wjschill
Texas
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Joined: 11/18/2020
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Any of you guys with Class A's ever use your leveling jacks to raise the rig for oil changes and tire replacements?
I've heard of yes and no on both issues.
Thanks,
Skip
KillingTime
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jdc1
Rescue, Ca
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Joined: 05/30/2011
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Yeah...but, you always put jack stands under before you go under.
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ferndaleflyer
everywhere
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^^^^^^^^^ says it all
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Y-Guy
Tri-Cities, WA
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^^^^^^ Double what jcd1 said! Never relay on your RV jacks.
2007 Winnebago Sightseer 35J
2011 Jeep Wrangler
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Dutch_12078
Winters south, summers north
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Joined: 10/07/2008
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I can crawl under our gasser without the jacks deployed for an oil change, but raising the front a few inches gives me a little more elbow room. Since a failing jack in this case won't endanger me, I don't drag out the jack stands.
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate
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LouLawrence
Traveling the US!
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Joined: 03/16/2021
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I saw the after effects of someone who raised their RV on its jacks at the FMCA rally in Perry, GA. He then went under to work on something (can't remember} but was directly under the differential when the jacks failed. That was an end of life event.
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Joined: 02/02/2003
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I can get to my drain plugs & filters without jacking up the motorhome. If I'm just doing a routine oil & filter change, then I usually won't jack it up. If I want to perform a more complete inspection, then I'll jack it up to give me more maneuvering room. I don't bend so well anymore! LOL
As others have said, always put jack stands under the rig if you do raise it up. The hard part is finding jack stands that will support the weight of the rig.
IF I remove a tire (not an easy task on many class A's, the lug nuts on ours are torqued to 475 ft-lbs, and the tire/wheel probably weighs 150+ lbs.), I put the tire under the side of the chassis to give some added protection should a jack or stand fail. I do the same when working on my cars.
Be safe!
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy Cruise Master 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (25-Angel since 2008), 1 girl (20), 2 boys (21 & 18).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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rlw999
Washington State
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Joined: 08/19/2020
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Dutch_12078 wrote:I can crawl under our gasser without the jacks deployed for an oil change, but raising the front a few inches gives me a little more elbow room. Since a failing jack in this case won't endanger me, I don't drag out the jack stands.
This still sounds like it could be unsafe -- if the jack fails suddenly, the suspension is going to compress a bit so if it was a tight fit before, it might be on top of you when it comes down. And it might be when you slid under a frame member to pick up the drain plug that rolled away... maybe you kicked the jack while you were scooting over and knocked off the hydraulic line.
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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For oil changes no. Did not need to. At 6'2" by 300 pounds I could slide under jacks not needed.. I occasionally used a 2x12 for an extra inch and 3/4 but... Not often. Mechanic did not either.
Tire change yes. but I did not actually do the tire change .
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
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wolfe10
Texas
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Actually, my answer is SOMETIMES.
If I have safe room with the suspension all the way down, I don't bother with safety stands.
If close or I wouldn't have room where I want to work with the suspension all the way down, ABSOLUTELY I use jack stands or block the suspension.
Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38'FDDS
Ex: 1997 Safari 35'
Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
Diesel RV Club:http://www.dieselrvclub.org/
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