Use of jack stands results in crushed propane line

[ghatfield]

I hate to admit what I did, but maybe my "confession" will keep someone else from making the same stupid mistake. My wife was concerned about how extended the hitch jack was, so, since we were at home, I got a couple of jack stands out of the garage and placed one under each side of the tongue rails.

What I didn't notice was that the line from the propane tanks on our 2003 Classic 25 runs under one of the rails. Several days later, while checking the air in our spare tire (we are getting ready for a long trip), I noticed that the line had been crushed by the jack stand! I was able to replace the damaged section of the gas line without too much trouble. We were very fortunate to find this problem before we left!

In the attached photo, you can see two crushed areas. I had to move the jack stand to lower the spare and that is when the front crushed area occurred!

[Excella CM]

Oops! I think that's why they put a valve on the tanks.

[TIMETOGO]

Life is a dance, you learn as you go.

[rickandsandi]

Originally Posted by ghatfield

What I didn't notice was that the line from the propane tanks on our 2003 Classic 25 runs under one of the rails. Several days later, while checking the air in our spare tire (we are getting ready for a long trip), I noticed that the line had been crushed by the jack stand!

Ouch, but shame on AS! I am in the process of putting all new lines in our '60 Tradewind and I ran them inside the tongue frame to protect them from any road hazzards or mishaps like yours. Thanks for posting, you very well may have someone else from the same circumstance!

[mojo]

Originally Posted by rickandsandi

Ouch, but shame on AS! I am in the process of putting all new lines in our '60 Tradewind and I ran them inside the tongue frame to protect them from any road hazzards or mishaps like yours.

I agree. Seems like a dangerous location for gas lines considering so many will be attaching w/d hitch brackets along the tongue frame there.

[overlander63]

It's still a good idea to use support, especially when working under them. A colleague of mine was killed day before yesterday when a car he was working on fell on him.

[Silvertwinkie]

I agree with Terry, if it's a matter of a crushed line or something worse, even not as severe as an EOL (end of life) event, I'd take the crushed line.

In the end, we've all had our moments. But I'll pay even more attn to that area now that I've seen some pics.

[ghatfield]

Here is an image of the repaired line. The line on my AS is 5/8" and all the parts and tools were readily available from Lowe's. The "soft" copper tubing is normally only available in rolls, but they were willing to sell me a couple of feet from a damaged roll.

George

[SilverToy]

George -

Thanks for the great photo documentation on the 'repair' you did. Notice that you still have jack stands employed.... Why? Doesn't you AS have the normal stabilizers that come with every other AS?

Curious.... as the problem came about with the use of jack stands, and there they are again...

Thanks!

Axel
SilverToy

[overlander63]

From reading your original post, your wife was worried about the tongue jack being extended too far. Why not go to your local home improvement store, and get a railroad tie? Cut about 12-14" off, and use the 12" piece to go under the tongue jack. They are more than sturdy enough to hold your trailer, with proper support they can hold a 125 ton boxcar, and do so for 20 years, one should be able to support the 600 or so pounds of your trailer's tongue.

[elbundi]

This is an old thread but well worth a bump. I’ve had to learn this lesson too. I had my hitch stored underneath the Airstream and out of the way..

Parts, specialty tools, and the knowledge well worth the $. 3 x 5/8 flair nuts, 1x 5/8 brass union, 2’ 5/8 copper pipe. Shout out to Bates Ga Co Albany, GA for the fix.

You would have to make some additional bends to the pipe for it to go anywhere else other than underneath the frame, possible though.