JTrac
Oklahoma
Senior Member
Joined: 10/27/2003
View Profile
|
I have a DP and do my own maintenance (oil changes, lube, filters, etc.). I always chock the rear tires on both sides. Generally, the air bags are full to give me more clearance. I admit I have been lax in using jack stands in the past but will in the future. I think there is a very low chance of a sudden air release but why take chances.
My question is about the type of jack stand, how many I need and the placement. Can any one give me some advice on what I need?
JimT
|
Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
Senior Member
Joined: 07/22/2007
View Profile
 Online
|
Jim the GM shop manual for our P30 shows the points on the frame for example. If you give the details of your rig some may be able to be specific.
We used jack stands when we rotated our wheels and it did add to the time but to the safety as well. Having air bags and leveling jacks would be awesome to quickly get a MH up on the jack stands it would seem.
|
Deen
Vancouver, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/07/2000
View Profile
|
I just use the leveling jacks, the chance of both the air suspension and the jacks failing at the same time is very small and my jacks have NEVER leaked down yet. But I DON'T mess with the air valves while under there either.
Harbor Freight has some 20 ton ones, someday maybe I'll get a set since that's what my rear axle is rated for.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam,
Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
|
Carjon
Wooster Ohio US
Senior Member
Joined: 12/14/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
If you know the front and rear weights of your coach, the jack stands need to be rated to handle that amount. You need to place the jacks under the frame and not the axles which you probably already know. I happen to have an old 20 ton screw barn jack that I use under a strong cross member which takes care of the rear. In the front I use two twenty ton hydraulic jacks, one under each frame member. A little overkill but I already had them and heavy jack stands don't come cheap. Only takes acouple of minutes to put them in place and I can work under the coach all day with out worry. In 2001 we were picking up a new DP and the Tech doing the PDI told us that one of their Techs had a close call a short time before. He was under a new coach and reached up to see why an airline looked like it was not tight and the line came apart. He said the rear of the coach lowered but because the Tech was mostly under the rear axel he was not injured. Whether this actually happened or not it got my attention.
and aline to the rear bags
Carjon
2005 Dutch Star
2006 Saturn Vue
|
grldst
Dallas, GA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/10/2003
View Profile
|
Dump the air and see if you can crawl under the RV. I can, and have clearance with the exception of a couple areas, transmission and jacks area.
|
|
|
Fleet Man
Western WA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/27/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
I use ramps under all six tires, six inches thick made from 2x10's. They are heavy but they give me the clearance I need without any safety concerns.
2007 Winnebago Journey 34H
Toad, '08 Ford Taurus X
Blue OX, Aventa
US Gear UBS
|
Sully2
Cincinnati
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
View Profile
|
Deen wrote:
Harbor Freight has some 20 ton ones, someday maybe I'll get a set since that's what my rear axle is rated for.
Rear axle is rated at 20,000 POUNDS....not "20 tons".
I have 2 sets of their 12 TON models here
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
|
Sully2
Cincinnati
Senior Member
Joined: 01/20/2003
View Profile
|
JTrac wrote:I have a DP and do my own maintenance (oil changes, lube, filters, etc.). I always chock the rear tires on both sides. Generally, the air bags are full to give me more clearance. I admit I have been lax in using jack stands in the past but will in the future. I think there is a very low chance of a sudden air release but why take chances.
My question is about the type of jack stand, how many I need and the placement. Can any one give me some advice on what I need?
I have the racheting 12 ton models. Two stands should do you OK. The chances of a sudden air release AND both jack stands failing at the same instant..well...kinda rare if you get my meaning.
|
Herewego
Larry Cad drives the ACORN Express!
Senior Member
Joined: 10/16/2002
View Profile
|
Accidents happen. We are told to use jack stands because something "could" happen, not that something "will" happen.
However, that one time when it's "going" to happen, no one is going to tap you on the shoulder ahead of time and warn you.
Please take the extra few minutes. It's a lot shorter than eternity. JMO.
2004 Coachmen Aurora on a FORD V-10 Chassis
2004 Jeep Liberty
Don't take your organs to Heaven. Heaven knows we need them here! Dave has a dog named Muffy and Mike owns a Cockapoo!
|
