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Ro646a's avatar
Ro646a
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2018

1999 American Dream Jacking instructions

Tomorrow morning I am taking my recently acquired 1999 American Dream in for a new set of tires. I have read that some people have had problems with cracked or broken windshields resulting from improper leveling. I am aware of the correct method of leveling the three point system. That is explained in the owner's manual, but I can find no directions relative to the changing of tires.
I have looked through all of the literature that came with the coach and I can not find anything relating to jacking the motorhome when installing new tires. Can anyone shed any light on the topic? I don't want to leave the tire store with a broken windshield.

Thanks
  • We took ours to a truck shop for new tires and because they work on trucks, they had the equipment to raise the motorhome. They did not use our jacks to hike it up. They also did an alignment and replaced the valve stem extensions.
  • 1. YOU NEVER USE THE JACKS TO RAISE THE MOTORHOME OFF THE GROUND TO CHANGE TIRES---PERIOD!
    2. Any Tire store that would do it, should not be changing motorhome tires and I would not want them changing my tires.
    3. I cannot believe that any qualified tire store would want the liability or even their insurance company would allow this type operation if they knew about it
    4. A QUALIFIED Tire Store will have the correct Jacks to raise the RV to safely change the tires.
    5. 3 point systems were designed to STOP chassis twisting at the front cap area. There are 2 designs of this type system. The first is the single front jack that is centered and cannot twist the frame when extended. The 2nd is a Powergear system that used 2 jacks up front with 1 solenoid and an equalizing T that caused BOTH front jacks to extend the same. The weight of the motorhome equalizes the front to prevent twisting. Doug
  • I had a 1995 American Dream and never had a problem with cracking a windshield. I did have a couple of tires repaired, but never replaced a full set. If I was really concerned, I would raise the front end with the hydraulic jack on the motorhome just to be sure that one side wasn't going to twist. I was never concerned about raising one side of the rear. With the engine bolted to the frame, I think it would be a lot less likely to flex. JMO.
  • MountainAir05 wrote:
    Most will only jack up a single tire or front/rear end only when they change them , not the whole RV at one time. All Depends on the equipment they have to lift the Rv.


    Well Sir,
    They might do that in your area but, I've seen many, many times where all six have been off the ground at tire stores when getting new ones. I did it for the local tire store when I had mine changed. 99.999999% of the tire stores, even the larger ones for truck tires have completely level parking lots so, getting all six off the ground is no big deal. We're not talking camping here, just getting some tires replaced which, takes in the neighborhood of about an hour or two at the most.
    Scott
  • Most will only jack up a single tire or front/rear end only when they change them , not the whole RV at one time. All Depends on the equipment they have to lift the Rv.