Community Forums

DeeGee · 06-05-2016, 04:55 PM

All this talk of getting under your own coach has me wanting to get some stands and do some of the work myself. I want to do the tag dump mod, change out my markers for blinkers, and generally be able to inspect/lube things.

I'm a bit large to get underneath without jacking it up, and as one of my current issues is an air leak I would not trust the coach alone. Looks like 12 ton jack stands run about $85 to 90 a pair. Don't want to get skinny as fast as the coach would do me. Any recommendations? I'm looking at these from Amazon.

vsheetz · 06-05-2016, 05:03 PM

A Magic Creeper is a good thing. Rolls up when stowed. Very thin when laying on it, so provides more clearance. Provides padding if on bare ground / rocks.

Mwoodofd · 06-05-2016, 05:28 PM

That price looks good. Mine weigh about 40 lbs each. Is the Amazon free freight? I got mine at Northern Tools, seems like about the same price. I also agree the creeper makes life easy. Also get a 90 degree grease coupler to make it easier getting onto many of the grease fittings under the coach.

I just did mine this morning. I put 1 2x12 under the tires, then raised the coach with the jacks, placed the jack stands for safety, doing the front, then changing the boards and jacks to the back, and repeat. I found all my grease fittings, and it looked like Speedco got them all last November. (Happy for that). Took about an hour.

brobox · 06-05-2016, 05:40 PM

Here are the ones I have. I thing I caught them onsale or with a coupon for $39. 6 ton Steel Jack Stands

Mr_D · 06-05-2016, 05:44 PM

One thing to be careful of is that a lot of the jack stands are rated by the pair, so if you buy a set of 12 ton jacks that's 24,000#'s for the pair. For our rig that's not enough for the rear end since is a 20,000# drive and 14,000# tag, but is over the 18,000#'s+ that the front needs.

DeeGee · 06-05-2016, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

One thing to be careful of is that a lot of the jack stands are rated by the pair, so if you buy a set of 12 ton jacks that's 24,000#'s for the pair. For our rig that's not enough for the rear end since is a 20,000# drive and 14,000# tag, but is over the 18,000#'s+ that the front needs.

Ooh, that's not good. The stands I linked to are rated as 12 tons for the pair. Looks like we really should have something like these, rated at 22 tons.

brobox · 06-06-2016, 03:37 AM

One thing about jack stands...they are a third safety device. First we have the air system, then the hydrolic jacks, then 3rd the jack stands. I have had a lot of techs do short term service under my coach without a lift or jack stands. If the coach starts to make any noises...I will be out of there before the jacks stands ever come into play. I still use them for long periods of time under the coach, but I use a size I can handle. 90% of the time I never think to grab the jack stands....I know, it doesn't make it right.

Johnnypac · 06-06-2016, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

One thing to be careful of is that a lot of the jack stands are rated by the pair, so if you buy a set of 12 ton jacks that's 24,000#'s for the pair. For our rig that's not enough for the rear end since is a 20,000# drive and 14,000# tag, but is over the 18,000#'s+ that the front needs.

One thing to think about is the placement of the jack stands. You are actually trying to secure the weight of the coach, not the chassis. The weight of the engine, trans , etc will still be on the ground as you want to secure the body of the coach. Placing stands under the chassis will not keep the body from coming down in the event of air loss or hydro jack failure.

Mwoodofd · 06-06-2016, 04:39 PM

All good points. I think I will just dig a pit - DW would love that in the drive one day when she came home.

DeeGee · 06-06-2016, 06:16 PM

That's a good point of discussion, though - we want jack points that hold the house, not the chassis, and will hold the weight. Would be worth identifying these ahead of time and publishing same.

Gdawgs · 06-06-2016, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnypac

One thing to think about is the placement of the jack stands. You are actually trying to secure the weight of the coach, not the chassis. The weight of the engine, trans , etc will still be on the ground as you want to secure the body of the coach. Placing stands under the chassis will not keep the body from coming down in the event of air loss or hydro jack failure.

I use 22 ton each jack stands from Summit. I place them under the chassis. The coach's hydraulic jacks are attached to the chassis as are the bottom of the air bags. If the bags deflate the coach will rest on the chassis so you want to support the chassis similar to supporting a car or truck frame.

Johnnypac · 06-07-2016, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gdawgs

I use 22 ton each jack stands from Summit. I place them under the chassis. The coach's hydraulic jacks are attached to the chassis as are the bottom of the air bags. If the bags deflate the coach will rest on the chassis so you want to support the chassis similar to supporting a car or truck frame.

Those are some nice looking stands..... I think most people are going under the coach with a small amount of clearance. Even if the chassis is supported, if the bags are full of air, there is a potential for air loss dropping the coach body down the distance of travel from full air to no air in bag.....might be a good 4 to 6 inches. Now I know when you auto level it dumps the air out of the bags first so then in order to lift bus you would then support under chassis. With 30 years of experience as a bus mechanic I still don't trust crawling under the coach unless the bus is lifted from the wheels and then supported with safety stands. Just my own opinion.

JMynes · 06-07-2016, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

One thing about jack stands...they are a third safety device. First we have the air system, then the hydrolic jacks, then 3rd the jack stands. I have had a lot of techs do short term service under my coach without a lift or jack stands. If the coach starts to make any noises...I will be out of there before the jacks stands ever come into play. I still use them for long periods of time under the coach, but I use a size I can handle. 90% of the time I never think to grab the jack stands....I know, it doesn't make it right.

Sorry, but I disagree. Jack stands are the first and only safety device. The vehicle should be supported securely on jack stands if it needs to be elevated for people to get under it. Air and hydraulic systems can fail without warning and should not be relied on as a safety device.
Resting on the springs, I'll crawl under with no hesitation. If it has to be lifted it gets jack stands.

Gdawgs · 06-07-2016, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMynes

Sorry, but I disagree. Jack stands are the first and only safety device. The vehicle should be supported securely on jack stands if it needs to be elevated for people to get under it. Air and hydraulic systems can fail without warning and should not be relied on as a safety device.
Resting on the springs, I'll crawl under with no hesitation. If it has to be lifted it gets jack stands.

I use the hydraulic jacks to raise the frame, then place the jacks under the frame. I leave the bags alone, If they fail the body drops to the frame which is supported by the jacks. With a combined 44 ton capacity I feel OK crawling under the coach.