Big Foot Leveling System


Last Changed 3/12/2012
We had the Quadra Big Foot Leveling System installed in the Travel Supreme. We had intended to order it so that it would have been factory installed, but for some unknown reason it was left off the build order! So, we went to the Big Foot plant in White Pigeon, Michigan and had the system installed at the Big Foot facility. There is no question that the addition of the Quadra Big Foot system was one of the best features we added to *Tige. After we disconnect Red Rover*, we only have to push the "Auto"" button and the trailer is leveled. note - we had only one problem with the Big Foot since we had it installed. It was an operator problem but it was quickly corrected with a quick call to the Big Foot Support phone number. It is a great comfort to know that the support number is connected to a technician at all times. On the weekends, it is a pager but they will respond in a very short order.
	The Quadra plant is located in White Pigeon, Michigan. It is only about 35 miles from the Travel Supreme plant.
	Quadra has RV hookups for people coming in for installations. We came the night before to be sure we were there first thing.
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	The installation team taking a break.
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	The left front jack was mounted in the propane compartment. We had to give up one propane bottle.
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	This should not be a problem, as the refrigerator runs off of AC only. So our propane usage will be limited to cooking and occasionally running the furnaces.
	This is one of the pump controllers for the jacks. Each jack has its own hydraulic pump and controller. Usually these are mounted on top of the jack but our installation had two of these remotely mounted.
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	A view of two remotely mounted controls. One of the advantages of a factory install would have been that the wiring would been more hidden.
	A view of the left rear jack cylinder with its pump control mounted. The cylinders use hydraulic pressure to raise the trailer but also to retract the cylinders. This means that even if a cylinder foot should get stuff in mud, it can be retracted hydraulically, without relying on springs.
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	This is the Big Foot Automatic Controller. It is on a cable several feet long, so we can take the control to the hitch to view the unhitching process.
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The hydraulic cylinders used in the Big Foot system are very powerful. At the end of the installation, the Quadra installers raised the entire trailer a foot off the ground.
Why A Big Foot?
	At the Casino Queen RV Park in St. Louis, MO, we parked on the side of the site pavement. From the tilt of *Red Rover* you can see that the pavement was not level from side to side. You can also see that Tige is sitting level.
	Yes *Tige's* street side wheels are off the ground. Can you imagine the number of blocks we would have had to use to level *Tige* without the Big Foot System? All you have to do is disconnect the truck and then hit "Auto" and the trailer ends up level.
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Another Why We had to change a tire on *Tige* because of a nail. We could have jacked up the one wheel, which would be difficult. Instead, we put the Big Foot System into manual mode and we raised the whole trailer evenly, a more stable condition. The total lift capacity of the Big Foot Systems is 68,000 lbs. so it easily raised *Tige. After we installed the spare tire, we raised the back jacks and hit the Auto button and the Big Foot System returned Tige* to the normal level position. A lot safer tire change and a lot easier.