then move both rear jacks down until they touch, then I move both front jacks down till they touch. If it is low in the back I move rear jacks down until my level is centered. Then I open the bathroom door haft way and see if it swings, if not I am done. Then I move the slides out. This method has worked of me.
__________________
Darby R. Corwin
darbyjudy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2019, 10:47 PM   #14
ToddPet
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 19
Default Rear jacks don’t lift

I have a friendship G7 2004. I have two issues with the levelling system. First if I’m parked at a site where the front of the RV is higher than the back of the RV I can’t seem to get the jacks to lift the backend high enough to level. The front trucks are able to lift the tires off the ground but the back tracks don’t seem to be able to lift too much. Is that normal and due to the weight of the engine?

My second issue is with the auto level. Whenever I use it he drops all the jacks, of course the back went to the left too much. But even if the backend of the RV is lower than the front of the auto level will always love the front even higher. I’m usually left with the front of the RV one for her in the back of the RV. Even if I’m on level ground and I do this the auto levels will continue to raise the front more. I’ve tried using the directions from the manufacture to reset what level is, but the system doesn’t seem to respond to the corrections.

Any help would be appreciated.
ToddPet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:26 AM   #15
UAHaerospace
Senior Member
 
UAHaerospace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 142
Default

RAYCHEZ1 made some very good points, I echo those comments - and even though I have a different coach, with LCI Lippert Electronic Leveling, I use the 'MANUAL' method all of the time, for the last 4 years and over 80,000 miles of traveling.

Whether your unit has it's own 'level' indicator, or bubble view, or you just use your own methods, such as the 'door swing' indicator(probably the best method), getting the coach 'close' to level is the goal - perfection will probably never happen, there are too many variables.

I use our hall bath door as my final indicator, no matter what my level indicator on the LCI panel says, though it's a good start. The swing of the hall bath door tells me, in the 'real world', that I am level, for my comfort, when the door does not swing in either direction on it's own.
If it swings 'back', away from the doorframe, I know I am low on the driver side.
If it swings toward closing, then I am low on the entry side.

I've also learned, though, to give me a little extra height on the driver side, since once the full wall slide is deployed, I'll probably see that hall bath door change slightly. Sometimes, after the slide is deployed, I'll re-energize the LCI panel and add a little to that side. The full wall slide is 22' long, or more, and contains the kitchen, bunks, and dining booth.

Also, it seems that Manual leveling provides for a much smoother and quicker leveling, and much less 'dramatic', as the auto leveling tends to 'jerk' the coach up and down and winds up sitting at a much higher stance when finished. I feel I can do it much better myself.


Level, and enjoy! You can do it.
__________________
...2014 Ameri lite 259BH...
the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric Cars
UAHaerospace is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:38 AM   #16
Restorium
Senior Member
 
Restorium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 557
Default

Right, the door thing.
I have to give the left rear side a little extra lift right at the end of leveling and the entrance door works better.
Restorium is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 06:41 AM   #17
Restorium
Senior Member
 
Restorium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 557
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ToddPet View Post
I have a friendship G7 2004. I have two issues with the levelling system. First if I’m parked at a site where the front of the RV is higher than the back of the RV I can’t seem to get the jacks to lift the backend high enough to level. The front trucks are able to lift the tires off the ground but the back tracks don’t seem to be able to lift too much. Is that normal and due to the weight of the engine?

My second issue is with the auto level. Whenever I use it he drops all the jacks, of course the back went to the left too much. But even if the backend of the RV is lower than the front of the auto level will always love the front even higher. I’m usually left with the front of the RV one for her in the back of the RV. Even if I’m on level ground and I do this the auto levels will continue to raise the front more. I’ve tried using the directions from the manufacture to reset what level is, but the system doesn’t seem to respond to the corrections.

Any help would be appreciated.
The levelers should lift it. But if they can't then try this;
Leave the front all the way down and raise the back manually using both jacks at once. Then bring the front up to match.
Restorium is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
dewald leveling system Sandrofelisio Class A 14 09-17-2020 07:56 PM
Have a 2003 Friendship 8408, w/white cabinets FOR SALE RVDEE3333 Class A 0 07-04-2014 06:50 PM
2003 Gulfstream Friendship 8408 rostevens1 Class A 2 04-03-2012 04:53 PM
Dewald Leveling System nuthut Class A 7 01-22-2010 11:06 PM
Dewald Leveling System Repair SugarRv Class A 5 08-17-2009 09:21 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×