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08-12-2016, 08:56 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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Atwood 3000 jack/sized wrong
Third time I used the Atwood 3000 power jack, it froze. Ok, I'm new to all this but I have to wonder what airstream is thinking. Atwood tells me that the 3000 cannot be used with an equalizer hitch. In fact he pointed out that the first page of the manual states that very clearly. The dealer sold me a 1200 lb hitch and showed me how to take the tension off the bars using the hitch. This is wrong according to Atwood. I should have a 4000 lb jack.
I called airstream and they know about the problem. Yet they blame the dealer. What? Should the dealer tell the customer that the jack is inadequate and make the customer pay for a new 4000 jack and installation? Airstream clearly knows that a 28 footer needs stabilization.
The dealership is now looking into getting me a 4000 and getting airstream to change their inadequate thinking.
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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08-12-2016, 10:23 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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"The dealership is now looking into getting me a 4000" Good on the dealer!
"getting airstream to change their inadequate thinking." Good luck with that!
Once again missed the boat!
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08-13-2016, 08:28 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Airstream has nothing to do with what hitch you choose. It is just another after mkt acc. The owner must do his own research either alone or with the help of a dealer. The factory does not recommend any hitch to my knowledge. The type or brand of hitch is entirely up to the owner. Unless something has changed recently. Now my 1984 Avion owners manual recommends either anEaz lift or Reese or something of similar quality. I don't remember any hitch recommendations in the manuals for any of the AS I've owned. Might have overlooked it, though.
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08-13-2016, 01:32 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avionstream
Airstream has nothing to do with what hitch you choose. It is just another after mkt acc. The owner must do his own research either alone or with the help of a dealer. The factory does not recommend any hitch to my knowledge. The type or brand of hitch is entirely up to the owner. Unless something has changed recently. Now my 1984 Avion owners manual recommends either anEaz lift or Reese or something of similar quality. I don't remember any hitch recommendations in the manuals for any of the AS I've owned. Might have overlooked it, though.
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Well, just don't use a 3000 lb. Atwood power jack on it!
Evidently the dealer did talk to their airstream rep and he admitted the issue needs to be addressed. Makes no sense that the dearler has to take off the 3000 jack and put on a 4000 jack costing the customer over a thousand dollars for hitch and jack. Why not provide the 4000 in the first place. It it the same jack with a different gear ratio. Same motor. Cost is probably almost the same to the dealer. The dealers are recommending equalizer (or similar) hitches for most trailers sold at the dealership, why not accomidate them a little and make the customer happy.
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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08-13-2016, 03:51 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2016 28' Flying Cloud
Brandenburg
, Kentucky
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 898
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From the first time I used the Atwood 3000 power jack, I knew it was inferior and told my wife that I was going to contact AS about replacing it. My 2016 28 footer has the heaviest tongue weight of all their units and they install the least capable jack... Loved the power jack on the 2006 23 footer I had prior to my current AS. I will be following this thread to see how this issue get resolved..
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08-13-2016, 03:57 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Curious, what does the hitch used have to with the Jack??? Pretty sure there are thousands (ok maybe hundreds) of trailers on the road using 3000 pound spec jacks and Equalizer hitches.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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08-13-2016, 04:13 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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The factory 3000 is plenty for the Airstream 1,000 lb tongue weight. It's when we lift the back of various trucks and who-knows how much gear in the bed to engage and/or adjust w.d. bars that a larger jack may be needed.
We replaced our Barker 3000 with a Barker 3500 (improved design as well) because of the load we lift to make our ProPride w.d. settings easy. The 3000 worked okay but I felt it may be near its limits at times.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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08-13-2016, 04:25 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Maybe we are using the wrong hitch or truck?
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08-13-2016, 05:37 PM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Overland Park
, Kansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 365
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turk123
Well, just don't use a 3000 lb. Atwood power jack on it!
Evidently the dealer did talk to their airstream rep and he admitted the issue needs to be addressed. Makes no sense that the dearler has to take off the 3000 jack and put on a 4000 jack costing the customer over a thousand dollars for hitch and jack. Why not provide the 4000 in the first place. It it the same jack with a different gear ratio. Same motor. Cost is probably almost the same to the dealer. The dealers are recommending equalizer (or similar) hitches for most trailers sold at the dealership, why not accomidate them a little and make the customer happy.
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At JC they told me the reason Airstream used the 3000 lb jack instead of the 4000 lb is because the 4000 is a little taller for the longer distance it travels and is too tall to fully open the propane tank cover. I switched mine out and it doesn't bother me. You can still open the cover, just not all the way flat. If Anybody wants to buy an almost new 3000 lb jack off my 2016 FC let me know.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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08-13-2016, 08:24 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2016 28' Flying Cloud
Brandenburg
, Kentucky
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 898
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Would you mind divulging the price you pay for the 4000?
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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08-13-2016, 09:05 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tsunami
Would you mind divulging the price you pay for the 4000?
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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From etrailer you can get a 3000 for about $200, a 4000 for about $250. That's retail I'm sure the price to mfg is much lower and the difference between the two is negligible at a mfg point, especially on a $80-100k trailer.
I cut my rant off!
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08-14-2016, 01:02 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avionstream
Maybe we are using the wrong hitch or truck?
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I'm just using the model hitch that the dealer recommended (Equalizer 1200 lb.). The truck is a f150 platinum with nothing in the bed.
I'm still amazed that AS would go for the smaller jack due to it's interferrence with the propane lid. What's more important: jack breaking or door not opening all the way.
In the airstream manual they gave me with the trailer it says, "Never use the power jack to lift anything but the trailer. Then under trailering they "recomend getting sway control hitch with weight distribution for better and safer trailering".
What's a dealer supposed to do???
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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08-15-2016, 05:52 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Again, I don't think AS recommended the hitch, the dealer did. Neither did AS recommend your tv type. Both hitch and tv are okay, just that AS doesn't recommend either or neither. You have a good setup for the combination of hitch and tv and trailer, it's just that there limitations to any combination. Good camping.
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08-15-2016, 05:57 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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I look at replacing the jack as the same as replacing the tires or converter, not absolutely necessary, but prudent. Owners discretion, not necessary, but not a bad idea. These changes allow us to specialize our AS to our own specs, part of the enjoyment of ownership.
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08-15-2016, 06:07 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1994 30' Excella
alexandria
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,310
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turk123
In the airstream manual they gave me with the trailer it says, "Never use the power jack to lift anything but the trailer. Then under trailering they "recomend getting sway control hitch with weight distribution for better and safer trailering".
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Are you trying to lift the back of the truck with the jack to make it easier to hook up the weight distribution hitch?
The tongue jack is for lifting the trailer tongue only, not both the truck and trailer. I see many people making this mistake and hear their tongue jacks groaning away and wonder why the jack goes bad prematurely....
__________________
Steve, Christy, Anna and Phoebe (Border Collie)
1994 Classic 30'11" Excella - rear twin
2009 Dodge 2500, 6 Speed Auto, CTD, Quad Cab, Short Bed
Hensley Arrow hitch with adjustable stinger
WBCCI # 3072
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08-15-2016, 12:40 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
2006 19' Safari
East Greenbush
, New York
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 54
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I just replaced my 10 year old Barker 3500 lb jack with an Atwood 4000 lb jack.
I have a 19 ft Bambi. 3500 lb barker jack from the factory. I don't understand Airstream using a 3000 lb jack. Unless, they wanted it to look "nice".
The 4000 lb Atwood jack is quite a bit taller. But it is the size needed to use with weight distribution.
Attached is a pic. It does keep the bottle cover lid from going back 180 degrees, but that's not an issue. Yes, I mounted a solar trickle charger on the lid, and that restricts the lid opening a little more, but I can easily turn the gas on/off and remove the bottle cover.
I feel bad for anyone with a newer trailer and the 3000lb jack. I don't think it'll last long...
__________________
Matt
2006 Safari Bambi 19'
2017 Silverado LT Z71 Double Cab 1500
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08-15-2016, 12:46 PM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
2006 19' Safari
East Greenbush
, New York
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 54
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By the way, you have to use the tongue jack with weight distribution. You have to drop the trailer down on the ball enough for the coupler to lock. Then you need to raise the TV AND trailer in order to attach the load bars easily. That's how I've seen it done for over 50 years. That is why you need more than 3000 lb jack.
All the jack makers note that 3000 and under is for trailer only, and 3500+ is for weight distribution.
__________________
Matt
2006 Safari Bambi 19'
2017 Silverado LT Z71 Double Cab 1500
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08-15-2016, 10:45 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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I ordered the Atwood crank for the jack ( I have no idea why it is not included). Hooked it up and to my surprise, it cranked both up and down. Drill would not do it. So it was not frozen. I believe the motor gave up the ghost, but it does not smell fried.
Now that I can hook back up to my truck, I'm gonna remove the motor to see what is going on.
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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10-21-2016, 05:09 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2017 25' International
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Los Osos
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 916
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The Atwood jack on my 2017 International 25FB failed this morning on my second day ever camping with the trailer. It stopped working while raising it to uncouple the truck. I changed the inline fuse, checked all connections including the ground and it still won't budge. The light doesn't illuminate and the jack switch does not operate the jack.
I found the fitting that Atwood provides for manual operation. Since the three sided shaft doesn't fit any sockets or standard wrenches I borrowed a vise grip and was able to manually raise and lower the jack.
I'm not sure what Atwood model I'm dealing with. There are no markings on the jack and Airstream did not include a manual with their manual package.
So I was not aware of the warning that the jack was not to be used with my Equalizer hitch. I've used the same Equalizer system with my 2012, 2014 and now 2017 internationals.
Every Airstream dealer with whom I've dealt has prominently displayed the Equalizer System. If in fact the jack on my trailer is not intended for my Equalizer and I'm expected to replace the jack with a 4000 pound jack.....Airstream should bear the cost. I'll call them on Monday.
__________________
2017 Airstream International Serenity 25FB
2016 RAM 2500 Crew Cab Cummins 6.7 Diesel
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10-21-2016, 06:27 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2015 30' Classic
2012 28' International
Greensboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,708
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I dumped the cheesy stock jack on my Classic for one of the Ultra Fab Phoenix 4000's. Newly engineered, memory settings, much faster -- will extend or retract 10" in 18 sec. Actually has a CABLE for grounding (golly!)....and a powerful light for nighttime operation. Check it out.
__________________
_________________
"SilverLeaf II" 2015 30' Classic
2019 RAM 2500 Limited 4x4 CC w/6.7L Cummins
ProPride 3P
AIR# 58452
WBCCI # 3430-Unit 21
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