Leveling jacks / Radiator

The new LCI hyd jacks are generally more reliable, and much much easier to work on. They are very user friendly and LCI cust service is good. The LCI levelers do tend to "lose" their "zero point". However, they are so simple to manually use, and to reset the zero point. I simply do not like ATWOOD, as they are a major pain at times. However, we dont get that many units in our shop with faulty or inop ATWOOD legs.

Basically, you are buying a coach for the "coach" not the levelers. If you find the coach you like, buy it! Regardless of legs. ---- On the impossible chance that I found 2 "identical" coaches for sale with similar miles and similar price, the only difference was -1 has LCI legs and the other had Atwood. Id buy the LCI. However I understand my scenario is impossible, so find the coach you like.

Our current motor home has Atwood level legs. Four previous motor homes all had HWH hydraulic jacks that were all always flawless. I have had two jacks replaced in 6 years. One very early on via warranty. The other on my dime ( about $1000) I would far prefer HWH, but my elecitric have operated beyond my initial expectations. Keeping fingers crossed they continue to do so. Bottom line is think HWH best but would never be a deal breaker if had to take electric on an otherwise great coach.

Like others, I have only had hydraulic jacks, and have been very happy with them. I have had friends who had electric jacks and had a number of problems with theirs. Unfortunately I don't know what brand jack they were.

Regarding radiators, I would definitely prefer a side radiator. I have had 3 motorhomes with side radiators and have been very happy with them. Having said that, I now have a motorhome with a rear radiator. My personal problem with side radiators is that the price of the motorhomes with side radiators keeps going up and up, until it is higher than I want to pay. This is my second rear radiator motorhome (my first diesel was also a rear radiator) and I have not had any problems with them either. Some think the side radiators cool better, I have seen no personal evidence of that. The biggest issues from my standpoint is that the side radiator gives you much better access to the engine to work on.

Ed Headington
2013 Newmar Ventana LE
2013 Nissan Versa toad

1. Electric jacks lower the resell value of a motorhome
2. Most OEM's dropped Electric jacks on motorhomes over 5 years ago as they are very prone to failure and very expensive to repair or replace
3. When you have a failure of a Hyd Jack system, most Hyd systems have a spring to retract the jacks, but some Hyd systems require Power to Extend and Retract.
4. If you are looking at Newmar, then Newmar used the Atwood Electric jacks years ago and offered the HWH Hydraulic jacks as an option. After the numerous failures of Atwood Jacks, most OEM's dropped them as available and just went with Hydraulic. LCI(Lippert) and Equalizer Hydraulic jack systems are power extend and power retract as is Bigfoot. All others have springs that will retract by manually opening the jack solenoids if there is a failure when they are extended.
5. Hydraulic Jacks systems are NOT dirty or leak fluid unless they have a problem. If you have Hyd system that has fluid leaking, then FIX the problem, do not just think it is normal---It is not. Doug

The side radiator is a GOOD thing..wish I had one and eventually we will have one..The electric jacks were a pain to many people those years..the issue is that the water would get past the rubber insulating boot and short them out...The answer was a better rubber insulating kit which supposedly took care of the problem...You could call Newmar about that or Atwood who I think made them....The Tiffin forum or the Fleetwood Discovery boards have lots of information on this issue and the kit to rectify it...you might even be able to search this board..

From a long time usage of hydraulic levelers (HWH). They have performed flawlessy. Once having to clean a dirty connection on a solenoid.
My only complaint, is that mine are messy. constant weepage of hyd. fluid around the fittings in the pump area. and an occasional drip under the rear slide area.
If electric jack were as dependable, I would not complain.
My diesel has the rear radiator. If I had a choice I would go with a side radiator.
I have to contend with keeping it clean from blow by from the engine slobber tube.

I can only speak of Electric jacks there are motors on each one where hydraulic has one pump and 4 jacks, just had one electric replaced the company that fixed said hydraulic are easier to work on