Can I over extend my front jack?

[Monacoach]

Originally Posted by AtlantaRick

I got too nervous looking at it and hearing the horror stories from you guys so I lowered it and am moving it over to the neighbors driveway which is flat.

Good decision... Please dont do that again

[Perry White]

Sure would be nice, though, not to have to bend over to get in the basement compartments

[JimM68]

just to make the same point i make far too often....

a 15 ton box on stix is not going to roll anywhere.
if you lift your front wheel off the ground, it don't matter.

if u lift your rear wheels off the ground, it matters not.

note: these opinions formed by experience, with a 99 fleetwood pace arrow gasser with a 4 jack powergear system, and a monaco with A 3 JACK POWERGEAR SYSTEM.

I have seen some class a motorhomes with jacks i wouldn't trust to hold up a house of cards, but as for mine....

she ain't going anywhere....

[RickO]

Originally Posted by JimM68

just to make the same point i make far too often....

a 15 ton box on stix is not going to roll anywhere.
if you lift your front wheel off the ground, it don't matter.

if u lift your rear wheels off the ground, it matters not.

note: these opinions formed by experience, with a 99 fleetwood pace arrow gasser with a 4 jack powergear system, and a monaco with A 3 JACK POWERGEAR SYSTEM.

I have seen some class a motorhomes with jacks i wouldn't trust to hold up a house of cards, but as for mine....

she ain't going anywhere....

A couple of questions:

1) does Powergear or Monaco recommend using their equipment in this fashion?

2) Usually when the front wheels come off the ground while leveling, it is because the coach is on a steep slope. In that configuration, this 15 ton box sitting on sticks would be putting more weight on the front jacks than the rear. Surely at SOME degree of slope, gravity would begin to take over and the additional stress on the front jack(s) would be too great. Do you know how much slope is acceptable?

Rick

[JimM68]

i don't.

but my single front jack is 3 inches in diameter.
it looks really sturdy.

the rest of u, who think something supported by a solid shaft, might "roll" anywhere, are welcome to debate it.

[JimM68]

Originally Posted by RickO

A couple of questions:

1) does Powergear or Monaco recommend using their equipment in this fashion?

2) Udorick, isually when the front wheels come off the ground while leveling, it is because the coach is on a steep slope. In that configuration, this 15 ton box sitting on sticks would be putting more weight on the front jacks than the rear. Surely at SOME degree of slope, gravity would begin to take over and the additional stress on the front jack(s) would be too great. Do you know how much slope is acceptable?

Rick

and Mr. moderator Rick, i do not recall that u run a Monaco coach.....

i thought u run a fleetwood?

if your coach, like many damons i have seen, have these whimpy lil jacks that couldn't hold up a volkswagon... i'm listening...

but we re in the Monaco forum, and Monaco's, as far as i know, have BIG jacks.

[Mochisme]

Originally Posted by JimM68

and Mr. moderator Rick, i do not recall that u run a Monaco coach.....

i thought u run a fleetwood?

if your coach, like many damons i have seen, have these whimpy lil jacks that couldn't hold up a volkswagon... i'm listening...

but we re in the Monaco forum, and Monaco's, as far as i know, have BIG jacks.

The Issue as I see it has nothing to do with the size (Diameter) of the Jacks, it is the stresses of beingon that large of a slope (The Photo posted scared me more then the original story) and the possible side stresses that could occur. I have seen 10 inch dia solid steel shafts bend like nothing with unexpected loading hiting them. Also there is the concern someone mentioned about the bolts used to mount the jack to the coach.

Just too many possible things to go wrong. I like the blocking or ramping the front tires so the coach is sitting loaded on it tires, not a single jack. But that is just me and everyone is welcome to do as they see fit, just please do not do it while I am parked down hill from you.

[catonine]

I have powergear jacks and my manual states not to raise the MH off the ground with them. If I am parking in a spot that is extremely unlevel and would cause my MH to have to lifted off the ground, I would move on. Like another person said earlier, I built some ramps like he described to use if needed. In my opinion no leveling system should be used like the one in the picture. Check with most rv shops and you will find that they replace many bent levelers. Safety is paramount always.

[RickO]

Originally Posted by JimM68

and Mr. moderator Rick, i do not recall that u run a Monaco coach.....

i thought u run a fleetwood?

if your coach, like many damons i have seen, have these whimpy lil jacks that couldn't hold up a volkswagon... i'm listening...

but we re in the Monaco forum, and Monaco's, as far as i know, have BIG jacks.

Playing "I've got bigger jacks than you do" serves no purpose and doesn't help the OP one bit.

You made statements that indicated using the jacks to lift the front wheels far off the ground while on a steep slope was an acceptable practice. I asked if the manufacturers recommended this application of their equipment and how much slope would be too much for the jacks to bear.

You replied that you didn't know if I recall. I was just trying to determine if you were sharing your personal opinion or technical information from the OEM. You answered that question.

BTW, not that it has any bearing on the topic, but I drive an Itasca Ellipse 40FD.

Rick

[JimM68]

hmmm......
I'd like to apologize to all for having a really bad day and letting it spill over into several posts on the forum.

[pollittaxe]

for what it is worth, i run a small 100 foot mobil crane at work on an international chassis. it has four outriggers that slide out4 feet on each side, making a ground foot print 12 feet wide. when it was delivered to me at the manufactuer they told me to never lift the tires off the ground for stability reasons, but it was ok to drive the tires on to solid blocking, then pre load the frame with the hydrulic rams. WOW just like a motor home. any way dont risk it get some blocks under those tires. also if you guys with air brakes pull the park brake, dont all four tires lock up? making blocked front tires even more stabile. I could be wrong, but it just seems like a nobrainer! besides having to use a stepladder to get into your rig would get old after the frist time. jmho

[JimM68]

for what it's worth, and i'm a in a good mood tonight...
our campsite tonight is way off level. sloping back to front, and terrible low on the left.
front jack is completely topped out, rears managed to level her side to side, but she is still a little low in front.

Left front tire is 3" off the ground.

She is solid like rock, ain't going no where.

[YC1]

I had to replace my front jack. I will call it due to overextending but it really overextended just a tiny bit due to not being put together properly. What happened is that on level ground I raised the front jack all the way up by itself to gain access under it. Safety stands in place of course. Trying to let it down it jammed. When I finally got it down it had scuffed the side to the point I had to replace it. Very expensive and heavy to replace. In my manual it states NOT to use it to raise the wheels off the ground. I'm sure it is liability issues etc. The rams can handle the weight. I would have my rear wheels chocked solidly. Once chocked I would release the brakes a tiny bit to let the weight of the rv up against the blocks and then reset the brake. In any case I would put some solidly built cribbage under the front jack so you don't have to raise it so much. With some rough timbers they will be less likely to allow any movement.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by pollittaxe

also if you guys with air brakes pull the park brake, dont all four tires lock up?

No, the parking brakes only act on the rear wheels/tires. That's why you should never lift the rear tires off the ground, it CAN roll.
Our rams (four of them) are each rated for 12,000#'s, our rig weighs 13,600 front and just over 19,000 rear so we're way under the rating.
FYI: I have contacted Newmar, Spartan, Reyco Granning and HWH, ALL said there was no problem suspending the front axle off the ground for extended use.
I've taken the time to check it out with the various manufacturers, have you?