We have a Class A Monaco Diplomat 2000 38'. We are currently camped in a site that is not very level. But it was the best we could find. Back is low. We got it pretty level, and back tires are barely touching. My hunch is that this is a bad thing. We ran out of wood as it is all under rear jacks, and are planning to hit a Lowes or Home Depot first thing in the AM to get more to put under tires.I am concerned...the airbags look like they could be stressed or pull out from the weight. Is that possible? I have seen other rigs with wheels off the ground.Let me know what your thoughts are. This is our first trip out in RV, and yes, we are Newbies. This is the first we have encountered this issue, and I know it will not be the last.Paul & Doug

I have wood for under the jacks and some of those plastic "lego" stackable blocks for under the wheels. I use the plastic blocks when the site is unlevel.

It is certainly not an ideal situation, but as you said the same effect is on the air bags when you jack up an air ride equpped vehicle to change tires, etc.We often hear from those who fear that a coach will fall over or move if the wheels are not on the ground. That opinion seems to me to be simple fear mongering by people who don't understand that the jacks provide a stable support at least equal to the contact patch of a single or dual tire resting on the ground.

Watch you windshields, With too much "Twist" on the frame from the jacks, Windshields will pop out or break.Terry.

vegasfoodguy wrote:Watch you windshields, With too much "Twist" on the frame from the jacks, Windshields will pop out or break.Terry.OK....that freaked me out!...LOL However, this model is a 3-jack model with one jack up front. (my next RV will not have only 3)But I hear ya! I actually had a difficult time opening a compartment down below. Thanks!!

Did you try placing some 2 x 10's under your wheels first to raise the chassis and then use the other wood under your jacks? Raising your chassis with wood under the wheels will relieve some of the travel required by the jacks. I am guessing that you have dumped your air to get your front lower before using the jacks to raise the rear.

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havasu
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
I have often raised the front with the wheels off the ground although using leveling blocks is preferable.

I would NEVER raise the back wheels off the ground - that's where your brakes are applied and you have now made the whole rig potentially unstable. It's a HUGE NO NO.

Also if you drive onto blocks to level at the rear, then you need blocks for both the inner and outer wheels.

Finally, leveling is not for your benefit or personal comfort - it's because you will ruin your refrigerator if you run it off level.
homedad
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
I'd move the wood to the wheels and find wood to stabilize the jacks later. I had a class C where the wheels weren't even off the ground but barely touching and it slid and folded the jacks in the wrong direction.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
slickest1 wrote:
First off if the back wheels are almost off the ground,and the parking brake is applied what is holding your coach from going backward down the hill? The jacks!! I don't know if I would be comfortable with that!!

That is a big problem! If it were me, I would lower th coach, chock the front wheels, then re-engage the jacks!
slickest1
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
The parking brake applies to the rear wheels only. In that situation I would think it would put alot of stress on the jacks. I have air leveling so I don't claim to know all about jacks, but I think I would look for a better spot.
kenbert
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
hipower wrote:
It is certainly not an ideal situation, but as you said the same effect is on the air bags when you jack up an air ride equpped vehicle to change tires, etc.

We often hear from those who fear that a coach will fall over or move if the wheels are not on the ground. That opinion seems to me to be simple fear mongering by people who don't understand that the jacks provide a stable support at least equal to the contact patch of a single or dual tire resting on the ground.

I was camped at a KOA in PA, sites were not very level. My front tires were off the ground, so I releveled with wood under tires. I could have left the front tires hang but I just feel more cmfortable when they are stable.

Now you say having rear tires off ground is okay, jacks are just as stable. Wrong,never let the rear wheels off the ground, this is the brake. After I was level an older bluebird pulls in next to me facing the opposite way, so he had to lift the rear. As soon as the rear wheels left the ground the coach moved back and snapped the jacks off like they were toothpicks, hydraulic fluid was everywhere.

Ken
BigRabbitMan
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
Spend one night with the rear a little low. Won't hurt a thing. I don't have jacks and just put the pillow at the other end of the bed if necessary.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2013
Your owners manual will tell you not to do this. However, that is just a liability thing. Slickest1 has a point about the potential of sliding backwards, but I've jacked my wheels off the ground before and never had a problem. I'm not saying it's safe to do, just saying I've done it a number of times and never died or destroyed my motorhome.
GrampaR123
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
Regarding hipower's response about the rear wheels not having to touch the ground.........REALLY, HIPOWER? An understanding of how the gearing of a differential works and knowing whether or not his parking brake also applies to his front wheels would be good for you to know, don't you think? I think that's an irresponsible post.
slickest1
Explorer
Jun 03, 2013
First off if the back wheels are almost off the ground,and the parking brake is applied what is holding your coach from going backward down the hill? The jacks!! I don't know if I would be comfortable with that!!
crasster
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2013
Don't worry about the air bags. They'll be fine.

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