Help me choose a new leveling system.

[8Muddypaws]

You can see from my signature that I have an older rig. I've been keeping my 19 year old Atwood LevelLegs system working by occasionally buying used jacks, collecting spare parts and fixing them as they break and generally putting a lot of money and work into them.

Only one of the jacks has never been rebuilt or replaced but the inevitable finally happened a few weeks ago and it does nothing when the motor spins.

I have another broken one just like it that broke in the same way. No repair parts are available, no replacements.

It's just a crappy system. They work like a screw drive garage door opener except the trolly is supposed to lift 15,000 pounds. Bound to fail.

So while I continue to seek parts or replacements I'm also looking at replacing the whole dang system.

So far the Bigfoot 'Quadra' leveling system is the front runner with KVH in second place. Who else makes leveling systems for 30K# Class A motor homes?

Any experience with those or other brands?

Advice appreciated!

Thanks,
Russ

 

[NY_Dutch]

You can see from my signature that I have an older rig. I've been keeping my 19 year old Atwood LevelLegs system working by occasionally buying used jacks, collecting spare parts and fixing them as they break and generally putting a lot of money and work into them.

Only one of the jacks has never been rebuilt or replaced but the inevitable finally happened a few weeks ago and it does nothing when the motor spins.

I have another broken one just like it that broke in the same way. No repair parts are available, no replacements.

It's just a crappy system. They work like a screw drive garage door opener except the trolly is supposed to lift 15,000 pounds. Bound to fail.

So while I continue to seek parts or replacements I'm also looking at replacing the whole dang system.

So far the Bigfoot 'Quadra' leveling system is the front runner with KVH in second place. Who else makes leveling systems for 30K# Class A motor homes?

Any experience with those or other brands?

Advice appreciated!

Thanks,
Russ

I installed a Bigfoot system myself on our previous motorhome when I was 14 years younger. The system worked quite well, and I was pleased to see that our current motorhome had a factory installed Bigfoot system that has also worked quite well. Now at 24 years old, one pump has failed, and Quadra had no problem shipping me a new one that my grandson will help me install. Pretty much all parts are still available, although some newer electronics require also changing another part to work correctly.

 

[Domo]

Our BigFoot is flawless. Only mistake we made was NOT having it installed at their factory. Instead we thought RnR RV Center in Liberty Lake, WA (listed as a qualified installer) could do the job. Sadly their purported "expert" learned how to do the installation at our expense wherein destroyed control panel, electronics, pneumatics, correct fasteners selection, hose and wire clamps and timely work were unknown resulting in a return visit to have too many clearly amateur problems fixed. (Yes, I'm still venting - and have all the photos.)

Moral - BigFoot is great - bulletproof, easy to use - but go to the factory and have it done correctly and get your money's worth.

 

[PancakeBill]

Go for new, but ounds like your jacks work like truckcamper legs. Maybe look into the replacement heads for motorized jacks.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Thanks!

Bill,

LevelLegs were discontinued shortly after Lippert bought them. No new parts, no support. I've been dumpster diving for used pieces and parts for over 5 years. There is a guy on the east coast that manufactures parts to order but they are very expensive and as I said in the document I threw together when I rebuilt the last one, or maybe the one before that? 'It's not a question of if, but of when.'

Domo,

I'm on the west coast. Driving the rig to Michigan is not an option. However, If Quadra sets up a shop in Quartzite this year it would be a done deal! I'm also looking at having them installed in Havasue by Canyon Country RV & Truck. They've done good by us in the past.

 

[Kirk]

I don't have experience with other brands, but I too had Bigfoot leveling jacks and in 14 years (12 fulltime) I found them to be very reliable and to have outstanding customer support. Many manufacturers only sell parts to or through dealers, but Qudra is happy to sell to the owners for a very reasonable price and to then assist you in replacing those parts.

 

[UTTransplant]

Our rig has HWH levelers on it. They have been very reliable. Hydraulic system, not electric. The folks at the HWH factory are absolutely fabulous. In general HWH has been slow to respond to contact, but when they did they stayed with a problem until it was solved.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Bigfoot (Quadra) is the leader in aftermarket leveling systems and their rep is excellent. The only other I would consider is Equalizer (EQ Systems). Both companies are reputable brands that package and sell systems for aftermarket installation.

If it were me, I'd go with Bigfoot and have them install it. Make it a vacation trip and drop by the factory for a day to get it done and done right.

 

[ferfer]

Bigfoot (Quadra)

Your Bigfoot link leads to EQ. Try Bigfoot Leveling Systems

Our Automatic Bigfoot levelers installed by Georgie Boy Mfg. in 2003/04. While we have had some issues still working.

 

[8Muddypaws]

I just talked with Tom Blessing at Quadra Manufacturing, AKA Bigfoot. He informed me that they were just acquired by Lippert.

 

[Kirk]

He informed me that they were just acquired by Lippert.

On my! I would still recommend them.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

BigFoot is great

I'm surprised your Tiffin didn't come with HWH.

Lippert bought them

Like so many other RV suppliers that have superior products to their own.

I just talked with Tom Blessing at Quadra Manufacturing, AKA Bigfoot. He informed me that they were just acquired by Lippert.

Lippert is becoming the Thor Mfg. of the RV Supplier industry. They don't try to improve some of the crap they make, and it's expensive; they buy out the competition that makes superior products and slap their name on it.

 

[Domo]

I'm surprised your Tiffin didn't come with HWH.

Like so many other RV suppliers that have superior products to their own.

Lippert is becoming the Thor Mfg. of the RV Supplier industry. They don't try to improve some of the crap they make, and it's expensive; they buy out the competition that makes superior products and slap their name on it.

My 2008 came with Atwood levelegs. Unfortunately, the two 10,000 lb units in the rears were originally undersized IMO and got to the point they could not reliably lift our rear when fully loaded (@20,000 rear, 10,000 front). After fussing for a year+ we switched - AND sold the old ones to recoup some of the expense of the new Quadra BF.

 

[8Muddypaws]

A change in plans! (Or maybe only a short reprieve)

I took apart the 10K Jack I had in my pack rat garage and found that I had the right parts to repair it by using parts out of an 8K Jack. The final drive pinion shaft was twisted off at the lower shear pin.

If I remember right the 10K jack in the garage was about 12 years old when it failed. I'm betting this one won't last as long

I'm having big problems with my hands so I'm having a shop swap the jacks for me.

The story of my hands will be another post in the appropriate forum.

 

[House Husband]

I have the HWH 210 manual lever system that was installed in 1997. I did replace all the hoses 10 years ago. Found a kit on Ebay. No leaks at the jacks and the pump is still flawless. No circuit boards to fail. HWH still has all the replacement parts, in case of a failure.

Richard