Need help in a hurry...

[tcbetka]

I need help, in somewhat of a hurry. I posted this on another forum too, because we're in a bit of a pickle and really need help. So I hope someone has experienced this issue before...


We have a 2003 Ultimate Freedom that we bought used, last Fall. We are currently on our way to the Winnebago factory for maintenance, as luck would have it, however we are stuck in a campground in LaCrosse, WI, about 150 miles from the factory. Our HWH leveling jacks won't retract.

We arrived on Friday afternoon, and got into our spot just fine. It's level, so I all did was to dump the pressure in the airbag system, and then just run the jacks down to make contact with the ground--I didn't have to raise the coach with the jacks at all really. Everything worked just fine. Today when we were about the leave for Forest City and the factory to make our appointment tomorrow morning, the jacks won't retract! I've tried everything--automatic "store" procedure, manual retraction, different ordering of jack pairs (they only work in pairs), and even running the slides out and back in again, in case their was some sort of safety mechanism preventing retraction. There isn't supposed to be, according to both the HWH and Winnebago manual, but one never knows. To no avail however, as nothing works.

So then I tried the manual retract process in the HSH manual, where you loosen the T-screws on the four jack solenoids, and the springs are supposed to retract the jacks--nope. Not here they don't. In fact, when the solenoids are all open fully, I am still able to EXTEND the jacks and start to lift the coach! Go figure that one...

So we're stuck. I've read the manual(s) twice, but cannot retract the jacks. So I'll have to call Winnebago customer service at 0730 tomorrow, and see if they can offer any suggestions. I can also call HWH after that. My last option is to try to get someone from the sales/service part of the RV park down here after 0900 tomorrow, and see if they can figure this out. But I am perplexed. The things extend, and the airbags *seem* to inflate. I am not 100% sure of this, but it looks like they are up again--and then when I hit "DUMP," the coach starts coming down onto the jacks again. I even tried to open the solenoid relief valves, and then dump the airbags to use the coach weight to drive the jack rams back up...nope. That just pushed them into the gravel/dirt under the pads.

Can anyone offer words of wisdom? I'd surely appreciate it...

Thanks (a million) in advance.

TB

[JimmyLeggett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcbetka I need help, in somewhat of a hurry. I posted this on another forum too, because we're in a bit of a pickle and really need help. So I hope someone has experienced this issue before... We have a 2003 Ultimate Freedom that we bought used, last Fall. We are currently on our way to the Winnebago factory for maintenance, as luck would have it, however we are stuck in a campground in LaCrosse, WI, about 150 miles from the factory. Our HWH leveling jacks won't retract. We arrived on Friday afternoon, and got into our spot just fine. It's level, so I all did was to dump the pressure in the airbag system, and then just run the jacks down to make contact with the ground--I didn't have to raise the coach with the jacks at all really. Everything worked just fine. Today when we were about the leave for Forest City and the factory to make our appointment tomorrow morning, the jacks won't retract! I've tried everything--automatic "store" procedure, manual retraction, different ordering of jack pairs (they only work in pairs), and even running the slides out and back in again, in case their was some sort of safety mechanism preventing retraction. There isn't supposed to be, according to both the HWH and Winnebago manual, but one never knows. To no avail however, as nothing works. So then I tried the manual retract process in the HSH manual, where you loosen the T-screws on the four jack solenoids, and the springs are supposed to retract the jacks--nope. Not here they don't. In fact, when the solenoids are all open fully, I am still able to EXTEND the jacks and start to lift the coach! Go figure that one... So we're stuck. I've read the manual(s) twice, but cannot retract the jacks. So I'll have to call Winnebago customer service at 0730 tomorrow, and see if they can offer any suggestions. I can also call HWH after that. My last option is to try to get someone from the sales/service part of the RV park down here after 0900 tomorrow, and see if they can figure this out. But I am perplexed. The things extend, and the airbags *seem* to inflate. I am not 100% sure of this, but it looks like they are up again--and then when I hit "DUMP," the coach starts coming down onto the jacks again. I even tried to open the solenoid relief valves, and then dump the airbags to use the coach weight to drive the jack rams back up...nope. That just pushed them into the gravel/dirt under the pads. Can anyone offer words of wisdom? I'd surely appreciate it... Thanks (a million) in advance. TB

Have you tried cracking the hydraulic lines and bleeding off the fluid? I experienced that problem on my expedition and that was the only thing that worked.

Once the line was cracked the jacks started retracting. Do it slow, too fast and aside from the mess they could cause injury if your in the way.

I was in Oklahoma, temp was 108 degrees, parking spot was gravel (no more like rocks), fire ants owned it. But I got it done
I was worried that the jack would fall but they retracted and stayed up. still had plenty of fluid in the tank.

All your doing is relieving pressure on the line.

[Martind4]

Are you sure you're opening the solenoids for the jacks and not the slides? Trace one of the lines from the solenoid to a jack to be sure.

Are you opening the T handle(s) enough turns to insure they're open?


Sometimes on mine I have to help the jack retract even with the solenoid opened.

Good Luck.

[skigramp]

I live in east central Wisconsin so I travel through the La Crosse area frequently

1) This business used to be a Winnebago Industries dealer .... they are still listed as a service center on the Winnebago Industries website ...

I think this is the closest Winnebago service center to where you are located ...

COULEE REGION RV CENTER, INC.

W3262 COUNTY ROAD \'B\'
WEST SALEM, WI 54669
(608) 786-2244
(800) 305-5575


2) Do you have emergency road service?

[tcbetka]

I have not yet tried to crack the lines--I'll wait until tomorrow to try that, once I talk to Winnebago.

As far as the solenoids, I am pretty certain that these are for the jacks. There are three smaller solenoids BELOW these; one for each of the three slides we have. Our HWH manual shows 4 jack solenoids right where these are, and these are shown just above the slide solenoids. So the coach is just like the manual in this respect--at least it sure seems that way. Also, while these relief valves were open, I cycled all the slides out, then in again, hoping there was some shuttle valve (or safety valve) that hadn't made properly. But it didn't make any difference.

I turned the handles about 5-6 turns. It was hard at first, but then got quite easy, and then got hard again right at the end. Just the way the manual states. But as for helping the jacks come up, I have no idea how I would do that. I mean, with the solenoid relief valves open, I dumped a bit of air pressure and put the weight right on the jacks. They sunk into the gravel/dirt a bit.

I am afraid I am just going to have to wait until the morning when I can talk to Winnebago and/or HWH; or maybe then even get the RV service people associated with the park to come down and have a look at it.

Thanks for the posts.

TB

[tcbetka]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skigramp I live in east central Wisconsin so I travel through the La Crosse area frequently 1) This business used to be a Winnebago Industries dealer .... they are still listed as a service center on the Winnebago Industries website ... I think this is the closest Winnebago service center to where you are located ... COULEE REGION RV CENTER, INC. W3262 COUNTY ROAD \'B\' WEST SALEM, WI 54669 (608) 786-2244 (800) 305-5575 2) Do you have emergency road service?

We can certainly call the Winnebago dealer in West Salem tomorrow, if need-be. I don't think they are more than 10-15 miles down the road, so maybe they can help. With any luck we can get this thing moving again tomorrow, and at least get over there in time to drop it off in the afternoon.

Thanks.

TB

[GG1]

Do you have the ignition key in the on or accessory position, the slides may work with key in the off position not the jacks. HWH has excellent customer service they can walk you through pretty much any procedure that has to be done just be patient don't take things apart unless you are certain which valves and lines to fool with, call them 1st thing in the am

[Billy S]

Call HWH as soon as you can, they can walk you through and get you on the road. I had the same problem, it was a stuck shuttle valve, all I had to do was crack one of the fittings and release pressure, retract jacks and was on the way. I had to do this every time I put the jacks down till I replaced the shuttle valve. Ordered another one from HWH and had no more problems. If you need the phone # for HWH let us know, good luck.

[Perry White]

You shouldn't of turned the handles no more than 4 1/2 turns.

[tcbetka]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy S Call HWH as soon as you can, they can walk you through and get you on the road. I had the same problem, it was a stuck shuttle valve, all I had to do was crack one of the fittings and release pressure, retract jacks and was on the way. I had to do this every time I put the jacks down till I replaced the shuttle valve. Ordered another one from HWH and had no more problems. If you need the phone # for HWH let us know, good luck.

Thanks Billy...I think you're right on. I've got every manual from the HWH site that I can find, and have been pouring over them for some time tonight. To top this all off, I had to send my wife and daughter home with our dog, who is dying of cancer. This leaves me alone and four hours from home with a non-functional coach, in an RV park without alternate transportation.

We had scheduled this Winnebago trip 2-3 months ago, and so we have been planning it. In the mean time, our oldest dog gets diagnosed with cancer. She's been fading fast, but we thought we could get one last trip in with her...as she loves to camp and hang out with the family. Her vet encouraged it, because there's basically nothing else they can do for her. So this afternoon we were all set to depart for Forest City, and this jack issue shut us down. But our girl is fading fast, and we don't expect her to last more than another 24-48 hours or so. So here we are in a strange town, with a dying dog, and me having to be at work in two days. So I sent them 4 hours home, and I will deal with this issue tomorrow--then (hopefully) drive 2.5 hours to drop off the coach, and then find a rental car...only to drive 6 hours back to Green Bay. Talk about stress.

Anyway, I believed all along that it has to be something like your experience--so I am glad to hear you had the same problem. I will call HWH in the morning, and hopefully get back on the road in time to make this all happen tomorrow. Maybe I'll make it back home in time.

Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate the help.

TB

[Jackm]

Luckily, your dog only cares about being with her family. I'm sorry you're going through all this at once. Best wishes and a safe journey for all of you.

Jack

[RickO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackm Luckily, your dog only cares about being with her family. I'm sorry you're going through all this at once. Best wishes and a safe journey for all of you. Jack

Well said. All the best to you all getting through these tough times.

Rick

[DAN L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcbetka Thanks Billy...I think you're right on. I've got every manual from the HWH site that I can find, and have been pouring over them for some time tonight. To top this all off, I had to send my wife and daughter home with our dog, who is dying of cancer. This leaves me alone and four hours from home with a non-functional coach, in an RV park without alternate transportation. We had scheduled this Winnebago trip 2-3 months ago, and so we have been planning it. In the mean time, our oldest dog gets diagnosed with cancer. She's been fading fast, but we thought we could get one last trip in with her...as she loves to camp and hang out with the family. Her vet encouraged it, because there's basically nothing else they can do for her. So this afternoon we were all set to depart for Forest City, and this jack issue shut us down. But our girl is fading fast, and we don't expect her to last more than another 24-48 hours or so. So here we are in a strange town, with a dying dog, and me having to be at work in two days. So I sent them 4 hours home, and I will deal with this issue tomorrow--then (hopefully) drive 2.5 hours to drop off the coach, and then find a rental car...only to drive 6 hours back to Green Bay. Talk about stress. Anyway, I believed all along that it has to be something like your experience--so I am glad to hear you had the same problem. I will call HWH in the morning, and hopefully get back on the road in time to make this all happen tomorrow. Maybe I'll make it back home in time. Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate the help. TB

i am very sorry about your dog.
on my moho, the parking brake has to be set and the transmission in park for the jacks to work.
i carry an 8' 2x4 and a folding shovel to lever the jack up with the pressure line loosened at the manifold if necessary. i had to do that once when a rock hit my left rear jack and removed both springs and the jack foot pad at crater lake, or. national park. be careful under the moho. do not get crushed.
can you raise the moho with the air suspension enough to get a 2x4 under the jack? once you get all the jacks up and the slides retracted, service the hwh hydraulic tank to full with type ''a'' transmission fluid. cheap stuff will work fine. do not use ford type fluid.
the springs should retract the jacks with the appropriate depressurizing valve loosened. there are 4 valves for the jacks on my moho. my 2 slides have 4 more. just open them all to make sure you have the right one. that is there are 8 valves total on my moho. my slide valves are smaller and look different from the jack valves.
the hwh number is: 800.321.3494. ask for frank or dan. frank would be best. dan is a supervisor. the receptionist will probably ask you for a reference number or such. use your initials. if this doesn't get you on their phone answer que, they will probably have to call you back which will not be of much use in your situation. these are very busy people, especially on monday mornings.
be careful and good luck.

[Steve N Sal]

If you can't get thru to HWH right away call RV Leveling in Elkhart, IN. Speak with Chuck he is the owner. They are a CERTIFIED HWH service center. The number is 1 800 826-6267. They have been in business at this location for 32 years and believe me know the HWH system very well. Hope this helps.