Leveling to Minimise Movement

[Paintblend]

I have a question,, i have a 96 mountain aire with tag axle,, when i level it with the jacks i still feel movement in the coach when someone walks around,, am i not leveling it right or is that the nature of the beast,, should i put most of the pressure on the jacks or should most be on the tires ,, i am talking about when i park in a fairly level place, , how do you level it to get the miniumum amount of movement, without having to do additional blocking of the frame,, or am i being to sensitive to movement in a motorhome,, just wondering and would appreciate your thoughts

[TXiceman]

You will never rid the coach of all movement. The jacks are stabilizers and unless you completely life the rig off the tires and block the frame with solid blocks, you will have some movement.

Ken

[clubmed98]

If you jack without dumping your air bags you will move some as the bags still float you to some extent...try dumping the air in your bags and then jack up..see if that helps

[Paintblend]

thanks,, i just wanted to make sure,, it is not bad but still rocks a little,, thanks

[GaryKD]

Hi Paintblend,
The more weight on the jacks the less movement of the coach. I follow these steps:
1. dump air
2. level coach
3. wife complains
4. manually raise all four jacks for 3 to 5 seconds

This process almost always works. It fails only when the wife is in a really sensitive or bad mood (one in the same).

[KenSherwin]

Having never had the luxury of jacks, I have a question. Would it make sense to level first to get the jacks sitting square and then dump the bags to put all the weight on the jacks?

[GaryKD]

Hi Ken,
Newmar jacks work in pairs. The jacks will always raise the coach frame squarely. For me, dumping air and then raising the coach is what Newmar and HWH have said to do. In addition, this keeps the steps as close to the ground as possible. It helps the wife quite a bit.

[bdpreece]

The further you extend the jacks the more movement you will have. If the DW complains about movement I raise the jacks and put the yellow leggo type blocks under them to shorten the amount the jacks have to travel.

[gripper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenSherwin Having never had the luxury of jacks, I have a question. Would it make sense to level first to get the jacks sitting square and then dump the bags to put all the weight on the jacks?

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, put the jacks down, before you dump your air! If you do, the coach will move slightly forward and bend a jack or two. Ask me how I know!

[ready2roam]

OK, I'm confused. I have a 2010 Ventana with (I believe) electric levelers. In order to dump the air bags I have to have the enginer running, out of neutral, no parking brake and levelers off. Then I hold 'front' 'rear' and 'All' and the air bags dump. But unless I turn the engine off, they start refilling when I stop pressing the buttons.

However, to actually level the coach I have to have the engine running, in neutral and with the levelers turned on, so the air bags refill. I just can't figure out how to have the coach level and the air bags dumped.

Any help????

[KenSherwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gripper NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, put the jacks down, before you dump your air! If you do, the coach will move slightly forward and bend a jack or two. Ask me how I know!

When a stupid question gets asked, it needs to get answered firmly and unambiguously. I asked it and you answered it. Thank you. I really didn't know.

[GaryKD]

Hi ready2roam,
For me, I'd call Newmar at 800-731-8300. Ask for customer service. I had to write down what you said in list form and still could not figure it out. Once Newmar tells you the secret, please post the answer.

Gut feel says the process may be cumbersome, but it seems the settings to lower the jacks should be telling the bags not to fill.

Have your coach number when you call.

[RJay]

ready2roam,
Can you continue to hold the dump button while you level your coach with the engine running.

[Spikester]

On our 08 Ventana when you attempt to level in the Auto or Manual mode once the levelers start to extent the air bags automatically dump, when retracting levelers the air bags automatically fill. Air bags can also be manually dumped or filled with-out levelers be moved but it is a multi-button pushing operation that tricky, not something one would want do routinely.

Spike