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12-28-2016, 07:27 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Naples, fl
Posts: 141
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Jacks up, jacks down?
Storing my newmar ventana over NJ winter, in the open.
Should jacks be down to take some weight off the tires resting on plywood, which has stone base underneath?
Jack feet have 2" X 12" blocks to rest on.
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12-28-2016, 07:42 AM
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#2
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Registered User
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 155
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I store mine inside and put the jacks down to take some weight off the tires. I don't see any difference between jacks down in storage and jacks down while snowbirding for long periods.
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12-28-2016, 09:04 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Western NY
Posts: 3,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slapfoot
I store mine inside and put the jacks down to take some weight off the tires. I don't see any difference between jacks down in storage and jacks down while snowbirding for long periods.
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The suggested way to go is to put blocks under the jacks and then deflate the air bags. This takes much of the weight off the tires but also puts quite a bit of the weight on the blocks. It gives you an extra four points of weight distribution.
This is the method suggested by Freightliner at Camp Freightliner.
__________________
2018.5 Entegra Aspire 44R-Sold, 2019 Chevy Blazer-Sold. 2022 Genesis GV-80.
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12-28-2016, 09:11 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,397
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Bad idea to leave jacks down, good idea to have blocks under them and weight off the tires.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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12-28-2016, 11:35 AM
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#5
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,559
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Leaving jacks down for extended time is not a good idea. You will be leaving the cylinders exposed (possible rusting issues). Block under the jacks and dump the air instead.
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Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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12-28-2016, 01:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Naples, fl
Posts: 141
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Just bought this Diesel Ventana. Only had gasoline engines.
Working my way through manuals.
If I use the suggested block method under the jacks, how do I dump the air bags and how many inches do I gain for taking pressure off the tires and not extend the jacks at all?
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12-28-2016, 08:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
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My leveling control panel, has a number of buttons on them.
- One button is autolevel, when pressed it dumps the air first, then starts to extend the jacks to level out the coach.
- Another button is manual dump, when pressed will just dump the air from the suspension.
I cut blocks which fit just under the jacks, about an inch from the jack pad. When you press the manual dump button, it will release the air from the suspension. As the coach starts to squat the jack pads will lower onto the blocks, taking the bulk of the weight of the coach.
The weight is off the tires, jacks don't have any metal cylinder exposed and are holding the weight. Very stable.
(Actually my driveway has a little slope to it, so I cut the blocks so that when my coach squats it ends up level. That way I can move my slides in and out if I want or need to with no worries).
When you want to move, you need to air up the suspension, then you can pull the blocks of wood out before moving.
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DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
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12-29-2016, 03:08 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,768
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My manual says to put the jacks down... that's why they are there. If you get concerned about the jacks, spray them with silicone.
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2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
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12-29-2016, 04:21 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,713
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The tire manufacturer prefers you to put the jacks down, to ease the load on the tires. The jack manufacturer prefers to have the jacks up, to protect the surface of the hydraulic ram from corrosion and dirt.
Ya pays your money and ya takes your pick!
The safest all-around choice is to jack up the chassis and put blocks underneath the frame rails, then lower it again. That takes weight off the tires and the jacks are still retracted.
Frankly, I wouldn't lose sleep about it whatever you decide to do.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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12-29-2016, 04:36 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
The tire manufacturer prefers you to put the jacks down, to ease the load on the tires. The jack manufacturer prefers to have the jacks up, to protect the surface of the hydraulic ram from corrosion and dirt.
Ya pays your money and ya takes your pick!
The safest all-around choice is to jack up the chassis and put blocks underneath the frame rails, then lower it again. That takes weight off the tires and the jacks are still retracted.
Frankly, I wouldn't lose sleep about it whatever you decide to do.
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Sound advice.
The major manufacturer HWH, claims there is absolutely no harm in leaving the jacks extended. These are hard chrome finished rams an not affected by weather. You may want to crawl under and wipe them off with a spray lube of some sort before retracting them in the spring but leaving them extended is perfectly acceptable.
See attached link below.
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2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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12-29-2016, 04:45 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,446
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Over 40 years fixing heavy and construction equipment.
Never saw a rusty hydraulic piston rod. There are many pistons that are stored exposed all of the time.
Look at any backhoe.
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12-29-2016, 04:52 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,325
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I grew up farming, and like twinboat did not see any rusted hydraulic pistons on equipment that sat totally exposed to the weather (not hidden underneath like on a motorhome) for many months at a time.
My HWH jacks have been down virtually all the time since I bought the coach in 2003 except when driving. I have NEVER sprayed anything on the rams, and I have NEVER wiped down the rams. They are in great condition and have never failed to go up or down when prompted.
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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12-29-2016, 04:57 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,310
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis45
Sound advice.
The major manufacturer HWH, claims there is absolutely no harm in leaving the jacks extended. These are hard chrome finished rams an not affected by weather. You may want to crawl under and wipe them off with a spray lube of some sort before retracting them in the spring but leaving them extended is perfectly acceptable.
See attached link below.
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X12 on this Dennis! All the jack/tire questions are legible and see why folks ask. As far as the jack cylinder's..........being exposed........Next time you travel, even in your auto around your home, take a look at all the backhoes, dozers, garbage trucks, just about ant type of heavy equipment with hydraulic cylinders on them.........After being bought, they spend their entire life outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions from our east coast to the west coast, north and south also, all around the world for that matter..........
These cylinders are "Under" our Coach's...............And for the most part, protected from most all the elements that all those others I mentioned above are all exposed, and never a problem. They are made for a high grade material and have the finest chroming process done on them. Our one Ford backhoe is a 1967..........with all the OEM cylinders on it! Still works like a champ, and no leaks.............on the cylinders as they still look like new.
I have never put anything on mine as the cylinder by design(As all do) have a special wiper on them, before the seals............so I like mine just to operate as designed, applying nothing to them(Dust will stick, and you can't see it) and let the cylinder/wiper/seals do their job.
Has anyone ever seen a person wiping down the hydraulic cylinders with WD-40 on heavy equipment
I will venture to guess these cylinders will outlast any Coach they are on.
As far as lubing them cause they will not retract or slowly retract........I would be looking at a spring replacement.
(Not saying someone could not get a cylinder finishing with a bad finish job)
__________________
2012 Essex 4544 2011 Jeep JK, M&G Braking, 2014 MTI 27' Hog Hauler, Wireless brake control, 2006 Ultra & 1989 Springer, 2003 Harley-Davidson
FLHR Road King Anniversary
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12-29-2016, 05:03 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: AB
Posts: 7,587
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Has anyone ever seen a person wiping down the hydraulic cylinders with WD-40 on heavy equipment
I will venture to guess these cylinders will outlast any Coach they are on.
As far as lubing them cause they will not retract or slowly retract........I would be looking at a spring replacement.
Palehorse, you are right on. When I stated you may want to wipe them off, it was directed at others. You will not catch me crawling under my coach to wipe them off.
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2019 Unity LTV CB, pushed by a 2013 Honda CRV, BlueOx Baseplate, Aventa Bar & Patriot Brake
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