Leveling a mobile home question.

ben2go · Mar 10, 2013

I am leveling a mobile home.When I have done it in the past I used a water level.This mobile home is on an incline and the frame on one end is below grade.I can't use a water level on the first third of the MH.What other options do I have to level the MH?I don't have access to a laser level and I don't think it would be useful because of the decks and other obstructions.I also can barely get under the MH enough to shim the below grade end.

Ed of all trades · Mar 10, 2013

When the set up guys set ours they used a 4' level on the floors. One inside and one outside shimming.

jomar215 · Mar 10, 2013

How about picking a point above the frame, and leveling with your water level to that point?

DaveOmak · Mar 10, 2013

When using a water level, the water in the tubing MUST be at the same temperature the full length of the tubing... Tubing partially in the sun will give non-level readings... warm water at one end and cooler water at the other end will give non-level readings.... You can use the water level inside the mobile home.... mark the walls... Swap the ends of the level once marks are made to check the level... water or bubble level.... It's the same way to check level.....

ovrszd · Mar 10, 2013

Ed of all trades said:
When the set up guys set ours they used a 4' level on the floors. One inside and one outside shimming.

Yep, that's how I've always did it.

ben2go · Mar 10, 2013

Thanks everyone.The floors are a problem in this MH.Once we have the frame leveled we are going to tear out the floors.The 2x joist are sagging in a few places and someone repaired the floors with OSB.If I could make the monthly payments,I'd just move in another one in better condition.Currently I can only do repairs as money allows.Gonna do it right,do it once,and be done with it.Then,hopefully,it just maintenance.

creekbend · Mar 11, 2013

You stated that there was low clearance under the Mobile Home. Did you have enough room to install "Tiedowns"?

Western · Mar 11, 2013

I think you could use your laser level , shoot a level line under the MH then measure from the laser line to the beams (set reference points). It will be time consuming and I would start with the grade level end 1st and level out to the high side. When they set my triple, that is what they used (laser), they double checked with the water level, but the guy said it really wasn't necessary when using the laser. YMMV

3v0 · Mar 11, 2013

Is it a single or double wide ?

ben2go · Mar 11, 2013

creekbend said:
You stated that there was low clearance under the Mobile Home. Did you have enough room to install "Tiedowns"?

Yes.There are four 1.5 inch tie downs that run up up the wall over the roof and down the other side.They were built into the MH.

Western said:
I think you could use your laser level , shoot a level line under the MH then measure from the laser line to the beams (set reference points). It will be time consuming and I would start with the grade level end 1st and level out to the high side. When they set my triple, that is what they used (laser), they double checked with the water level, but the guy said it really wasn't necessary when using the laser. YMMV

I was looking into doing it this way.The frame is in the ground at some points.The ground level behind it is actually higher than the floor level.I need to regrade the land and dig out from under the MH.It's mostly sediment that has washed under from rain.My uncle set this place up in '87.He did an absolute crap job.