Community Forums

adj · 08-30-2007, 07:56 AM

Situation:

Three point or common front maifold four point jacks.

Jacks on the ground during high winds.

I experienced coach movement during high side winds the other day. After giving it some thought, I wondered wether the non-stabilized front end was inducing chassis/body stress during these wind loads. Which lead to the following question.

Should the jacks be up during high side wind conditions?

adj · 08-30-2007, 07:56 AM

Situation:

Three point or common front maifold four point jacks.

Jacks on the ground during high winds.

I experienced coach movement during high side winds the other day. After giving it some thought, I wondered wether the non-stabilized front end was inducing chassis/body stress during these wind loads. Which lead to the following question.

Should the jacks be up during high side wind conditions?

mis3s · 08-30-2007, 12:54 PM

We have a 4-point leveler on our Sightseer and we keep them down when we're in a CG. During windy days (strong winds), we bring our slides in. It protects the slide awnings as well as reduce the effects of the wind. In other threads I had read, someone recommended backing into the wind (less surface area, and protect windows too).

Relax, drive safely, and enjoy God's creations/

GaryKD · 08-30-2007, 04:27 PM

Four jacks and all down during high winds. Like mis3s posted, slides are retracted.

Bushman512003 · 09-01-2007, 03:37 AM

that's what they are made for to use when parked to stop the movement of You walking inside and wind movement from outside.But I think 4 point is better than the 3 point also just MHO..Bushman have a great day..

adj · 09-01-2007, 08:23 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bushman512003:
that's what they are made for to use when parked to stop the movement of You walking inside and wind movement from outside.But I think 4 point is better than the 3 point also just MHO..Bushman have a great day.. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
This is exactly what I'm getting at. With a three point system, the front end can sway/pivot around the front jack. therefore, in high side winds, the rear of the coach is stable on the ground (2 jacks) and the front is unstable (1 jack or two jacks with a common manifold). If the front of the coach is swaying during high side wind conditions, Isn't there stress being put on the chassis/body?

Bushman512003 · 09-01-2007, 11:27 AM

Dale: 1 jack is better than none just remember to not lift the M.H. off the ground.I just lift a little weight and not realy all that much.Our M.H. has just 1 step at the door and the Wife has a hard time getting in and out if I lift the House also I think that is hard on the 4 jacks.Strain but no pain.A little BUT not a lot.I find this works for Me..Bushman

travel · 09-01-2007, 11:40 AM

Why not raise them up past level,push a 2X6 under the front tires for stability and then relevel them manually. For HIGH winds, we set down on the ground and retract the rooms. Wife feels better too!

adj · 09-02-2007, 06:03 AM

My MH has a Power Gear system with 4 jacks. It levels side-to-side using 1 rear jack. Therefore, the front has to pivot around the front jacks when leveling with a rear jack.

My leveling routine is to use blocks(if necessary) for side-to-side leveling. Then I level fore-aft using the jacks, which are extended just enough to take a little weight off the wheels. I gave up trying side-to-side leveling because it induces stress into the MH. Once, the door wouldn't open after leveling and other times it put a bind on the door which made it hard to open.

My HWH system on previous MHs didn't have this problem. There was an individual jack system at each corner. Also, when leveling side-to-side, it used both jacks on the side being raised.

What has this got to do with side winds? Well, if there is non compressible jacks at all corners, the wind load will have equal effect fore and aft. This isn't true with a 3 point system or a 4 point with a common front hydraulic line.