My jacks have not worked at all since I bought my RV. I knew this going into it when I bought my rv, so I didn't really ever think about it. Until now, a couple people I camp with have older rv's and they claimed there jacks didn't work when they bought their rv's either. They both claimed it was loose wires, or something simple. Well anyways, I have been trying to dig up info on how to trouble shoot my levelers, and it's hard to find on the web. So I turned to my rv owners manuals... Whilst digging through the binder, I found a receipt from 2008 from the previous owners at a rv service shop in OK. On the receipt it said that they did a full service and trouble shoot on the levelers. That the pump was good, controls were good, that everything was good. Except a level indicator switch in the tank was faulty and making the system think that the jacks were down when they were up. It also said that they bypassed the level indicator by snipping the brown wire (what ever that means). The last thing on the reciept says that the jacks work as normal except after cutting the brown wire that none of the indicator lights work on the controls.My question is this..... The rv dealer told me when I bought my unit that they couldn't get the controls to come on, therefor the controls are bad. After reading this reciept I am starting to think otherwise. Since they rv dealer didn't think they worked they never showed me how to use them. There is no instruction manual for using my jacks. Could someone tell me how to use my jacks.... Farely detailed instructions would be all so help full! My wife is going to our camper after she drops our munchkin off at school to take a picture of the controls and txt it to me, as soon as I get it I will post it here. Thanks for any help!

What brand and model number jacks??

I'm not sure... I can't find any manuals for the jacks.... Here are the pics my wife just sent me.

Do you have HWH or Bigfoot jacks?I have bigfoot jacks, they have about a 12" diameter round foot, and a cylinder about 2" diameter, so it is lower hydralic pressure than a typical jack with a smaller diameter cylinder.My guess is the hydralic jacks have a leak in one of the jacks, maybe two? Then the fluid level went below the minimum required to shut off the "Jacks down" light and beeper. So in one case, I did not have extra fluid with me, and I pulled the 10 amp fuse near the front tire, so the beeper would shut off. Later when I had the right funnel to add more fluid, I put in about 1/2 a quart of transmission fluid, and that refilled it enough to indicate the "Jacks up" so the alarm was off.I am guessing that the brown wire they are talking about is the jack fluid level sensor? If they had only put in a quart or less of hydralic oil, or transmission fluid, it would have worked normally. No need to cut the wires and repair them again. Repairing the wire is simple, just a quick connect stak-on fitting.Instructions:For my jacks, I need to first set the parking brake, and put the gear in park or netural. I can have the engine on or off. Then I can turn on the jacks. If they are up, the red light should be off. If it is on (says jacks down) while the jacks are actually up, this will indicate a low fluid level. When I push the "Front" or "Rear", it will push hydralic fluid into that end of the RV, lifting it. If I push right, it will pump fluid only to my right rear jack, left is only to the left rear jack. I only have one front jack. If I push "All" it will raise all of the jacks. To stop raising the jacks, I need to turn off the jacks, and turn it back on, then it will reset to allow raising the jacks again. If you push all, then shut off the jacks, it will keep the soilnoids open to allow fluid flow back into the resivoir, so the jacks can not stay down while driving. So if you get one side of the RV to high, and need to drop it a little bit, make sure you push all, then as the RV settles, shut it off, then back on, then push one of the buttons (front, rear, or right or left) to keep the fluid from all returning to the resivoir. If the parking brake is released, the jack system "Should" release all the pressure from the jacks, and drop the RV back to the ground. Also starting the engine, and putting it in gear will bring on the "Jacks down alarm" and also retract the jacks, with the fluid returning to the resivoir.You will want to find out the location of the jacks fuse, where you can remove that fuse should the resivoir not have enough fluid in it to shut off the "Jacks down alarm". I also carry a pint of transmission fluid, and the correct funnel to add fluid to the system, should I have a leak while camping.Fred.

You have Power Gear Bigfoot jacks, same system as I have. The red light is the "Jacks down warning indicator" that will only flash if the fluid level is low in the resivoir and you put the RV in gear, or release the parking brake.You might have either 3 or 4 jacks. Yours is a newer system than I have, I do not have separate lights for the Netural sensor, or parking brake. I also do not have a "Extend and retract button" however I have a "All" button that retracts all the jacks. Mine is a 97 RV built in November 96. The warning on the bottom, that says do not use to jack up to remove a tire is astern one, and justified, the jacks can retract without notice. When I changed my tire on the side of the freeway, I only put down the jack to level the RV, then used a 4 ton jack to lift the axle, and remove the tire.Fred.

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure if I have bigfoot jacks or not, I do know that the base is about 12" dia. and the shaft is about 2" dia. I have 3 jacks, 2 on the rear and one in the center on the front. So far I have collected from y'all, that I probably need to check my fluid before I try using the system, correct? Once I varify that the system is full of fluid I set the parking brake, push the on/off button (do I hold it for a certain amount of time or do I just push it?), then push extend (all), then use the 4 adjusting buttons to level the rv? Then repeat process in reverse to rais the jacks? One more question, does anyone know where abouts to looks for the hydraulic resevoir? I've never looked for it on my unit. Also, one of y'all said to locate the fuse, where would that typically be located? In the fuse pannel behind the dash possibly or is it going to be an inline fuse of some sort?Thanks for the help guys!

'94 Pace Arrow levelling jack help! | Good Sam Community

DFWRusty
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Thanks for all of the AWESOME info everyone! I worked on it a little bit last night, but my electrical tester had dead batteries. How ever I did check some fuses and all the fuses I found seemed to be in ok shape (maybe some minor corosion). I took the pad off of the dash and check the pins that the plug goes to and they all looked good. I also tested the motor just to make sure I am not waisting my time and the motor still works (jumped accross the solenoid with a screw driver). I really want to see if I am getting power to the control pad, that way I will know for sure if I just lost power some where or if my control pad is bad. If I dont have power coming to the control pad I'll try and find the leveling control module part# 500548 and check all the fuses on it and then check to make sure it's getting power. If anyone would know there where abouts of where they might have hidden the control module I sure would appreciate knowing. I started tracing wires to find it, but with the weather we had last night I wasn't going to crawl under my rv and I lost the wires once they past through the dog house.

One thing is for sure the resevoir was low.... About 1/2 or more gallon low. I put some tranny fluid in it to get it back on the stick.

I'm going camping this weekend, so unless I get really bored one evening I probably wont work on it much if at all.
Gjac
Explorer III
May 03, 2013
You have received good advice from Doug and others already. As a simple check if you don't have power(no lights)on your control panel, check for a blown fuse I found mine under a fuse marked ACC. It was caused by the 12 v wire that feeds the control panel being grounded. It got caught in the emergency brake mechanism.
dougrainer
Nomad
May 02, 2013
enblethen wrote:
Here is link to float switch information.Float switch

Vertical Float switches:
Part #14-1101

This is the float for your year model. Cutting the float switch wire will NOT disable the operation of the jacks. The jacks will still operate and the panel will come on. IF the panel does NOT come on, then you need to find the source of that problem. National used a 100 amp circuit breaker at the 12 volt distribution panel that is in one of the outside storage bays. YOUR model National requires the 12 volt coach battery disconnect to be on as the COACH batteries supply the power to the pump on your year model National. You still have to have the chassis Ignition side connected to get power to the touch pad display. You really need to get someone who is familiar with your year model and system to troubleshoot the system. You also need the system controller P/n in addition to the touch pad Part number to get the appropriate tech documents from the PG website. Doug
OnaQuest
Explorer
May 02, 2013
DFWRusty wrote:
Thanks so much guys for all of the information! I have a lot of reading to do... lol... Looks like the cut the wire for the float switch.... hmmm..... doesn't quite fit the description they gave on the receipt about a level indicator, unless it's the same thing and the just used a lesser term. Either way, I'm going to try and learn as much as I can on this today and try and mess with this thing this evening.

The float switch and level sensor are the same thing.

Use the information in the manual that I linked you to. It's more likely to be accurate for your vintage levelers. It's likely that the switch is maladjusted. You'll see by the book that it needs to be oriented in a vertical plane.
dougrainer
Nomad
May 02, 2013
You have Powergear NOT Bigfoot. seperate companies. You need to use the provided links as there are about 6 different modules and control systems over the years. Do not attempt to contac PG, they will not talk to retail owners on the phone, you have to use the website. Doug

http://www.powergearus.com/parts-lookup

http://www.powergearus.com/tech-docs
enblethen
Nomad
May 02, 2013
Here is link to float switch information.Float switch
DFWRusty
Explorer
May 02, 2013
Thanks so much guys for all of the information! I have a lot of reading to do... lol... Looks like the cut the wire for the float switch.... hmmm..... doesn't quite fith the description they gave on the receipt about a level indicator, unless it's the same thing and the just used a lesser term. Either way, I'm going to try and learn as much as I can on this today and try and mess with this thing this evening.
enblethen
Nomad
May 02, 2013
Odds are you have lost power to the system.
You need to identify your jack type. Are they electrically operated or are they hydraulic.
Identification

Troubleshooting guide

FAQ sheet
OnaQuest
Explorer
May 02, 2013
Here is a basic picture of how your jacks work. I will also include a LINK to your service manual. and a LINK to your Operators Manual. It should explain everything you need to know about your jacks to operate and repair them.
DFWRusty
Explorer
May 02, 2013
Thanks for the info. I'm not sure if I have bigfoot jacks or not, I do know that the base is about 12" dia. and the shaft is about 2" dia. I have 3 jacks, 2 on the rear and one in the center on the front.

So far I have collected from y'all, that I probably need to check my fluid before I try using the system, correct? Once I varify that the system is full of fluid I set the parking brake, push the on/off button (do I hold it for a certain amount of time or do I just push it?), then push extend (all), then use the 4 adjusting buttons to level the rv? Then repeat process in reverse to rais the jacks?

One more question, does anyone know where abouts to looks for the hydraulic resevoir? I've never looked for it on my unit. Also, one of y'all said to locate the fuse, where would that typically be located? In the fuse pannel behind the dash possibly or is it going to be an inline fuse of some sort?

Thanks for the help guys!