Happijac failed while driving down the interstate!

[ChrisnKaty]

We were just driving down the hwy and one our Happijac jacks fell out and was scraping the ground! We pulled over & tied it up, but are very concerned. They are less than two years old. We bought our camper used in May of 2013, it is a 2012 Eagle Cap 1160. I find it ridiculous that this important and vital part of our TC would fail already. This is our third trip using he camper, and previous owners barely used it. Should we replace jacks? repair? Does anyone know what kind of warranty HJ's carry? Thanks!

[wnjj]

abslayer wrote:
No they are model 4150

That explains it. Those are acme screw type and cannot be moved without the motor or hand crank.

[abslayer]

No they are model 4150

[wnjj]

abslayer wrote:

RichieC wrote:

abslayer wrote:

New camper so that is not the case

On a "perfect" jack with everything in good working order, the jack leg may extend by itself without any assistance.

You have something wrong with that jack. It could be oxidation on the worm screw which will only get worse.
If new enough, you might ask for an exchange jack.

That is unlikely as all 4 jacks do not extend with out remote.

Are you sure they are model 4600 and not 4500?

[bigfootford]

RichieC wrote:

abslayer wrote:

New camper so that is not the case

On a "perfect" jack with everything in good working order, the jack leg may extend by itself without any assistance.

You have something wrong with that jack. It could be oxidation on the worm screw which will only get worse.
If new enough, you might ask for an exchange jack.

The friction of the gears and motor drag will not allow the non release type jacks from lowering by themselves...

Jim

[abslayer]

RichieC wrote:

abslayer wrote:

New camper so that is not the case

On a "perfect" jack with everything in good working order, the jack leg may extend by itself without any assistance.

You have something wrong with that jack. It could be oxidation on the worm screw which will only get worse.
If new enough, you might ask for an exchange jack.

That is unlikely as all 4 jacks do not extend with out remote.

[bighatnohorse]

abslayer wrote:

New camper so that is not the case

On a "perfect" jack with everything in good working order, the jack leg may extend by itself without any assistance.

You have something wrong with that jack. It could be oxidation on the worm screw which will only get worse.
If new enough, you might ask for an exchange jack.

[stevenal]

Would you believe it happened to me this morning after loading my camper? I generally retract the jacks until the motor just begins to change tone, then slightly extend to ensure no binding. When I touched the button to extend I got a bit more extension than I planned. The pin that broke is not the one I linked above, but is further down. Probably the one that failed on the OP, since the other one is only 7/8" long. It is visible in the photo below in the lower left. Guess I'll be modifying my full retraction approach, and be satisfied with close to full.

[Raften]

ClassicB wrote:
I cant believe the problems you ppeople are experiencing with the Happijacs. I'm going on 13 years with my electric Atwoods and to this day haven't had one hiccup with mine.

Same here

[abslayer]

wnjj wrote:

abslayer wrote:

wnjj wrote:

HMS Beagle wrote:
If you are concerned about someone messing with the lever, it is easily removed. Its only purpose is to disengage the gear motor if you need to wind the jacks by hand - again a rare event, and you can wind the jacks by hand back driving the gear motor without much additional effort in the event you ever need to.

On the 4600 model jacks, releasing the lever allows you to push the jacks down by stepping on the foot rather than using the slow, noisy motors. I use the levers every time I lower them.

Funny every one says this but mine will not go down even if I stand on them.

Yours are probably in need of a rebuild/regrease. One of mine will not move without jumping on it (7 years old). The other 3 were rebuilt by Happijac 5 years ago when they warrantied the paint. I plan to take that one apart.

New camper so that is not the case:(

[ClassicB]

I cant believe the problems you ppeople are experiencing with the Happijacs. I'm going on 13 years with my electric Atwoods and to this day haven't had one hiccup with mine.

[wnjj]

abslayer wrote:

wnjj wrote:

HMS Beagle wrote:
If you are concerned about someone messing with the lever, it is easily removed. Its only purpose is to disengage the gear motor if you need to wind the jacks by hand - again a rare event, and you can wind the jacks by hand back driving the gear motor without much additional effort in the event you ever need to.

On the 4600 model jacks, releasing the lever allows you to push the jacks down by stepping on the foot rather than using the slow, noisy motors. I use the levers every time I lower them.

Funny every one says this but mine will not go down even if I stand on them.

Yours are probably in need of a rebuild/regrease. One of mine will not move without jumping on it (7 years old). The other 3 were rebuilt by Happijac 5 years ago when they warrantied the paint. I plan to take that one apart.

[KKELLER14K]

LOL>>>>,..What I meant to say was you can do it while the camper is still on the truck....!!! I mean come on it is common sence right?? You can do it if it is off the truck but you have to have the camper supported from underneath. I think I'm getting joked about now..LOL!

[abslayer]

wnjj wrote:

HMS Beagle wrote:
If you are concerned about someone messing with the lever, it is easily removed. Its only purpose is to disengage the gear motor if you need to wind the jacks by hand - again a rare event, and you can wind the jacks by hand back driving the gear motor without much additional effort in the event you ever need to.

On the 4600 model jacks, releasing the lever allows you to push the jacks down by stepping on the foot rather than using the slow, noisy motors. I use the levers every time I lower them.

Funny every one says this but mine will not go down even if I stand on them.

[bigfootford]

Sheriffdoug wrote:
Jim,

I built a support out of 5 to 6, 3ft lengths of 6"x4", under the basement, lowering corner with jacks,
evenly on to support column built, to sit firm on the three remaining jacks and support, then manually
wind up small amount of jack to be fixed, and un bolt & repair.

Purchase timber from lumber shop/salvage yard as required. Store 2-4 in Truck bed at sides, with TC for emergency use. Can be used, so as to not over extend camper jacks, base plates for changing tires for truck jack, chocks for wheels, or bed stops at rear of
Truck bed to prevent damage.

After fixing Jack, re-install, raise leg to tension, raise all legs slightly, then remove wooden supports.

Good Luck, Doug

That's a good way to do it...

I just leave the camper on the truck. remove the jack that I want to do maint on....Do the maintenance and put the jack back on... 1 hr max and I am done with 1 jack.

Jimj

[Sheriffdoug]

Jim,

I built a support out of 5 to 6, 3ft lengths of 6"x4", under the basement, lowering corner with jacks,
evenly on to support column built, to sit firm on the three remaining jacks and support, then manually
wind up small amount of jack to be fixed, and un bolt & repair.

Purchase timber from lumber shop/salvage yard as required. Store 2-4 in Truck bed at sides, with TC for emergency use. Can be used, so as to not over extend camper jacks, base plates for changing tires for truck jack, chocks for wheels, or bed stops at rear of
Truck bed to prevent damage.

After fixing Jack, re-install, raise leg to tension, raise all legs slightly, then remove wooden supports.

Good Luck, Doug