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10-04-2017, 08:41 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 21
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Hydraulic Levelers - Manufacturer?
Newbie here...I have a used 2012 Winslow 34IKE and I was wondering if anyone knows the manufacturer of the hydraulic level system? Or how can I figure out the manufacturer? Unfortunately bought used and unit had no manuals. So I am slowly creating my own to keep for record. Any help or suggestions would be great.
Thanks,
Mike
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10-04-2017, 02:42 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Whitney, Texas, USA
Posts: 2,284
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My 2013 Excel Winslow 34IKE has Lippert Level Up autoleveling hydraulic jacks.
__________________
Russell
'13 Excel Winslow 34IKE
'16 GMC Sierra 3500HD
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10-04-2017, 06:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,067
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The Excel manual was rather generic and not a whole lot of help. I also have the Lippert Level Up system. The owners manuals for the individual systems were a lot more use to me. Once you know what you have see if you can find the manual for it online.
__________________
Jim,
2020 Ford F350 Platinum, 4X4, CCLB, SRW, diesel, 12,400 GVWR
2020 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Reese Goose Box
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10-04-2017, 11:51 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Fulltime TX Escapee
Posts: 8,901
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Welcome to the Excel forum 5th! Lippert (LCI) makes all the later model hydraulics on your Excel.
Mike, please update your signature to include you rig info for easy reference. Thanks.
__________________
2012 Excel L33ft. GKE named Charm as in 3 times is a Charm. Love Fulltiming. Bullet '14 Chevy D/A 3500 LB CC DRW Summit White - Ebony Interior. Check out our blog at: https://claphamstravels.blogspot.com
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08-06-2018, 01:24 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 11
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Auto level
I have a Winslow 31rle. I have been considering adding an auto level system. I see that Excel was using lippert....a few questions: how reliable are they? Are they more trouble than they’re worth (right now I use the Anderson plastic “bananas”) and if I decide to spend the $ would it be worth it to head up to Smith Center to have them do the work?
Thanks
__________________
Jpatt
2010 Excel Winslow 31 RLE
2010 Ram 2500
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08-12-2018, 08:53 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: adamstown, pa.
Posts: 149
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I went through some extensive research on hydraulic leveling systems and settled on a Bigfoot semi-auto/manual system. I didn't spend the extra $1K for full auto, but with the remote control in hand I can monitor levels F/R or L/R on an external electronic level I installed or simply watch a large bulls eye level I put on DW's stove. don't want the eggs on one side of the pan.... the Lippert system was impressive, but when I put them on the spot asking if it would lift the coach to change a flat tire out on the road, they avoided that question and wouldn't guarantee it..... Bigfoot said " no problem, go right ahead". done deal. works wonderful....no more fooling around with boards.
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mitch and mary freeman, 2011 winslow 31rle, 2004 chevy 3500 ext drw 4wd duramax/allison, harley springer, too many hotrods and old farm tractors.
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08-13-2018, 07:08 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,067
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I haven't had any issues with my Lippert system. I've also used it to lift the wheels on one side off the ground but only a few times when I was doing something with the suspension. I'm not sure if it makes any difference in the cost but the Lippert system used on mine has 4 jacks, not 6 like some. The 4 work very well on our 34 and would surely be fine on your 31. I stand to be corrected but I think this was because the fully boxed frame is strong enough to handle 2 less jacks. Anyway, it works well and is pretty solid.
Smith Center might be a good idea for the install as they would know exactly what to do.
__________________
Jim,
2020 Ford F350 Platinum, 4X4, CCLB, SRW, diesel, 12,400 GVWR
2020 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Reese Goose Box
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08-13-2018, 09:09 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 11
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Thanks padutchmnm and jdt.....padutchmnm does your Bigfoot setup use 4 or 6 legs....and where did you have them installed?
__________________
Jpatt
2010 Excel Winslow 31 RLE
2010 Ram 2500
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08-13-2018, 12:53 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: adamstown, pa.
Posts: 149
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my bigfoot system has 4. front standard landing gear location and rear about a foot behind the rear wheels. I can also supplement with the stock rear stabilizers if I choose to, but usually don't. it's pretty solid.
__________________
mitch and mary freeman, 2011 winslow 31rle, 2004 chevy 3500 ext drw 4wd duramax/allison, harley springer, too many hotrods and old farm tractors.
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08-13-2018, 03:32 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: adamstown, pa.
Posts: 149
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sorry, I missed the second part of your question.....I had the system installed at K&D Truck Bodies near Lancaster PA. they were recommended by Bigfoot and were quite convenient for me. I considered taking the coach to Bigfoot for installation at the factory, but once I learned about K&D, I decided to let them do it. that saved me a week of travel expenses and I'm very pleased with the workmanship. it's just a small shop, but they take the time to do it right.
__________________
mitch and mary freeman, 2011 winslow 31rle, 2004 chevy 3500 ext drw 4wd duramax/allison, harley springer, too many hotrods and old farm tractors.
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08-14-2018, 08:16 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDT
I haven't had any issues with my Lippert system. I've also used it to lift the wheels on one side off the ground but only a few times when I was doing something with the suspension. I'm not sure if it makes any difference in the cost but the Lippert system used on mine has 4 jacks, not 6 like some. The 4 work very well on our 34 and would surely be fine on your 31. I stand to be corrected but I think this was because the fully boxed frame is strong enough to handle 2 less jacks. Anyway, it works well and is pretty solid.
Smith Center might be a good idea for the install as they would know exactly what to do.
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A little story I was told about the use of only two sets of jacks on EXCEL trailers that I think Bryan told me when we were talking to him at Fort Worth RV show.
If I remember this correctly, I was talking to Bryan at the Fort Worth RV show a year or two before we purchased our EXCEL. One of the questions I asked him about was why the EXCEL only had two sets of jacks instead of three like most trailers. He stated during the process of planning how to add hydraulic jacks to the EXCEL line, Lippert questioned Peterson Industries' decision to use only two jacks. Lippert stated that only two sets of jacks would result in excessive frame flexing. PI was confident in the strength of their frame and deemed a third set was not needed. Lippert was not convinced. So PI delivered one of their 5th wheel models to Lippert to test. After testing, Lippert agreed that two sets of jacks was sufficient for the PI trailers. The frame of the EXCEL line was one of the things that impressed me most about the quality of the EXCEL trailer. We looked at trailers for over 5 years before we purchased our EXCEL. Unfortunately, while the frame was still strong, the quality of the rest of the trailer suffered during the recession and subsequent years until PI was forced to close their doors.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
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08-14-2018, 09:58 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,067
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CARLnJANIS
A little story I was told about the use of only two sets of jacks on EXCEL trailers that I think Bryan told me when we were talking to him at Fort Worth RV show.
If I remember this correctly, I was talking to Bryan at the Fort Worth RV show a year or two before we purchased our EXCEL. One of the questions I asked him about was why the EXCEL only had two sets of jacks instead of three like most trailers. He stated during the process of planning how to add hydraulic jacks to the EXCEL line, Lippert questioned Peterson Industries' decision to use only two jacks. Lippert stated that only two sets of jacks would result in excessive frame flexing. PI was confident in the strength of their frame and deemed a third set was not needed. Lippert was not convinced. So PI delivered one of their 5th wheel models to Lippert to test. After testing, Lippert agreed that two sets of jacks was sufficient for the PI trailers. The frame of the EXCEL line was one of the things that impressed me most about the quality of the EXCEL trailer. We looked at trailers for over 5 years before we purchased our EXCEL. Unfortunately, while the frame was still strong, the quality of the rest of the trailer suffered during the recession and subsequent years until PI was forced to close their doors.
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I think I heard that story before.
As far as quality, I guess I've been lucky as the only issues I've had has been with some minor components. Nothing structural at all. I am meticulous with maintenance and caulking any possible leak areas. Maybe mine was built on a good day. It was built in 2012 so maybe there was still some hope for survival. We did go look at it while it was still on the line so maybe they made sure we would be impressed.
I do have a bit of an advantage as mine lives indoors when not on the road. It still shines like new.
__________________
Jim,
2020 Ford F350 Platinum, 4X4, CCLB, SRW, diesel, 12,400 GVWR
2020 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Reese Goose Box
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08-15-2018, 07:59 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Excel Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDT
I think I heard that story before.
As far as quality, I guess I've been lucky as the only issues I've had has been with some minor components. Nothing structural at all. I am meticulous with maintenance and caulking any possible leak areas. Maybe mine was built on a good day. It was built in 2012 so maybe there was still some hope for survival. We did go look at it while it was still on the line so maybe they made sure we would be impressed.
I do have a bit of an advantage as mine lives indoors when not on the road. It still shines like new.
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Jim,
The things I was talking about was basically attention-to-detail issues. Trim not properly attached, drawer latches in back of drawer coming through the wood into the drawer, cabinet joints not fitting correctly requiring matching tape to hide exposed bare wood joint from showing, fixtures and electrical outlets not installed plumb, windows installed too tight to open window, and some of the knot holes in the wood trim that has glue showing through. I will admit I think the knots in the wood add character but the glue showing seems like an "I don't care!" attitude. The first time I gave an EXCEL a good going over was in 2005 or 2006. The quality was there and I should have taken another close look in 2012 before I bought the trailer but I didn't. Even if I had, I would have probably still bought the EXCEL but would have been a little more aware of what I consider were cost shortcuts. It is still a well-built trailer.
Our trailer also still looks new. I keep our trailer in an enclosed unit in an RV storage area. It's a little pricey but I think of it as preservation insurance.
__________________
Carl and Janis
2013 Excel L36GKE
2012 Ford F450 w/Highwayman RV Hauler
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08-29-2018, 12:22 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 558
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I've not heard of, talked to, or read about anyone replacing a Bigfoot hyd. system with SOB (some other brand).
Has anyone?
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