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Old 01-08-2020, 06:47 PM   #1
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2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Santa Monica , California
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Lifting Interstate for under carriage work

Hi there,
My son took our 2016 AI to Lake Tahoe this past month and froze it up.
Living here in sunny So. Cal we did ignore the winterization provisions.

We have a cracked macerator that we are thinking of replacing ourselves.
The local Airstream Dealer quoted me a cost of around $1,100 with a macerator part cost of $300 something. It looks like the actual flojet macerator cost is approx $155 on Amazon.

So to save the $950 and to have a father-son bonding experience I am thinking of doing the work. My big question is:

How do you lift up the vehicle to work on it?
I have read the great threads about doing this type of work but I can't find this basic advice.
How do I best jack it up (I have a bottle jack, but own no floor jack). Do I need jack or Floor stands? (probably)
Thanks for your input.

Glen B.
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Old 01-08-2020, 07:28 PM   #2
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Normal , Illinois
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I would hazard a guess that most of us don’t work on our rigs ourselves, but others will speak to that.

If you don’t find a good way to elevate it, may find a friendly shop with a pit they use to work on rigs from beneath...as my service guy does.

Good luck,

Maggie
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Old 01-08-2020, 07:31 PM   #3
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Fulton , Maryland
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Most of us use homemade solid wood ramps. Here is thread with details. . .

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...as-196930.html
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Old 01-08-2020, 08:28 PM   #4
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1960 22' Safari
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Just a thought.

Use the bottle jack (With boards underneath if you need more height) under the differential to lift it up and then put jack stands under the axle on both sides to keep it solid and secure.

Please, never ever get under your van when it is only on a jack. Very dangerous and possibly deadly.

Have fun and the best to you.
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Old 01-08-2020, 08:56 PM   #5
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I ran the left-side front wheel up on a ramp. At the rear, I used all of my 12 levelling blocks to raise the left rear up 3 blocks high. Any wood ramp would do as well, but I carry the blocks in case they are needed on the road.

That gave me plenty of room to work underneath and change the macerator.
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Old 01-09-2020, 06:14 AM   #6
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Townsend , Tennessee
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Lifting Interstate for under carriage work

Quote:
Originally Posted by Goin camping View Post
Just a thought.

Use the bottle jack (With boards underneath if you need more height) under the differential to lift it up and then put jack stands under the axle on both sides to keep it solid and secure.

Please, never ever get under your van when it is only on a jack. Very dangerous and possibly deadly.

Have fun and the best to you.


Jacking via differential case is not a good idea for a 5 ton vehicle. Service tech related a case of cracked axle housing done by doing just that.

I built a set of ramps.
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Old 01-09-2020, 06:52 AM   #7
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Home-made ramps and a $25 creeper from Harbor Freight. Probably depicted on the other linked thread, but for brevity, here are two pics:



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Old 01-09-2020, 08:45 AM   #8
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Tampa , Florida
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I once had a seal replaced on a MH tranny.
The service center had a Greyhound bus on a lift, and workers standing underneath.
I was terrified to go near it.
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Old 01-09-2020, 09:24 AM   #9
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2017 23' Flying Cloud
Mesquite , Nevada
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DO NOT use a jack on the differential! The cover is stamped steel and will bend creating a leak. I know this because a dealer damaged my Sprinter by jacking at the differential, the cover had to be replaced.
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Old 01-09-2020, 05:50 PM   #10
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2013 Interstate Coach
Idaho Falls , Idaho
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I have replaced the macerator twice and rebuilt the piping from the valves. I used the normal LEGO leveling blocks that we carry for camping to raise the duallys 3 LEGOs high. Plenty of room.
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