First, I'm a Long time lurker and learned so much from the experts here on this site. Thanks to all!!!We have been thinking about moving from a TT to either a used class c or class a in the 29-30 foot range. We went looking around today again to get a feel of which would suit us better used To make a long story short we know that most class c's I've seen don't have leveling jacks but today we ran across a 30ft Class a without leveling jacks. Really nice 2012 Windstar 29X. Appears to be a version of a Thor Hurricane. I've never seen a class a without jacks.Couple of questions---1. How common is this? 2. How big of a deal is it in a class a or c. I know my 24 ft. TT rocks and rolls pretty good at times. 3. Any ideas about retrofit? 4. Any comments, experience on a Class A Windstar 29X?Your words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Adding them would be expensive. I wouldn't buy one without them.

I don't know how common it is in later model Class A's but our previous 1995 Coachmen 33' Class A was not equipped with leveling jacks when we bought it. At the time, Quadra Bigfoot had a single pump four jack system available with push button manual controls instead of auto leveling at a reasonable price. It took me about 10 hours spread over two days to install it, and it worked great. I don't know if Quadra still offers a similar system. Our current coach came equipped with a Bigfoot auto-leveling system, but the manual system worked well too.

I had 2 Class A's, both 31', no auto levelers. I was fine. Just leveled the same as a trailer with boards if I needed to. Yes, I also had 2 with auto levelers and it was nice. I didn't really feel the movement in the 2 without the levelers that much. 2 Adults, 1 dog. I think my fifth-wheels and my now trailer trailer have more movement than the motorhomes. Now just me and dog and I can feel him jump off bed or sofa. Have power jacks on the trailer.

trailerbob wrote:First, I'm a Long time lurker and learned so much from the experts here on this site. Thanks to all!!!We have been thinking about moving from a TT to either a used class c or class a in the 29-30 foot range. We went looking around today again to get a feel of which would suit us better used To make a long story short we know that most class c's I've seen don't have leveling jacks but today we ran across a 30ft Class a without leveling jacks. Really nice 2012 Windstar 29X. Appears to be a version of a Thor Hurricane. I've never seen a class a without jacks.Couple of questions---1. How common is this? Not being an expert on ALL class As, I cannot speak as to whether or not it's very common or not, to build a class A, no matter what part of the lineup it's in, to be supplied or not supplied with levelers. (jacks) We've had four RVs. Two class Cs and two class As. Both Cs did not have any. Both As did and do. 2. How big of a deal is it in a class a or c. I know my 24 ft. TT rocks and rolls pretty good at times. As you can read and see, about 98% of the folks that have them, wouldn't be without them. The ones that haven't had them, well, whether or not one CAN NOT feel any difference as far as stabilization is concerned, is a matter of opinion. ALL coaches are somewhat unstable if the there's no jacks stabilizing them. Some worse, some not so bad. But, put the jacks down and, it's a whole 'nother story. Not to mention, leveling is a whole lot easier. 3. Any ideas about retrofit? My son used to work in an RV service center in San Diego. He installed quite a few leveling/Jack systems in coaches that did not come with them. The price tag ranged anywhere from about $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the kind of system and, just what kind of labor was involved. So, this is a matter of: A. How much you value your RV B. How long you plan on keeping it C. Based on experience, how hard you work, on the average to get your coach level and, stabilized with whatever form you presently have or are using, WITHOUT the use of jacks. 4. Any comments, experience on a Class A Windstar 29X? Nope. Other than, you mentioned it was a "version" or, possibly related to a Thor product. With that, I've seen many, many RV threads and posts about Thors not being a very good RV and having a pretty fair amount of problems. Never actually had one ourself so, I cannot speak with authority, just rumors. ScottYour words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Most sub 30 ft class A's are built as entry level coaches as there was / is an attitude in the industry that people buy smaller coaches because they can't afford a larger one. As a result you end up with many entry level coaches where that are built to a price point by eliminating expensive features like leveling jacks, using lower quality fixtures and furnishings, (plastic sinks and showers, particle board cabinet work, vinyl graphics, ...)p.s. having said that I have hydraulic leveling jacks on my 28 ft class A (2002 Safari Trek 2830), along with real wood cabinets, full body paint, solid surface countertops, .... and would not buy a coach without leveling jacks in the future.

Class A without leveling jacks? | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2018
Since you asked here's your answer from a Thor built coach owner who installed jacks.

My coach, an older cousin of the WindSport you're looking at, leveling/stabilizing jacks were a factory option the original buyer choose not to include. Haven't conducted any research of how common not having jacks might be but knowing what I learned I would be reluctant to buy a coach without jacks unless it was discounted accordingly.

What I found owning a coach without, leveling on a reasonably flat campsite was fairly easy with ramps under the tires and such but the coach bounced on the suspension anytime someone moved around inside. Jack stands and a bottle jack with sufficient capacity will both level and stabilize but crawling under the coach each time we parked got very old very quickly.

I retro fitted and installed Quadra Bigfoot hydraulic jacks. Manual system with a single pump. Turned out to be fairly simple install. Other than hiring a mobile welder to install the five mounts to the chassis (four jacks and the pump) I did all the work in the driveway. The jacks were around $2900 delivered and took me maybe 18 hours of effort working solo.

Regarding the coach you have your eye on, Thor doesn't have the best rep of the coach builders. I acquired my Hurricane in 2011 and have been very satisfied with the it. The floor plan fit our camping plans and the price I was able to negotiate was well under the average for a comparable coach. Seven years, 351 nights on the road and 47,000 miles and so far the coach has never seen the inside of a RV service center and we have never been forced to come home early because something with the house side of the coach failed. Chassis had one failure while a few miles from home getting fuel that required a tow back home. Emergency road service arrange the tow and I was able to fix the problem the next day with little effort. With a used coach having a good pedigree helps but owner care and feeding has a much bigger part to play as a coach ages. Buyer due diligence is paramount to reducing the risk of buying a problem coach.

I will admit looking at the current Thor model line up I wouldn't buy one. Not because who the builder might be but because Thor is not offering a floor plan and options I'm looking for with my next and potentially last coach.
wildtoad
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2018
I’ve had both with and without. Just like a trailer, leveling with boards or leveling blocks is a pain, especially in inclement weather. I would not buy one that did not have them, period. levelers do not however mean you won’t need a set of blocks, cause at times the levelers by themselves will not be enough, and you may need some to put under the wheels.

Also keep in mind that some campgrounds in hot locals require the use of some kind of pad under the levelers to help keep the feet from sinking into soft asphalt.
Isaac-1
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
Most sub 30 ft class A's are built as entry level coaches as there was / is an attitude in the industry that people buy smaller coaches because they can't afford a larger one. As a result you end up with many entry level coaches where that are built to a price point by eliminating expensive features like leveling jacks, using lower quality fixtures and furnishings, (plastic sinks and showers, particle board cabinet work, vinyl graphics, ...)

p.s. having said that I have hydraulic leveling jacks on my 28 ft class A (2002 Safari Trek 2830), along with real wood cabinets, full body paint, solid surface countertops, .... and would not buy a coach without leveling jacks in the future.
FIRE_UP
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
trailerbob wrote:
First, I'm a Long time lurker and learned so much from the experts here on this site. Thanks to all!!!
We have been thinking about moving from a TT to either a used class c or class a in the 29-30 foot range. We went looking around today again to get a feel of which would suit us better used To make a long story short we know that most class c's I've seen don't have leveling jacks but today we ran across a 30ft Class a without leveling jacks. Really nice 2012 Windstar 29X. Appears to be a version of a Thor Hurricane. I've never seen a class a without jacks.
Couple of questions---
1. How common is this?

Not being an expert on ALL class As, I cannot speak as to whether or not it's very common or not, to build a class A, no matter what part of the lineup it's in, to be supplied or not supplied with levelers. (jacks) We've had four RVs. Two class Cs and two class As. Both Cs did not have any. Both As did and do.

2. How big of a deal is it in a class a or c. I know my 24 ft. TT rocks and rolls pretty good at times.

As you can read and see, about 98% of the folks that have them, wouldn't be without them. The ones that haven't had them, well, whether or not one CAN NOT feel any difference as far as stabilization is concerned, is a matter of opinion. ALL coaches are somewhat unstable if the there's no jacks stabilizing them. Some worse, some not so bad. But, put the jacks down and, it's a whole 'nother story. Not to mention, leveling is a whole lot easier.

3. Any ideas about retrofit?

My son used to work in an RV service center in San Diego. He installed quite a few leveling/Jack systems in coaches that did not come with them. The price tag ranged anywhere from about $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the kind of system and, just what kind of labor was involved. So, this is a matter of:
A. How much you value your RV
B. How long you plan on keeping it
C. Based on experience, how hard you work, on the average
to get your coach level and, stabilized with whatever form you
presently have or are using, WITHOUT the use of jacks.

4. Any comments, experience on a Class A Windstar 29X?

Nope. Other than, you mentioned it was a "version" or, possibly related to a Thor product. With that, I've seen many, many RV threads and posts about Thors not being a very good RV and having a pretty fair amount of problems. Never actually had one ourself so, I cannot speak with authority, just rumors.

Scott

Your words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
LadyRVer
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2018
I had 2 Class A's, both 31', no auto levelers. I was fine. Just leveled the same as a trailer with boards if I needed to. Yes, I also had 2 with auto levelers and it was nice. I didn't really feel the movement in the 2 without the levelers that much. 2 Adults, 1 dog. I think my fifth-wheels and my now trailer trailer have more movement than the motorhomes. Now just me and dog and I can feel him jump off bed or sofa. Have power jacks on the trailer.
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Jul 14, 2018
I don't know how common it is in later model Class A's but our previous 1995 Coachmen 33' Class A was not equipped with leveling jacks when we bought it. At the time, Quadra Bigfoot had a single pump four jack system available with push button manual controls instead of auto leveling at a reasonable price. It took me about 10 hours spread over two days to install it, and it worked great. I don't know if Quadra still offers a similar system. Our current coach came equipped with a Bigfoot auto-leveling system, but the manual system worked well too.
TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
Adding them would be expensive.

I wouldn't buy one without them.

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Class A without leveling jacks?

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