Which do you do first - slider or jacks ?

Just to separate the two issues, if you arrive at a site where you know/think whatever levelling system you have isn't going to "cut the mustard", by all means get out the lumber and get as close to level as your lumber supply will allow. Now, pretend you just arrived and do what your manual says WRT levelling and slide deployment!

Level before slides.

But, my leveling system only works with engine running, and slides only work with engine off-preventing any other way for me

Boxer Lovers wrote:
I always level first then jacks then slides.

I always look at my spot and if it,s reasonable level I always put out the slides and then deploy jacks to level.What tiffen says and I subscribe to it also.If it way out of level and no place else to go I use wood to level within reason and then sometimes final level before slides but prefer by far to slides out then level

wilco wrote:
Wow, it's amazing the diversity of opinion on this issue...including folks who don't think the LEVELLING jacks are for levelling, folks who think the manual that came with the coach is probably wrong etc.!

My last coach had air suspension and an HWH hydraulic levelling system. The manufacturer insisted that the coach be levelled with the jacks before slides were extended and that they be retracted before the jacks were stored. A warning label to this effect was located beside the slide out switch and the slide out would not move unless the jacks were extended. (You could actually trick the system by extending the jacks slightly, then extend the room). The one time I tried to "trick" the system like this because I was in a hurry and wanted the slide out just to get access to a cabinet, the slide out bound up about halfway out...lesson learned!

My current coach has air suspension and air levelling. The manufacturer wants the slide outs deployed with the coach at ride height (i.e. suspension fully inflated) then levelled with the air system. I think the reason for this might be twofold: Once a Jack-based system is level, the coach is firmly supported on the ground and putting out the slides will likely not change the level very much. Not so on an air-levelled coach that might go slightly off-level with the weight-shift caused by slide deployment. So they want the weight distribution to be established before the attempt to level. My jack-based system dumped the air then attempted to level by raising the LOWER end/side. My air system attempts to level first by lowering the HIGHER end/side by dumping air out of the appropriate bag, so they want to start with the suspension fully inflated.

Different systems with different procedures, both fully outlined in the manual and both of which I follow, having learned the lesson above.

Air leveling system is a completely different animal. I saw a coach at the TT RV park in Morgan Hill, California where the spot he wanted to park was not level. His air system could not level the coach without us adding boards under the rear wheels. His coach did not have the extending type jacks. He wished he had the leveling jacks instead of the self air leveling system. At first I could not figure why he could not level his coach being that it was so new. That is when I found out he had air self leveling system.

Wow, it's amazing the diversity of opinion on this issue...including folks who don't think the LEVELLING jacks are for levelling, folks who think the manual that came with the coach is probably wrong etc.!

My last coach had air suspension and an HWH hydraulic levelling system. The manufacturer insisted that the coach be levelled with the jacks before slides were extended and that they be retracted before the jacks were stored. A warning label to this effect was located beside the slide out switch and the slide out would not move unless the jacks were extended. (You could actually trick the system by extending the jacks slightly, then extend the room). The one time I tried to "trick" the system like this because I was in a hurry and wanted the slide out just to get access to a cabinet, the slide out bound up about halfway out...lesson learned!

My current coach has air suspension and air levelling. The manufacturer wants the slide outs deployed with the coach at ride height (i.e. suspension fully inflated) then levelled with the air system. I think the reason for this might be twofold: Once a Jack-based system is level, the coach is firmly supported on the ground and putting out the slides will likely not change the level very much. Not so on an air-levelled coach that might go slightly off-level with the weight-shift caused by slide deployment. So they want the weight distribution to be established before the attempt to level. My jack-based system dumped the air then attempted to level by raising the LOWER end/side. My air system attempts to level first by lowering the HIGHER end/side by dumping air out of the appropriate bag, so they want to start with the suspension fully inflated.

Different systems with different procedures, both fully outlined in the manual and both of which I follow, having learned the lesson above.

I always level first then jacks then slides.

Always read your manual first.

Some jacking systems are just not built to actually level or lift the motorhome. This can be pretty obvious just by looking at them. The 3 point hydraulic jacks on my bus have cylinders almost 3" in diameter. The single front is rated at 20,000 pounds. The dual rears are 12k each...

The will completely lift the 33k motorhome without any issues at all.

I've seen some with tiny cylinders couldn't be more than an inch, others with the cylinders shooting out at a weird angle, these I would not trust to lift much without folding like a house of cards.

The big powergears on the monaco, those I trust my life with. I will and have lifted one or both front or rear wheels off the ground with these suckers. I'll change a tire with the jacks lifting it off the ground.

Others, especially those tiny ones that stick out at an angle, I don't go near those.

Per the monaco manual, I park, dump the air to the bumpstops, level (in manual, I do it way lower than the auto system does) and only then extend the slides.

Read your manual, do what it says.

prism wrote:

RayChez wrote:
Lower the jacks first and level your coach that way you do not have any twist on the body of the coach if you are in an unlevel ground. Then extend your slides.

I believe Monaco has it just the opposite.

I suggest if the ground is that uneven then perhaps move to a flater spot or block wheels.However if its that uneven then probable level with jacks first and then slides out. However I have found as I have posted 3 times that in general while on REASONABLE level surface one should deploy the slides and then level with jacks.That is my opinion and found my slides go in/out more freely when done this way and as I previously posted so did my buddy with gulfstream whom had sticking slides.we are really talking two different situations here one being a normal flat RV space verses some obsure uneven parking spot

So your slides operate better when your coach is NOT level?
That's a puzzler for me, glad it works for you.

Jim

azpete wrote:
my dad used to say "common sense is an uncommon thing" i thought thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard. now, that im older, maybe not wiser, but now, i know he was right.
if you notice, the room issues are related not to the chassis, but to the suspension system.
if you have a air suspension chassis, it does not contort the chassis to extend the rooms first. i fact, if you level first, then extend the rooms, typically, you will have to relevel. if you have jacks, the chassis is somewhat contorted when you park. even on a normal spot. it makes sense to level first, so that the frame is straight. because you have jacks, and support from the ground up, there should be no further twisting of the frame when the rooms are extended.
this subject has been beaten to death. the best way to protect your coach is to do as the manufacturer recommends.
that said, its your coach, and your nickel, so do it the way that requires the least repairs.

While you are partially right about re leveling because of the springs, it does not really pertain to air ride coaches. A person should dump the air once you are spotted in the space you are going to stay. That will deflate the air bags to where the coach body has settled solid on top of the chassis rails. There is no more movement because the cushion of the air bags has been taken away. Then you extend your levelers to level your coach, and there is no way that you have to re level. You have to do it the same way a crane operator has to set the levelers (riggers)first before he attempts to turn the turret. If he does not set the levelers first and starts to turn the turret it puts so much pressure on the center pin that it could flip it over. Now I am not saying that a coach would flip over, but if you extend a big slide without the coach being level, it puts pressure on the whole superstructure that is not necessary if done correct.

Where you are partially correct about re leveling could pertain to gasoline motorhomes that you can not take the spring action away like you can on air bag ride.

Thanks for all of the great replies & we did re-read our Allegro owners manual & it is - jacks down first, then slides out. When leaving the site, slides back in, then store the jacks.
We will remember that as JSSJ with the two center S's standing for Social Security.
Thanks again to all !!
Bill in FL

PS; for this reason, this site is GREAT !!