Community Forums

eoddewey · 04-19-2013, 08:04 AM

The dealer wants to use the coach HWH jacks to raise the coach to change the tires. Is this OK. This is first total tire replacemnt on coach.

Thank You

clyon51 · 04-19-2013, 08:15 AM

I don't see why not. I use my PowerGear jacks all the time to work under the coach. There is a safety issue of course if the jack(s) failed. That's why properly rated Jack Stands should be used ASAP after wheel is off the ground.

TRAILERKING · 04-19-2013, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eoddewey

The dealer wants to use the coach HWH jacks to raise the coach to change the tires. Is this OK. This is first total tire replacemnt on coach.

Thank You

I don't see a problem as long as use stands once it's lifted. The thing I don't like if I lift my Spartan chassis, is the rear air bags get stretched to an extreme. The shocks should have been a shorter travel to eliminate this.

Quaddinmad40 · 04-19-2013, 08:21 AM

I've done it before but now I have a broken gear in my hydraulic pump.

It's generally not recommended

Quaddinmad40 · 04-19-2013, 08:25 AM

This is the part that responsible for lifting my 20000 lb rig. Still having trouble finding a replacement. Will probably have integrate a whole new style of pump

PandK · 04-19-2013, 08:32 AM

When I checked with HWH they said it was OK to do this. LOTS of safety issues, jack stands etc. Would probably only work for the front end assuming you have air suspension (when you dump the air to put the jacks down the coach drops several inches, at least the way mine is set up).
Suggest calling HWH for accurate details.
When I had new tires installed they used floor jacks and jack stands to lift the tires off the ground. A safer was to go in my opinion.

sugarbear · 04-19-2013, 08:36 AM

The shop used mine to lift the coach but I would only let him lift one end at a time. I also had him chock the other end to keep from rolling and damaging the jacks.

Elexwiz · 04-19-2013, 08:37 AM

I just bought my first MH. It's a 99 Winnebago Chieftain. My first few attempts at leveling her out in my driveway resulted in full extension of all jacks but none of my tires are off the ground; I wasn't trying to get the tires off the ground, just something I noticed. In order to change a tire I would have to use some jack pads (wood) that I have in a storage compartment. Is this normal? Or should I be able to bring the tires off the ground without using jack pads?

TRAILERKING · 04-19-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaddinmad40

This is the part that responsible for lifting my 20000 lb rig. Still having trouble finding a replacement. Will probably have integrate a whole new style of pump

That's not normal. The pump gears should handle a pump going into pressure relief and shouldn't break. I would say there was a problem with that gear from when it was manufactured. What make of pump is it?

Quaddinmad40 · 04-19-2013, 09:00 AM

It's a Power Gear hydraulic system. It could have happened with age and it didn't happen as I was lifting off the ground for a tire change but it did soon after that. I had lifted the whole rig off the ground a few times prior.

If you are doing lifting off the ground probably best to lift front up a little first, then extend the rears and then finally finish raising fronts all the way and of course be on fairly level ground

clyon51 · 04-19-2013, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elexwiz

I just bought my first MH. It's a 99 Winnebago Chieftain. My first few attempts at leveling her out in my driveway resulted in full extension of all jacks but none of my tires are off the ground; I wasn't trying to get the tires off the ground, just something I noticed. In order to change a tire I would have to use some jack pads (wood) that I have in a storage compartment. Is this normal? Or should I be able to bring the tires off the ground without using jack pads?

It depends on the mfg, which jack system they used and at what position they mounted the jacks to the frame. My jacks can be adjusted on the frame as to how high they are off the ground when retracted. The closer to the ground they are mounted, the higher they can raise the coach. My front jacks can lift the front tires off the ground by 4-6 inches, but the rears cannot at all. I never really looked, but all 4 jacks are identical, so I have to assume the mfg adjusted the rear jacks so they couldn't raise the wheels off the ground. Probably so one couldn't have the entire coach off the ground.

Gary RVRoamer · 04-19-2013, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Or should I be able to bring the tires off the ground without using jack pads?

I don't think there is a "should" or "shouldn't' for this. The system is designed to level, not to change tires or do chassis service. If it also works for that, great. If not, nothing to complain about. The system isn't necessarily sized in either weight or length (height) to lift the entire chasis off the ground and I suspect that in at least some models it will not.

djbmsu · 04-19-2013, 10:24 AM

On our 2011 Tiffin RED the HWH instructions say, DO NOT use the jacks to change tires. It is NOT recommended !

Elexwiz · 04-19-2013, 10:27 AM

Thanks guys. Appreciate the feedback. I wasn't complaining per-say, I was more trying to identify if I had a problem. If they're supposed to lift the wheels off the ground and they're not, then I have a problem. It appears that my jacks are not designed for that so I don't have any problems. I'm good!