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02-26-2017, 10:27 AM
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#15
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
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You can also break a windshield by not using the single front jack correctly.
Many Monaco owners can attest to that!
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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02-26-2017, 10:32 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,188
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I always disagree with the engineers that design complex pieces of equipment. Clearly what I feel about the subject has the same credibility and standing that the instructions from the folks who designed it have!
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SpaceNorman
2012 HR Endeavor 43' DFT, 2022 Jeep Wrangler
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02-26-2017, 11:05 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 950
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You will learn a lot more about your coach if you disregard the "rules" for leveling. I got to replace the seals alongside our roadside slide-out because I ran them in while the coach was leveled. Had I not done this I would not have realized how much the slide-outs change during the leveling process. When you have the seals off you can see first-hand how the slide-out torque when you level.
I also had the opportunity to learn how to replace a broken tile due to bringing in the slide-out in the level position. It is a real trick trying to find matching grout color for old tile work.
So, if you want to really learn more about your coach, do what I did and run the slides in and out in the level position. Or, like I do now, I get to ride-height and then move the slides. It really saves time doing repairs.
Oh, and I have a big label next to my leveler that says to open slide-outs before leveling. But, I read other "expert" opinions that said otherwise.
You can learn from my mistakes or make your own.
__________________
2003 Beaver Patriot
2014 Honda CRV Toad
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02-26-2017, 02:16 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin_M
Jerry,
I'm certainly NOT saying that you are wrong. Indeed, Monaco made that recommendation in the manual regardless of whether the coach had hydraulic or air leveling. But I always found it curious that Monaco, to the best of my knowledge, never explained in writing the reason for the recommendation when all other manufacturers seemed to be recommending the opposite procedure.
Remember the old "Tech Tips"? There were hundreds of them, dealing with every subject "under the sun". Back in the day, I read almost every one of them, and to the best of my knowledge, this topic was never even mentioned there. Now, I guess, we'll never know.
On another subject, I'm curious about something you said... Can you tell me why your coach has 4 jacks that level to the axle and never touch the ground? What purpose do they serve?
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I rarely use the SMC leveling system. It does the same as any other leveling system. It raises the coach using hydraulic jacks that go to the axle instead of the ground. The house is level and the chassis is at whatever angle the ground is. It is effective but the air leveling is also and much easier without the chance of a hydraulic failure.
__________________
Jerry, "EWC (SW)" USN Retired
2003 Beaver Patriot Thunder 505 HP C-12 1550 TQ
Allison 4000MH Ram 4X4 towed
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02-28-2017, 09:27 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 286
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Still a topic of discussion. Here's what i found: not sure if this is totally related, but i always did the slides then level with our coach until we had the fridge upgraded to a residential unit. The fridge itself is lighter than the Dometic it replaced, but it is 18 cf instead of 12, so it holds a lot more food. After that, I found that if the ground itself is unlevel then there was serious binding when retracting the slide with the fridge in it when getting the coach back to ride height. This was particularly true if the driver's side was the low side so the coach was pulling that slide up hill. If I do the retract with the coach level on the hydraulic jacks (they go to the ground, not the axles) I never have that problem anymore. So, I ignore the manual and always level first unless we are on an already level spot and do not need to level, such as a one night stop while in transit.
Just my experience but it works better for me.
__________________
Jim (NQ5L) & Chris
2007 Monaco Knight 40 PDQ
2011 Jeep Liberty
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02-28-2017, 10:05 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Marysville Washington
Posts: 448
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I have a 2008 Endeavor. I have learned to always extend and retract the slides at ride height. Binding and broken windshield result if you do it any other way.
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03-01-2017, 06:33 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,850
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrusselltx
Still a topic of discussion. Here's what i found: not sure if this is totally related, but i always did the slides then level with our coach until we had the fridge upgraded to a residential unit. The fridge itself is lighter than the Dometic it replaced, but it is 18 cf instead of 12, so it holds a lot more food. After that, I found that if the ground itself is unlevel then there was serious binding when retracting the slide with the fridge in it when getting the coach back to ride height. This was particularly true if the driver's side was the low side so the coach was pulling that slide up hill. If I do the retract with the coach level on the hydraulic jacks (they go to the ground, not the axles) I never have that problem anymore. So, I ignore the manual and always level first unless we are on an already level spot and do not need to level, such as a one night stop while in transit.
Just my experience but it works better for me.
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Excellent point, Jim!
That is especially rue if you have a full wall slide, and the ground is lower on that side. What can happen, is the slide will not tip up soon enough when retracting. In that case you should always bring that slide in while the coach is still level. Otherwise, there's a good chance that the top of the slide will take out ceiling fixtures on the way in. Been there, done that. (And that was BEFORE I replaced the Dometic 1200 reefer with the residential unit.)
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03-01-2017, 07:10 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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Yes sir, had to touch up the ceiling trim from the FWS not 'tipping IN' soon enough once it came over the 'hump'...
so we've gotten into the habit of watching to make sure it 'tips' before it comes in...
usually will only strike the ceiling if we come all the way in at once,
if we stop it somewhat half way in, it will tip on it's own...
I always thought it was because it pulled from the 'bottom' of the slide and had to come up and over the nylon bumps...
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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03-01-2017, 07:50 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Johnson City, TX
Posts: 1,060
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film
I wished that the original owner of my 2002 Windsor had ordered the optional Air/Hydraulic Combo Leveling instead of just the Air Leveling.
HWH wanted $8000 to add the Hydraulic Leveling to my coach.
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Was that just for air leveling, or the full ActiveAir system? I found the receipts for mine, it cost $9300 to have HWH install the ActiveAir system on my coach.
__________________
2018 Rockwood 2304DS Ultra Light pulled by 2018 Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel 4x4
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03-06-2017, 10:58 AM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 947
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Picked up my new to me Monaco this past Friday. Found that it only has air leveling. So I extended the slides & leveled. So I guess I'm going to follow the manual.
__________________
Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3
2014 F-350 6.7L CC DRW
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03-06-2017, 11:05 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTK46
Picked up my new to me Monaco this past Friday. Found that it only has air leveling. So I extended the slides & leveled. So I guess I'm going to follow the manual.
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Great plan! Just make sure you are at ride height to put slides in or out.
__________________
Jerry, "EWC (SW)" USN Retired
2003 Beaver Patriot Thunder 505 HP C-12 1550 TQ
Allison 4000MH Ram 4X4 towed
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