Levelling Jack Issue

[uchu]

So, our new motorhome has levelling jacks, which I am not very familiar with, except for the basics.

It's fully manual system. Basically, the control board in the cockpit has four up and down buttons, to retract or extend each jack.

Three of them work like a charm, but one (the right, rear side one) does not. It gets power, as I can hear it buzzing as the others do, but it does not deploy when pushing the corresponding down button. If I push the up button, it makes a "clack-clack" sound until I release the button.

By the way, the slides work flawlessly as well, so I'm thinking the hydraulic fluid should be okay.

Any ideas about how to start troubleshooting?

 

[John From Detroit]

Fluid yes. Valve No I would guess bad valve.

 

[Kirk]

So, our new motorhome has levelling jacks, which I am not very familiar with, except for the basics.

Tell us what make and model your leveling system is. They do not all work the same way, and the controls vary a great deal. A picture of the control panel would also be helpful.

 

[uchu]

Tell us what make and model your leveling system is. They do not all work the same way, and the controls vary a great deal. A picture of the control panel would also be helpful.

Unfortunately, the system looks "no-name". As generic as it can get. I can't see any label or placard anywhere.

 

[NY_Dutch]

Unfortunately, the system looks "no-name". As generic as it can get. I can't see any label or placard anywhere.

I'm not seeing any hydraulic hoses, and that square jack appears to be electric, probably a screw drive. The symptoms sound like either a frozen jack or motor.

 

[uchu]

So, no hydraulics. Interesting. I was wondering about that. I can't see any lines either.

When you say frozen, you mean stuck? Physically stuck?

 

[ferfer]

I think think your leveling system is an optional automatic leveling system by ATWOOD LEVELEGS. The below youtube video of a 2006 Fleetwood Flair 31A shows the leveling control panel following at ~1:00 min.

​

It appears the Atwood control the control panel has been replaced.

Flair sales pamphlet: Features and option show CHASSIS Automatic power leveling system as option.

2006 Fleetwood Flair 31A Features and Options

 

[NY_Dutch]

So, no hydraulics. Interesting. I was wondering about that. I can't see any lines either.

When you say frozen, you mean stuck? Physically stuck?

Yes... Maybe a seized bearing or a broken gear. The jack assembly is similar to those used for some electric trailer tongue jacks.

 

[Kirk]

The picture of the jack does look like an Atwood, but the Levelegs was an automatic system and your controls do not look like they have everything needed. The picture of the jack does look like one from Atwood.

The Flair did use an Atwood system but the only Atwood controls that I can find look like the one in post #11. I located a copy of the owner's manual for the 2006 Flair, but it is of no help.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

BAL also made an electric jack with a square tube, though it was intended primarily for trailer use. The Atwood LevelLegs was an automatic system and had a much different control panel than what you have in your photo.

Looking at the 2006 Flair brochure, it appears the leveling jacks were optional and were an automatic system. Almost surely the LevelLegs, which was used on several Fleetwood models in that timeframe (and were notoriously unreliable). I think you have an aftermarket add-on system of some sort.

 

[uchu]

I think you have an aftermarket add-on system of some sort.

I agree. It appears to be an aftermarket add-on that a previous owner must have installed.

I am looking right now at troubleshooting videos for this type of square leg jacks. Or maybe I can find a used/refurbished replacement on eBay.

 

[ferfer]

I do think the Jacks are part of a Atwood levelegs auto system. IMO post #4 pics 1 & 2 show replacement of the control panel by prior owner. Either way the below will get you started.

Atwood Levelegs: - YouTube some below.

How to replace motor

3 Common Atwood Levelegs Problems (Troubleshooting) - Camper Upgrade

An Atwood jack on Ebay but question is does it fit(correct PN)? Atwood Levelegs Jack 66700 | eBay

 

[uchu]

Thank you for sharing those links, @ferfer. And thank you all for your responses.

It looks like a project to tackle in the fall, when I don't have to sweat like a just to get under the motorhome .

In the meantime, I'll be using a scissors jack to level that lazy leveler.

 

[ferfer]

a project to tackle in the fall, when I don't have to sweat like a

Putting off projects to fall common practice in our household. Yesterday was 115 F & 100F today, but it is a dry heat.

using a scissors jack to level that lazy leveler

Trying to envision using a scissor jack as leveler jack replacement? Reminder that a 4 jack leveler system is designed to move 2 jacks simultaneously so do not twist the frame. Each up/down switch will control one jack: Driver Front, Passenger Front, Driver Rear, Passenger Rear. Thus you move the 2 front jacks, the 2 rear jacks, the driver side (driver front, driver rear) or passenger side.

It would be interesting how mechanically the scissor jack worked.

 

[Kirk]

Keep in mind that the jacks level via the chassis frame rails so that is where you will need the jack to pair with the others, as mentioned in post 14. Manual leveling should be done using a pair at the lowest end and then a pair on the low side.

 

[uchu]

Well, I am intending to use the levellers more to provide stability, rather than actual levelling. So I was thinking to use the scissors jack as a "link" between the ground and the bottom of the leveller jack. to provide support. Maybe I don't need to use them at all

I don't remember camping on a site that wasn't level enough to be noticeable or uncomfortable. But I always carry my trusty levelling blocks (wood planks), just in case.

 

[ferfer]

In theory, on a level site, using the scissor jack and leveler jacks to stabilize the coach could work. I think it is a two person job. One to lower/retract the working leveling jacks and one to monitor position so just touching ground. The tricky part occurs with the scissor jack height and placement at the Passenger Rear position because it effects the Driver rear / Passenger rear and Passenger Front / Passenger Rear positions.

Perhaps you can the measure the slide out positions when in & out to monitor for twist? I do not think a bubble leveler would identify twist even if shows coach level front to back and side to side.

My rambling above is my opinion which I think is fact based and might even be correct but needs more study. I would really like to know how you solve this.

 

[NY_Dutch]

Well, I am intending to use the levellers more to provide stability, rather than actual levelling. So I was thinking to use the scissors jack as a "link" between the ground and the bottom of the leveller jack. to provide support. Maybe I don't need to use them at all

I don't remember camping on a site that wasn't level enough to be noticeable or uncomfortable. But I always carry my trusty levelling blocks (wood planks), just in case.

We're operating with just three jacks at the moment due to a bad pump on the fourth (right rear) jack, with parts on order. The site we're currently on though, works well for us since we only need a few inches of lift on the left side to be level. I only extended the right front jack enough to make ground contact to stabilize that side. I was prepared to use a bottle jack under the right rear, but we haven't felt any need for it.

 

[Kirk]

Anytime that you have less than all leveling jacks in use you will put some torque on the frame that it wasn't designed to deal with. Using only two will not add stress if both are on the same side because the chassis then takes care of the other side but with two at one end or with three touching there would be some twist torque. If they only touch then that added torque would only be what the people using it weigh so probably have no effect but stabilizing the RV usually requires taking at least some weight on the jacks that touch. I don't know how one could learn how much effect it would have as that kind of design information for a chassis isn't usually available to owners.

 

[NY_Dutch]

Anytime that you have less than all leveling jacks in use you will put some torque on the frame that it wasn't designed to deal with. Using only two will not add stress if both are on the same side because the chassis then takes care of the other side but with two at one end or with three touching there would be some twist torque. If they only touch then that added torque would only be what the people using it weigh so probably have no effect but stabilizing the RV usually requires taking at least some weight on the jacks that touch. I don't know how one could learn how much effect it would have as that kind of design information for a chassis isn't usually available to owners.

The corner that's not on a jack right now, is the lightest corner of the four according to the wheel weights. With just the three jacks deployed, we feel no motion when walking in that back corner area. This 24 year old chassis seems to be pretty stiff. I'm not concerned. That said, I don't recommend it as a regular practice, and that jack will be repaired ASAP.