Forum Discussion

jlabr2's avatar
jlabr2
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014

Leveling system cracked windshield

Parked in a campspot and did my normal routine of leveling the coach. Noticed that one jack in the front was not coming down. Before I knew it the front windshield was cracking from the pressure of the twist from only one jack lifting the front of the coach. Now I don't know if I can trust the leveling system anymore. Any thoughts?
  • Hopefully you have full glass coverage that covers the windshield. So you should be fine.
    You are letting a minor problem upset you and that is not good for your body. Does all sorts of bad things to it.

    If you are unable to face adversity with a smile then MAYBE RV lifestyle is not for you.
  • The OP(2001 Newmar Diesel) has the HWH bi-axis system. But, IF his parking site was fairly level then the fact of jack did not come down should not have twisted the frame enough to crack the windshield. He probably had a small crack or rock chip already and the slight twist when leveling caused the windshield to fully crack. Doug
  • Can't you just manually level your coach now instead of relying on automatic operation?
  • Do not have jacks on my FT but had a hose line break a spot over during the night and we sunk down in some soft ground and cracked a front window too. It was fun to pull out of there that morning too. I would just get the jacks fixed and go on leveling.
  • Hard to dispute the sequence of events but I don't understand how the slow lifting of one corner of a coach is more damaging than the dynamics in countered going down the road.

    Myself I would get it fixed and keep on enjoying camping. Stuff happens from dump valve handles pulling out to fridge fires to weather events. Check your insurance. Good possibility it's covered.
  • I've heard from and of several who had factory weld a reinforcement beam across the front right and left beams of the coach. The reason they went to only three jacks, with one in the middle front, was cheapening the frame and encountering twisting forces to crack a windshield. I have purposed to have the channel welded in and put in another jack. Already have the control and sensors. That will solve a lot of bouncy floor, I hope.
  • Thousands of people use the leveling system on coaches with no problem. Yours has a problem. Get it fixed and stop worrying about "never trusting it again". Anything mechanical is going to break down at some point. It is not "if" but "when". Hope it don't cost too much.