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edgerelease
Niwot, CO 80503, USA
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Joined: 05/24/2022
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Just bought a 2022 Palomino HS 8801 for my 2015 RAM 2500. (Added Timbren bump stops but that is a different topic). Love it so far, but one thing I am absolutely HATING is that it did not ship with electric jacks. It is pre wired for them and should have but with supply chain issues they are VERY hard to find.
I've taken it off and put it back on once for practice. Looking for advice, with safety first and foremost, on technique. I raised (and lowered) each jack no more than 4" at a time and used my level to make sure things were steady. Kept the front a bit higher at all times. One of the legs would come completely off the ground each time I did this. Is that alright? I could probably adjust each jack by like an inch or less to avoid this but that would take FOREVER!
Gotta say, I was nervous getting that thing high enough to load on the truck! I don't care what the weight rating is on those jacks it is sketchy.
Thanks for any thoughts. Oh, and if you know of any electric jacks available let me know ASAP! Can't get them anywhere.
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monkey44
Cape Cod, MA and Central Fla
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Get yourself a heavy duty battery-power drill and a connector ... when I had a camper without electric jacks, I'd raise it three or four inches at a time, no problem.
Even with electric jacks my current camper sometimes raises one leg quicker than the others. I just stop and balance the jacks out individually, then continue.
Monkey44
Cape Cod Ma & Central Fla
Chevy 2500HD 4x4 DC-SB
2008 Lance 845
Back-country camping fanatic
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edgerelease
Niwot, CO 80503, USA
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Thanks monkey44. I have the connector but my drill may need to be upgraded. It quits once things get really heavy. Was more concerned about the lifting leg so thanks for the comment.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Never had manual jacks, but the ability to lift or lower one end or one side (2 jacks at a time) is invaluable in keeping it stable (and quicker, lol).
If you can employ a wife/helper etc and have 2 drills or hand cranks or whatever, it would be preferable IMO.
Strange you could get it to pick a front leg, but good, I mean great, as it's pretty well balanced for loading (most TC's will 3 leg and pick a rear leg no problem, but most wont float a front leg due to center of gravity)
Idk where to find jacks, but good luck in your search and happy camping with your new camper!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5β turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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JimK-NY
NY
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Personally I would take it easy and raise or lower just a couple of inches at a time. Or you could get a partner with another drill and raise the front several inches before switching to the rear jacks.
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monkey44
Cape Cod, MA and Central Fla
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edgerelease wrote:Thanks monkey44. I have the connector but my drill may need to be upgraded. It quits once things get really heavy. Was more concerned about the lifting leg so thanks for the comment.
I bought a heavy duty Makita - battery powered - it lifted my Fleetwood at 2500 lbs. easily.
BTW: Lift the front two first, then the rear, in three or four inch increments each.
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Lwiddis
Southern California :(
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Four inches at a time seems excessive...try two. Regarding electric jacks and trailer tongue jacks, I'm a fan of using a battery powered drill.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
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edgerelease
Niwot, CO 80503, USA
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Grit dog wrote:Never had manual jacks, but the ability to lift or lower one end or one side (2 jacks at a time) is invaluable in keeping it stable (and quicker, lol).
If you can employ a wife/helper etc and have 2 drills or hand cranks or whatever, it would be preferable IMO.
Strange you could get it to pick a front leg, but good, I mean great, as it's pretty well balanced for loading (most TC's will 3 leg and pick a rear leg no problem, but most wont float a front leg due to center of gravity)
Idk where to find jacks, but good luck in your search and happy camping with your new camper!
To clarify, it is my rear jack(s) that will lift off the ground, not front. Thanks.
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ticki2
NH
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Joined: 07/09/2008
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Lwiddis wrote:Four inches at a time seems excessive...try two. Regarding electric jacks and trailer tongue jacks, I'm a fan of using a battery powered drill.
I agree . I have manual jacks and if raising them one at a time 4β it will always unload one of the other legs . As was said try 2β . Ultimately itβs the same amount of cranks to achieve the desired height
'68 Avion C-11
'02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed
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RickW
Sacramento CA
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1. Most of the weight is on the front jacks. When you raise one of the rear jacks, the other will come off the ground. The jack you raised is temporarily holding the rear weight. Raise the other one just enough to have both jacks on the ground and go back to raising the front ones a few inches each.
2. It is recommended that you keep the camper level or with the front a few inches high when raising and lowering the jacks. Don't do it on sloped driveways.
3. Get a portable drill that is at least 12 volt (preferably 18 volt) and has 2 speeds. Use the lower speed with the higher torque.
HINT: Watch where the drill is in relation to your head. When your fingers slip off the detents and the jack screw suddenly locks, you can get a headache real fast (or so I have been told ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/embarrassed.gif "embarrassed") )
Rick
04 GMC 1500 4X4X4
04 Sunlite SB
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