Just bought a 2022 Palomino HS 8801 for my 2015 RAM 2500. (Added Timbren bump stops but that is a different topic). Love it so far, but one thing I am absolutely HATING is that it did not ship with electric jacks. It is pre wired for them and should have but with supply chain issues they are VERY hard to find. I've taken it off and put it back on once for practice. Looking for advice, with safety first and foremost, on technique. I raised (and lowered) each jack no more than 4" at a time and used my level to make sure things were steady. Kept the front a bit higher at all times. One of the legs would come completely off the ground each time I did this. Is that alright? I could probably adjust each jack by like an inch or less to avoid this but that would take FOREVER!Gotta say, I was nervous getting that thing high enough to load on the truck! I don't care what the weight rating is on those jacks it is sketchy. Thanks for any thoughts. Oh, and if you know of any electric jacks available let me know ASAP! Can't get them anywhere.

Get yourself a heavy duty battery-power drill and a connector ... when I had a camper without electric jacks, I'd raise it three or four inches at a time, no problem.Even with electric jacks my current camper sometimes raises one leg quicker than the others. I just stop and balance the jacks out individually, then continue.

Thanks monkey44. I have the connector but my drill may need to be upgraded. It quits once things get really heavy. Was more concerned about the lifting leg so thanks for the comment.

Never had manual jacks, but the ability to lift or lower one end or one side (2 jacks at a time) is invaluable in keeping it stable (and quicker, lol).If you can employ a wife/helper etc and have 2 drills or hand cranks or whatever, it would be preferable IMO.Strange you could get it to pick a front leg, but good, I mean great, as it's pretty well balanced for loading (most TC's will 3 leg and pick a rear leg no problem, but most wont float a front leg due to center of gravity)Idk where to find jacks, but good luck in your search and happy camping with your new camper!

Personally I would take it easy and raise or lower just a couple of inches at a time. Or you could get a partner with another drill and raise the front several inches before switching to the rear jacks.

edgerelease wrote:Thanks monkey44. I have the connector but my drill may need to be upgraded. It quits once things get really heavy. Was more concerned about the lifting leg so thanks for the comment.I bought a heavy duty Makita - battery powered - it lifted my Fleetwood at 2500 lbs. easily.BTW: Lift the front two first, then the rear, in three or four inch increments each.

Lowering / raising with manual jacks | Good Sam Community

monkey44
Nomad II
May 24, 2022
Get yourself a heavy duty battery-power drill and a connector ... when I had a camper without electric jacks, I'd raise it three or four inches at a time, no problem.

Even with electric jacks my current camper sometimes raises one leg quicker than the others. I just stop and balance the jacks out individually, then continue.
edgerelease
Explorer
May 24, 2022
Thanks monkey44. I have the connector but my drill may need to be upgraded. It quits once things get really heavy. Was more concerned about the lifting leg so thanks for the comment.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 24, 2022
Never had manual jacks, but the ability to lift or lower one end or one side (2 jacks at a time) is invaluable in keeping it stable (and quicker, lol).
If you can employ a wife/helper etc and have 2 drills or hand cranks or whatever, it would be preferable IMO.

Strange you could get it to pick a front leg, but good, I mean great, as it's pretty well balanced for loading (most TC's will 3 leg and pick a rear leg no problem, but most wont float a front leg due to center of gravity)

Idk where to find jacks, but good luck in your search and happy camping with your new camper!
JimK-NY
Explorer II
May 24, 2022
Personally I would take it easy and raise or lower just a couple of inches at a time. Or you could get a partner with another drill and raise the front several inches before switching to the rear jacks.
monkey44
Nomad II
May 24, 2022
edgerelease wrote:
Thanks monkey44. I have the connector but my drill may need to be upgraded. It quits once things get really heavy. Was more concerned about the lifting leg so thanks for the comment.

I bought a heavy duty Makita - battery powered - it lifted my Fleetwood at 2500 lbs. easily.

BTW: Lift the front two first, then the rear, in three or four inch increments each.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 24, 2022
Four inches at a time seems excessive...try two. Regarding electric jacks and trailer tongue jacks, I'm a fan of using a battery powered drill.
edgerelease
Explorer
May 24, 2022
Grit dog wrote:
Never had manual jacks, but the ability to lift or lower one end or one side (2 jacks at a time) is invaluable in keeping it stable (and quicker, lol).
If you can employ a wife/helper etc and have 2 drills or hand cranks or whatever, it would be preferable IMO.

Strange you could get it to pick a front leg, but good, I mean great, as it's pretty well balanced for loading (most TC's will 3 leg and pick a rear leg no problem, but most wont float a front leg due to center of gravity)

Idk where to find jacks, but good luck in your search and happy camping with your new camper!

To clarify, it is my rear jack(s) that will lift off the ground, not front. Thanks.
ticki2
Explorer
May 25, 2022
Lwiddis wrote:
Four inches at a time seems excessive...try two. Regarding electric jacks and trailer tongue jacks, I'm a fan of using a battery powered drill.

I agree . I have manual jacks and if raising them one at a time 4” it will always unload one of the other legs . As was said try 2” . Ultimately it’s the same amount of cranks to achieve the desired height
RickW
Explorer III
May 25, 2022
1. Most of the weight is on the front jacks. When you raise one of the rear jacks, the other will come off the ground. The jack you raised is temporarily holding the rear weight. Raise the other one just enough to have both jacks on the ground and go back to raising the front ones a few inches each.

2. It is recommended that you keep the camper level or with the front a few inches high when raising and lowering the jacks. Don't do it on sloped driveways.

3. Get a portable drill that is at least 12 volt (preferably 18 volt) and has 2 speeds. Use the lower speed with the higher torque.

HINT: Watch where the drill is in relation to your head. When your fingers slip off the detents and the jack screw suddenly locks, you can get a headache real fast (or so I have been told :o)
mkirsch
Nomad II
May 25, 2022
ticki2 wrote:
Lwiddis wrote:
Four inches at a time seems excessive...try two. Regarding electric jacks and trailer tongue jacks, I'm a fan of using a battery powered drill.

I agree . I have manual jacks and if raising them one at a time 4” it will always unload one of the other legs . As was said try 2” . Ultimately it’s the same amount of cranks to achieve the desired height

I also agree.

When I'm raising/lowering the camper I give it a quick 10-count with the drill and then move on to the next jack.

You don't need to be so fussy about keeping everything perfectly level and straight during the process. Just eyeball it and don't let any one corner get too far out of line. You can get it situated however you feel best once it's fully raised.

The "front high" recommendation is for rain runoff during storage. There is no technical reason to keep the front high during raising and lowering.