Quadra Manufacturing was formed as a corporation in 1988 in Elkhart, Indiana. Its start like many successful companies was a small one employing only about four people. All four were involved the purchase rites of a hydraulic leveling system known at the time as Applied Mechanics. This system was a NO NAME product in the industry. With some re-designing and some much needed improved modifications the system was re-named “The Quadra Ease Hydraulic Leveling System.” At about the same time the company relocated as a Michigan Corporation in White Pigeon, Michigan, just north of the Indiana line where it remains today nearly 17 years later.

The name Quadra and Quadra Ease was used because the company wanted to apply the number 4 to the RV leveling procedure. (Quad denotes 4). At the same time 3 point leveling systems were a popular fad in RV leveling, implying that a tri-pod system (1 in the front 2 in the rear) would prevent frame stress. The Quadra team never did believe the solution to frame stress was a 3 point leveling system. They believed 4 legs were still better than 3 and the solution was in the operation of the system. The Quadra Ease system with separate pumps and motors for each cylinder and corner could be operated in pairs to create equal lift on all sides of the chassis. That procedure came to be known as BI-AXIS leveling. It caused no frame stress, no cracked or broken windshields just as Quadra suspected.

The company now in White Pigeon, Michigan and still small in numbers was trying to devise the best plan to get the product out into the field. While most vender companies were trying to get their product into RV manufacturers and dealers, Quadra thought it best to get it into the consumer’s hands FIRST and the rest would follow.

Quadra’s goal was show the product to as many RV owners as possible and what better place than RV shows or rallies. The focus was on being at as many as possible. It didn’t take long for the Quadra Ease system to catch the attention of motor home owners. It appeared that Quadra now had just what customers preferred in a leveling system. The System offered 4-bi-directional cylinders with individual pump/motors at each one. 100 sq. inch foot pads and a 5 years warranty. It was a good system at a fair price!

Quadra not only offered the system at the rallies, but for a nominal fee, would install it on site. The 100 sq. inch foot pad is what everyone was talking about the most. It refused to sink in the ground when extended even on blacktop. So impressed, customers were now referring to the system as “BIGFOOT” They would say; “My system is the Bigfoot” “We like the Bigfoot system” Our Big feet will not sink in the ground” etc.

A couple customers actually wrote in to suggest we change the name from Quadra Ease to “BIGFOOT”, so that is exactly what we decided to do!