Winter storage, Jacks up or down?

[bluegrasser]

We've just replaced our old 89 Sunflyer with a newer coach, a Triple E Commander. We didn't have leveling jacks on the old Sunflyer so that feature is new to us. We have HWH hydraulic jacks, and use them when the slides are out. We will be storing the coach with the slides in over the winter, should the jacks be retracted or extended?

[RovinOn]

I store my coach with the levelers up! Don't see any need for them otherwise.

Regards,
RovinOn
Southwind37C

[Izzyblueye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegrasser We've just replaced our old 89 Sunflyer with a newer coach, a Triple E Commander. We didn't have leveling jacks on the old Sunflyer so that feature is new to us. We have HWH hydraulic jacks, and use them when the slides are out. We will be storing the coach with the slides in over the winter, should the jacks be retracted or extended?

As the other poster said, "No reason to store with them down". I was always concerned to with what the elements would eventually do to the steel cylinders. Finally unless you have them on a very hard no give surface, they are going to sink in. Some believe it preserves their spring curve or other suspension parts. If those parts can't take a winter storage, they are not going to hold up pounding down the road.

[Petro]

bluegrasser;

I have always stored mine with the jacks down. It is however stored inside on a concrete floor out of the elements. I always felt taking some weight off the tires is a good thing. Maybe I an not doing it right but I have never had a problem. When we are ready to go south in late winter the jacks are already down and DW runs the slides out for stocking.

Don

[DandS]

I vote for jacks down for storage. Have always felt it advantageous to take some weight off tires when stored. I store O/S on my property during Michigan winters and have never seen any deterioration of the rams from the weather. I'm careful to have pads under jacks so they do not freeze to the ground.

[DAN L]

i store my moho inside an rv barn with the jacks down. it takes the weight off the tires, prolonging their life. i have a concrete floor. i spray the hwh jack cylinders with silicone spray and wipe them lightly.
if i stored the moho outside where there was wind, i wouldn't have more than 2 tires off the ground at any time.

[bluegrasser]

Thanks for the input. I think I will store the coach with the jacks retracted. In 20 years of storing the old Sunflyer on a gravel parking pad outside next to the garage in our cold/snowy Canadian winters, I have not had a problem. My thoughts were if I leave them down, and its sub zero, would they come back up if I needed to move the coach. It will be slides in, jacks up. Thanks for the help.

[DandS]

If I had HWH jacks, I would store them up too. They are problematic at best.

[JCM]

I store my Triple E Commander with the jacks up but I have plywood under the tires. No problems in 6 years.
I would be worried about the jacks pitting with rust and damaging the seals on retraction.
I know the argument that full timers may park for months with their jacks down but I still think that they should be cycled every 3-4 weeks just to keep them clean.
You will love your commander.

[Batman_777]

Freightliner recommends you contact the body manufacture. The jacks can be different types and have different requirements for long term extension.

[Izzyblueye]

I don't put my jacks down on the way to Florida in Jan, until I get into warm climate. I don't want to chance one will not retract when I get ready to hit the road in the early morning. I know they will always go down, but nothing but a spring brings them back up and in really cold weather, it could be a gamble I don't need.

[Batman_777]

Fleetwood said keep the jacks retracted for long term storage since the lack leg needs to stay lubricated. Also, spray some silicone on the shiny part and wipe off excess. If the legs have been extended for a long period of time (long depends upon the environment), wipe them off with a clean cloth before retracting. If the legs get pitted from unuse or climate extremes, they may damage the seals inside and the lack leg itself could require replacing.

[Route 66]

I don't think leaving the jacks down is an issue as many of us snowbirds are on jacks for 5~6 months.

[Batman_777]

Fleetwood said keep the jacks retracted for long term storage since the lack leg piston (I think it's the piston) needs to stay lubricated. Also, spray some silicone on the shiny part (piston) and wipe off excess. If the legs have been extended for a long period of time (long depends upon the environment), wipe them off with a clean cloth before retracting. If the legs get pitted from unuse or climate extremes, they may damage the seals inside and the lack leg itself could require replacing.