hydraulic leveler question - how high is too high?

[JourneytoRet]

I am parked at a spot where one of the rear dualies is off the ground about an inch. is that too high or hard on the hydraulic leveler?

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by JourneytoRet

I am parked at a spot where one of the rear dualies is off the ground about an inch. is that too high or hard on the hydraulic leveler?

Make sure your other wheels are chocked in both directions because with a rear dual in the air you don't have a parking brake. The hydraulics don't care how high it is until it starts to roll away. The frame may not be happy about twisting either.

[DaveFL]

I only lift to stabilize now, at first I thought it was ok to have wheels off ground, this site and the booklet says put down front after they touch lift back end. If you lift too much you will also find the doors don't close and some units have cracked front windows due to the stresses on frame. If the site is so far out of level you need to have wheels off ground to level, carry 2x8's for low wheel or find a different site.

[masseyfarm]

One of the problems with a front entry motorhome is being able to park on a grade and keep the door entry step a reasonable height for exit and entry.

In theory, one should always back into the grade, but the front entry door, (which was designed for transit buses where the operator collects fares) is just not suitable for versatile motorhome use in uneven terrain.

See my posts on this thread.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f313...ml#post1093362

As posted above, the only thing holding your motorhome from moving are the extended legs as the brakes on the rear axle are in the air. On my CLIPPER, these are 16000# legs, but I am not sure what yours are. If they are not up to the load, you may have trouble retracting them when you go to leave. No matter, be sure the front wheels are chocked so as not to be surprised in the middle of the night.

Dave

Originally Posted by JourneytoRet

I am parked at a spot where one of the rear dualies is off the ground about an inch. is that too high or hard on the hydraulic leveler?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by JourneytoRet

I am parked at a spot where one of the rear dualies is off the ground about an inch. is that too high or hard on the hydraulic leveler?

Better to elevate the rear by using leveler blocks to get it close to level, and then put down the hydraulic leveler for fine-tuning, so that your rear axle is still a load-bearing point. When you do, make sure you block BOTH wheels. If you don't have enough blocks to block both wheels, block the inner wheel, not the outer one.

I kind of wish my Interstate had hydralic levelers; I have to get by with JUST blocks, which also means I sometimes have to get by with ALMOST level.

[DaveFL]

Almost level works for me, just have to make sure it is ok with refrigerator.

[idroba]

I would never use the levelers to lift the rear wheels off the ground. If you do, you have nothing to keep the coach from rolling on the front wheels, other than blocking them, which is better than nothing, but still not secure.

I had a friend with a 280 Motorhome and levelers. He once jacked the rear wheels off the ground, the whole rig moved forward rolling the front wheels while the leveler jacks tilted rearward. Off it came from the leveler jacks, and whumped down on the rear tires. That motion jammed the parking paul inside the transmission so he could not get it out of park. When he finally did get it unjammed, It would no longer work, so the transmission had to be serviced and a new parking paul put in.

He never again lifted the rear wheels off the ground with the jacks. I would not either.

[JourneytoRet]

Sounds like if the jacks raise any wheel, then leveling blocks for the wheel(s) should be used instead!

[idroba]

Originally Posted by JourneytoRet

Sounds like if the jacks raise any wheel, then leveling blocks for the wheel(s) should be used instead!

No, raising the front wheels is fine, as long as the back ones are not up too. You can anchor the back with one wheel set down, level side to side in the back with the other jack, level the front with the jacks even off the ground. But something needs to be firmly anchored to the ground so nothing rolls.

[Smartstream]

This is a bit extreme but it was the only way to keep the refrigerator running. We were there for about two weeks.



I guess it comes with having friends that live in hilly areas.

[JourneytoRet]

wow! i did not know the levelers go that far! but i heard that jacking up a MH on terrain with too much pitch can put so much stress on the jack that it bends it. any truth to that?

[masseyfarm]

Probably more chance of a collapse of the lift leg if the brakes can not hold the unit from moving. As long as you have your rear axle with brakes solid on the ground I would not worry about lifting the front off the ground.

Dave

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by JourneytoRet

wow! i did not know the levelers go that far! but i heard that jacking up a MH on terrain with too much pitch can put so much stress on the jack that it bends it. any truth to that?

Actually my jacks don't go that high, I had to put blocks under the jacks. With the wheels chocked and the brakes set there is really no horizontal effort on the jacks, only vertical. And just to demonstrate that my jacks are the folding type, if there was the slightest forward movement the jacks fold. HWH says it is safe to drive off the jacks without causing damage.