Leveling with hydraulic jacks

ddndoug wrote:

I really don't want to jump in the middle of an argument, but....

Onaquest, I think the point that Doug is trying to make is....

As you earlier admitted the further you extend the jacks, the less stable they become. If you are able to dump the airbag suspension on the DP, it lowers the chassis. By lowering the chassis the jacks are already at an advantage by starting from a lower point (not having to overcome the height of the airbag rise) which in turn typically will allow for a more stable RV.

IOW, by dropping the chassis (by means of dumping the airbags) the jacks do not have to extend as far to level. Which in turn adds more stability.
Doug

As you pointed out, I did concur with the fact that a heavier DP chassis (with air suspension) is inherently more stable, on or off the jacks, than a sprung gas chassis. And the abilities that you just reiterated are what makes that true. I know all that.

It was not any of that logic that I voiced disagreement with. It was only the statement that "IF you have a Gasoline model, then movement and "bounce" will be normal even with the jacks leveling the RV. Doug", that I contested.

I based my response on my own 9+ years of owning my current gas Bounder and ~20 years of experience with RVs of friends and relatives.

Properly leveled (and with NO over extension) there simply is NO movement and "bounce". Could it be moved by hitting it with a DP? Sure, but the statement implies that movement and "bounce" can never be mitigated in a gas motorhome. THAT simply is NOT TRUE!!!

I am sorry that Doug took this as a personal affront to his abilities and capabilities. I was only trying to clarify for the OP that there was an answer to his inability to level and stabilize his RV on his first few attempts.

As for the couple of immature folks who attempted to come to Doug's defense, by playing their "we stick together card", and got their noses bent, I have absolutely no concern what so ever.

Thanks for giving me a chance to explain my position once again.

randallb wrote:
Enjoy your forum. I will keep my uneducated comments and worthless experience to myself and Onaquest with his much more thorough understanding of all things RV can take care of answering all of your RV questions.
Randy

You have to admire a man who knows his own limitations.

Looking at it another way, a glass of Merlot is a wonderful accompaniment to a full size folding chair, when watching hyperactive folks pull into an rv spot and proceed to level up their Class A or Travel trailer. Working together in team dynamics with portable radios, blocks, hydraulic lifts, jacks and carpenter levels, a good Husband/wife team can consume up to 45 minutes. About enough time to pull out the BBQ and grill a couple ribeyes.

My rule of thumb is one night just park
two to four nights may be level with jacks
four nights or more usually level with jacks

Eyeing the site and doing a little bit of back and forth will generally get a decent campsite, level parked within the tolerances set by the refrigerator.

Concern for bouncing springs is managed by used more remote campsites when necessary.


Its all about relaxation

pops

OnaQuest wrote:

DSDP Don wrote:
This one has been beat to death, but there is a major point that is being missed. I think "dougrainer's" point was misinterpreted. When you drop the air out of a diesel, the suspension basically disappears and the jacks are lifting the frame. Here is the important part....jacks extended 6" are more stable than jacks extended 12"....they just don't wobble as much.True statement...

On a gas chassis....the jacks have to extend further to overcome the suspension and stabilize. Even then, they don't completely defeat the suspension which can allow for some bounce. This is a point that was missed when the OP was placing blocks under his coach. He just made the issue worse.

"dougrainer" provides a lot of information on this forum especially when it comes to A/C and refer issues. It's hard to always express things precisely and then others can misinterpret.

This is the same nonsense that Doug was pushing. It is NOT necessary to extend the jacks on a gas rig any further than it is on a DP.

You don't have to completely lift the frame off the springs to stabilize the rig. The springs will have NO further effect unless you think you are heavy enough to stand (jump maybe?) in the rear and lift the front off the ground? You might get a little "bounce" when it comes down. You certainly aren't going to compress a jack to make it bounce.

I really don't want to jump in the middle of an argument, but....

Onaquest, I think the point that Doug is ttrying to make is....

As you earlier admitted the further you extend the jacks, the less stable they become. If you are able to dump the airbag suspension on the DP, it lowers the chassis. By lowering the chassis the jacks are already at an advantage by starting from a lower point (not having to overcome the height of the airbag rise) which in turn typically will allow for a more stable RV.

IOW, by dropping the chassis (by means of dumping the airbags) the jacks do not have to extend as far to level. Which in turn adds more stability.


Doug

Enjoy your forum. I will keep my uneducated comments and worthless experience to myself and Onaquest with his much more thorough understanding of all things RV can take care of answering all of your RV questions.
Randy

Again, thanks for all the replys. I have read thru all the answers a couple of times and have pulled out tips and things to do to help eliminate the bounce. I appreciate the imformation. Each reply had something of value. Some I will use and some maybe not. This site is great and to get all this experienceis super helpful. Bill

DSDP Don wrote:
Okay....I give...."OnaQuest"....your years as a DP owner trumped us all. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but one doesn't need to own a DP to understand basic vehicle suspension concepts, and hydraulic jacks certainly aren't rocket science. So where's the mystery?

Okay....I give...."OnaQuest"....your years as a DP owner trumped us all. Thanks for the insight.

"Wshiley"...sorry this post went sideways, but no good information goes unpunished by a few!!!! Watch what others do as you go camping and pick out the things you like and use them. One of my mottos is to make it simple. Quick connect hoses, everything in one place and the least use of equipment as I can so I'm not spending hours setting up. This includes not using wood and ramps unnecessarily when you have jacks!

randallb wrote:
Doug,
Why do you bother. I severely restricted my help to this forum about 3 years ago when you, me and one other professional were stuck in this same type of senseless conversation with the "experts". They were right and we were wrong. Our combined 100+ years of experience was met with the same type of logic that Onaquest is now using to address your expertise and experience.
Randy

Sorry if you feel offended when someone questions your expertise on any given subject. Your combined 100 years of experience is not intimidating in the least, and is no license to make unsubstantiated statements.

I stipulated early on, in this thread, that DPs were inherently more stable on jacks than gassers, due to their weight, bulk and how they were constructed, but statements that "gas MHs will always have "bounce" and movement when leveled with jacks" is as ridiculous now as it was then.

I can level my Bounder gasser, without lifting any corner more than six inches, and make it as solid and stable as a rock. AND, it didn't take me 35 or 100 years to learn how to do it either. Maybe I'm just a fast learner.

DSDP Don wrote:
This one has been beat to death, but there is a major point that is being missed. I think "dougrainer's" point was misinterpreted. When you drop the air out of a diesel, the suspension basically disappears and the jacks are lifting the frame. Here is the important part....jacks extended 6" are more stable than jacks extended 12"....they just don't wobble as much.True statement...

On a gas chassis....the jacks have to extend further to overcome the suspension and stabilize. Even then, they don't completely defeat the suspension which can allow for some bounce. This is a point that was missed when the OP was placing blocks under his coach. He just made the issue worse.

"dougrainer" provides a lot of information on this forum especially when it comes to A/C and refer issues. It's hard to always express things precisely and then others can misinterpret.

This is the same nonsense that Doug was pushing. It is NOT necessary to extend the jacks on a gas rig any further than it is on a DP.

You don't have to completely lift the frame off the springs to stabilize the rig. The springs will have NO further effect unless you think you are heavy enough to stand (jump maybe?) in the rear and lift the front off the ground? You might get a little "bounce" when it comes down. You certainly aren't going to compress a jack to make it bounce.