Community Forums

Tevman · 06-30-2010, 05:36 PM

What year is your Coach? My 2000 that I purchased new has always had the problem! At first I had to pull over and put the coach in park like you did. But, then HWH provided an upgrade in the control panel that allowed me to hit store while going down the highway. One of the other responses mentioned expansion due to heat. That is what I have heard for years. The coach is great so putting up with this little problem from time to time is no problem now that I know the jacks are not headed for the pavement.

azloafer · 06-30-2010, 06:09 PM

In a different section of this forum someone posted that when the hydraulic jack system is activated to "store" or "all up" it should be left on and the coach driven after a visual check of the jacks shows that they are up. The post indicated that the hydraulic system can take 10 to 15 minutes to release the pressure so turning it off manually is not a good thing. That post solved my problems. I just never turn it off anymore and let it go off by itself. No warning or red light comes on like it used to. My system is a Kwikee system that uses the term "all up" and it is all hydraulic with no jack springs. Joe

Renipladlo · 07-10-2010, 02:10 PM

We have had this problem twice. I now know to clean off the rams in the down position with HWH Hydraulic fluid and then wipe them down of any excess, leaving a light film on them. Cleaning them is a good idea periodically with HWH oil, and camping world sells it by the quart. I have the APEX model, so I cannot access my Jacks control while driving. The jack only seems to come down about 1/4-1/2 inch so I don't worry about it like I did the first time.

"007" · 07-10-2010, 02:30 PM

The delay wait works for HWH system also and I just had to wipe down my piston shafts with heavy duty silicone, today, for jacks to fully come up.
Works every time,some say don't do it I have done it for years on any coach with HWH.

Flossy · 07-19-2010, 04:47 PM

I have the same problem with the Jacks Down Alarm. A couple of weeks ago on the interstate the alarm came on and, like everyone else said, it scared the stuffings out of me and DW. I pulled over at the earliest point and checked and the rt front jack was down no more than 1/4 inch. I called HWH and they could not get me in for over a week so I found a RV shop with HWH credentials. They diagnosed it as a bad control valve. Anyway I went to HWH a couple of days later and they were kind enough to get me in and change said valve. They also installed new springs all the way around.

I figured I was in fat city and drove off. Within a 100 miles (rough road, high temperatures) the alarm sounded again. I pulled off and levered the jack up the 1/4 inch to shut it off. I then pulled F15 fuse which kills the alarm. About every 100 miles the light would come on usually after a run of rough road and high temps. I now carry a 6 foot 2 X 4 with me for the levering.

I have been running with the fuse out but I really don't like that setup. I know the jacks will not come down more than 1/4 inch or so but I would really like to find a cure for the creepage. Does anyone have a surefire method of preventing it or is it something I need to learn to live with?

By the way HWH was very helpful in getting me in without an appointment.

Thanks
Dave

winny2009 · 07-19-2010, 05:31 PM

Had this problem a lot with our previous 2000 Adventurer (HWH). Only when leaving campside in cool mornings and getting on hot highways.

N Dienes

takepride · 07-20-2010, 12:31 AM

I've been trying the suggestion of re-"store"ing the jacks after I turn on the engine and just leaving it to turn itself off. With 8K miles it hasn't gone off again.

Flossy · 07-23-2010, 05:47 PM

Update, I have been running for a few days now with the alarm fuse out. Everything seems to be fine (I run with the jacks in the "store" position.) At least once a day the light comes on for my right front jack. When I stop and check it, it is down about 1/4 inch. It really seems to be a function of excessive heat. Has anyone tried insulating the lines to the jacks? If so, was that a cure for the problem?

Another thing I found out. If your chassis battery is dead you cannot retract your jacks. In fact, the "store" button will not even stay engaged. Just thought I'd pass it on. I spent the night dry camping and apparently my failing battery finally gave up. I did get a new battery and everything is fine now, except for the creeping jack. Today the jack did manage to return to the store position by itself after it had crept down.

Dave

a k · 07-23-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

I have the same problem with the Jacks Down Alarm. A couple of weeks ago on the interstate the alarm came on and, like everyone else said, it scared the stuffings out of me and DW. I pulled over at the earliest point and checked and the rt front jack was down no more than 1/4 inch. I called HWH and they could not get me in for over a week so I found a RV shop with HWH credentials. They diagnosed it as a bad control valve. Anyway I went to HWH a couple of days later and they were kind enough to get me in and change said valve. They also installed new springs all the way around.

I figured I was in fat city and drove off. Within a 100 miles (rough road, high temperatures) the alarm sounded again. I pulled off and levered the jack up the 1/4 inch to shut it off. I then pulled F15 fuse which kills the alarm. About every 100 miles the light would come on usually after a run of rough road and high temps. I now carry a 6 foot 2 X 4 with me for the levering.

I have been running with the fuse out but I really don't like that setup. I know the jacks will not come down more than 1/4 inch or so but I would really like to find a cure for the creepage. Does anyone have a surefire method of preventing it or is it something I need to learn to live with?

By the way HWH was very helpful in getting me in without an appointment.

Very helpfull but didn't fix it did they?

Dave Fernandez · 07-28-2010, 01:20 AM

If the jack solenoid were leaking that could cause the Jack to extend slightly causing the jacks down alarm.

We have seen the same problem with room slides extending the room slide while parked or stored.

Old Scout · 07-28-2010, 07:57 AM

Not sure the room slide [bi-directional rams] creep issue is the same as the jacks [single-direction rams]. Once the "store" cycle completes, I think the solenoid returns to the de-energerized/closed position. Accordingly, any subsequent heating of the hydraulic fluid [eg the DS, rear jack next to the radiator] causes the trapped fluid to expand and thus the jack extends slightly. A leaky solenoid would actually help relieve the expansion issue--but wouldnt do much for keeping the coach level over time.