Breaking Camp ??

Dave1956 · 01-04-2011, 09:11 AM

Greetings:

We have only used our new-to-us 2003 KS3352DP on two trips. This is our first MH so we are learning everytime we get in it! On our last trip we noted that retracting the leveling jacks seems to be a bit harsh. I have lubricated and cleaned each jack, but when I push the "store" button, they seem to release suddenly and loudly. I am following the instructions in the owners manual...am I missing something, or is this an indication of a problem?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

**RickO** · 01-04-2011, 10:20 AM

Hi Dave. A couple of questions; are your jacks made by HWH? When you say they release suddenly and loudly do you mean that they retract all the way very quickly or does it still take a few minutes for them to slowly retract all the way?

Rick

GaryKD · 01-04-2011, 12:01 PM

Hi Dave1956,
My assumption is you have HWH jacks. Do not worry about the way the jacks retract. When you push the store button the valves open and the weight of the coach pushes the hydraulic fluid back into the reservoir. This will wake you right up. As to the noise, if the coach is on a unstable or un level site the jacks will make a noise as they relieve themselves of the coach weight. This is because the jacks do not go straight down. They tend to be moving outward (all) and forward (front). So when the weight is released as the jacks retract the coach will move forward slightly. This will cause the jacks to scrub along the site surface and make noise.

Dave1956 · 01-04-2011, 01:11 PM

Rick and Gary...thanks, they are HWH and it is how Gary describes. It is a sudden release, with some noise, followed by a gradual full retraction of the jack. My understanding is that the springs, especially older ones take a little time to pull them all the way up. I was also told that they come up at different speeds based on the order they are in the fluid line.

GaryKD · 01-04-2011, 01:43 PM

Hi Dave1956,
Once the coach is ready to travel, I start the engine, retract the jacks and do a final walk around. This includes checking the toad tail lights (turn and break). By the time I return to the driver's seat my jacks are fully retracted and we are ready to go.

**"007"** · 01-05-2011, 05:16 AM

Gary on mine the jacks have to be retracted before starting engine or you get the jack warning scream your jacks are down.
I do a walk around as you say than the jack control board has time to released the jack alarm from ignition circuit.

GaryKD · 01-05-2011, 05:24 AM

Hi Roger,
I'm not sure about the purpose of your post. My jack alarm is the same as yours. Start engine and the alarm sounds and will continue to sound until the jacks are fully retracted. Same as yours?

Starting the engine before retracting the jacks also has the advantage (air ride only) of having the levers that tell the compressor to fill the bags move through some of their travel range. This ensures the compressor air is readily flowing into all the bags.

**"007"** · 01-05-2011, 05:38 AM

I see your point about your air bags the jack alarm just drives my wife crazy.
Gas coach doesn't have this need. Its allot quieter operation.

**Route 66** · 01-05-2011, 05:39 AM

I use Gary's method of starting the engine, hitting the store button for the jacks and go out to do another walk around ( I do several).

If I'm parked on a hard surface there are loud noises as the MH settles and the jack pads slip from the weight being removed from them.

GaryKD · 01-05-2011, 05:08 PM

The jack alarm drives my wife crazy too. I gave her a choice of tasks so she would not hear the alarm, but she decided to continue with her own task list. This means she will continue to do nothing. This is the perfect situation. When she had tasks to do, she reliably broke stuff. The female I am married to finds it difficult to follow a process. She does what she wants, when she wants. Unfortunately, that does not work well for a coach. An example is she was pissed for days that the diesel didn't start like a gas engine. She has to wait for the light/sound to tell her she can start the engine. She was bound and determined to make the diesel start her way. The same is true for several other items I though she could participate in. Now I've learned to just let her read her book or play on the Internet. I may do all the tasks, but nothing gets broken.

**"007"** · 01-06-2011, 07:46 AM

Sometimes its much easier that way Gary.

a k · 01-06-2011, 07:59 AM

My jacks won't retract with the key off. The HWH times out after I think two minutes and locks out(no power). You have to turn key on even to re-level.

I think most wives are like Gary's.

harleyman134 · 01-08-2011, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD

The jack alarm drives my wife crazy too. I gave her a choice of tasks so she would not hear the alarm, but she decided to continue with her own task list. This means she will continue to do nothing. This is the perfect situation. When she had tasks to do, she reliably broke stuff. The female I am married to finds it difficult to follow a process. She does what she wants, when she wants. Unfortunately, that does not work well for a coach. An example is she was pissed for days that the diesel didn't start like a gas engine. She has to wait for the light/sound to tell her she can start the engine. She was bound and determined to make the diesel start her way. The same is true for several other items I though she could participate in. Now I've learned to just let her read her book or play on the Internet. I may do all the tasks, but nothing gets broken.

Gary,
I think I married your wife's sister.