way2roll
Wilmington NC
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Rick Jay wrote:way2roll wrote:So we just brought home our new MH and my perspective has changed a bit. The new one the MBS chassis requires the engine to be running to put the slides out, but requires the engine to be off to put down the jacks. This literally forces me to put the slides out first - something I have never done on any RV I have owned. granted this is a C but wanted to note that the process really is unique to the unit.
way2roll,
That is interesting. Is that what the procedure states in the manual, or is that the way the system operates as it's wired?
~Rick
The way it's built. The manual is a little ambiguous and covers levelers in one section generally and then for each specific chassis. Mine is the MBS. Same with slides. While it does say in the manual the rv should be level before operating slides, the way my unit is manufactured you cannot run levelers before slides. Slides require that the engine be running - not plugged in - actually running. The control panel greys out the slides until the engine icon is green. The jacks will not operate with the engine running - same thing they wont work until the engine is off. Inversely you cannot start the engine with the jacks down. So you are forced to operate the slides before jacks when setting up and then jacks before slides when breaking camp.
I confirmed it this morning with a FR engineer.
Seems odd to me, but it's a smaller MH and the slide isn't very big with no appliances in it, so, it is what it is.
2023 FR Sunseeker 2400B MBS
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lonewolf80
campground
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Joined: 09/08/2015
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Way2, are your jacks factory standard, or aftermarket that sort of fold down vs vertically straight down? Friends of ours have a Sunseeker with the aftermarket electric fold down type.
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way2roll
Wilmington NC
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lonewolf80 wrote:Way2, are your jacks factory standard, or aftermarket that sort of fold down vs vertically straight down? Friends of ours have a Sunseeker with the aftermarket electric fold down type.
Factory, straight, hydraulic. It's a brand new 2023.
* This post was
edited 02/03/23 07:45am by way2roll *
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C20
Shawnee KS
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Joined: 08/01/2011
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Our new to us Essex is slide then level.
2017 Newmar Essex
97 Jeep Wrangler
16 HD CVO Street glide
2015 Challenger Hellcat
2021 Hellcat Durango
2020 ram 2500 Cummins
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Sandia Man
Rio Rancho, NM
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Joined: 08/09/2008
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Although our Monaco owner's manual states slides should be deployed first, I go by how out of level our coach is at the site we are currently in. If we are somewhat level I may deploy slides first, but more often than not, we level rig first. Once level our slides go out smoothly without drama from slide motors. When unlevel slides still move in and out fine, but our longer, heavier living/dining slide sure lets us know that being out of level is not ideal circumstances for drive motor.
On our rig slides can not be manipulated when engine is running, thereby they are normally deployed off house batteries which is an easy task with our 4 GC2 6 volt jars. Our power gear levelers however can be manipulated with or without motor running as long as auto park brake is set. Occasionally after we have leveled upon arrival, levelers may dig in and lose initial level after a couple of days. Again, with slides already deployed, we hear that the larger slides in main cabin don't appreciate the movement of the levelers while raising/lowering coach.
What does all that say, we do what we think is best for our rig depending on the scenario we are currently experiencing. Coming from an engineering/technical background, and working with various leading edge OEMS, you cannot simply duplicate every environment in which your equipment can be used. Also spent a few years writing both owners and service manuals, believe me not everything stated in a manual is rigorously tested for every imaginable scenario. I imagine RV engineers do their best, RV mfgs just to cheap to employ better designs.
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Ole B
Apache Junction, Az
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Checked with Newmar concerning this topic and here is why always have air up,means slides out first, especially with the long side. First air will not be up if unit is leveled first. Coach frame has less chance of twisting if on the air bags, not the jacks, this means more support for the entire coach. My long slide will move with the engine running, but the shorter slides will only move with engine off.
Ole B
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