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Old 04-24-2017, 10:59 PM   #1
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Bent another BigFoot leveler pin!

I was pulling out of a driveway at a gas station and heard a scrape. Didn't sound like my rollers. I checked underneath when I got home and saw the bent pin. I tried to straighten it but couldn't I tried to remove it and couldn't pull it up. Had to hack saw it off and push what was left up. I had an extra. Guess it's off to Lowe's or Home Depot for a replacement.
In checking with BigFoot, I see that the new ones no longer come with the flat feet. They now come with the ends bent up. I wonder if that prevents the bending of the pins when striking the ground. Also, mine on the rear have been tightened with an impact wrench at my dealer and they are still a little wobbly. They tightened it as much as they could. Being loose would cause the plate to turn easily if striking the ground and bending the pin. Perhaps a call to BigFoot is in order. I'll ask about the new feet also.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:12 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver View Post
I was pulling out of a driveway at a gas station and heard a scrape. Didn't sound like my rollers. I checked underneath when I got home and saw the bent pin. I tried to straighten it but couldn't I tried to remove it and couldn't pull it up. Had to hack saw it off and push what was left up. I had an extra. Guess it's off to Lowe's or Home Depot for a replacement.
In checking with BigFoot, I see that the new ones no longer come with the flat feet. They now come with the ends bent up. I wonder if that prevents the bending of the pins when striking the ground. Also, mine on the rear have been tightened with an impact wrench at my dealer and they are still a little wobbly. They tightened it as much as they could. Being loose would cause the plate to turn easily if striking the ground and bending the pin. Perhaps a call to BigFoot is in order. I'll ask about the new feet also.
I feel your pain. I have the same issue getting in/out of our driveway so built ramps to raise one side i put out when pulling in/out of our driveway. I have 4 extra pins i keep in the RV. Get them at DO IT center for .95 each its just a hassle to cut it off and replace it. If you come across a solution with BigFoot let me know.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:23 PM   #3
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How do you keep spare pins? Are you talking about the plunger pins?
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:25 PM   #4
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I feel your pain. I have the same issue getting in/out of our driveway so built ramps to raise one side i put out when pulling in/out of our driveway. I have 4 extra pins i keep in the RV. Get them at DO IT center for .95 each its just a hassle to cut it off and replace it. If you come across a solution with BigFoot let me know.
Are your feet loose? I always have the bent pin issue with the same levelers. passenger side rear. The pin is located at the rear of the piston and the driver's side is facing forward. Hey, have you ever added fluid to yours? I think you need an oil can with a trigger to get it in without making a mess.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:29 PM   #5
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Mine is also the same setup and they bend regularly. I take a large wrench and while depressing them to where the bend is I use a plumbers wrench to bend them back. I'm sure there's going to be a consequence of doing this at some point. But I don't know what else to do.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:38 PM   #6
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Mine is also the same setup and they bend regularly. I take a large wrench and while depressing them to where the bend is I use a plumbers wrench to bend them back. I'm sure there's going to be a consequence of doing this at some point. But I don't know what else to do.
Easy to replace the pins. I will send you a photo of the parts. There is a bushing and you don't want to tweak that. Here's my old one!
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:39 PM   #7
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Are your feet loose? I always have the bent pin issue with the same levelers. passenger side rear. The pin is located at the rear of the piston and the driver's side is facing forward. Hey, have you ever added fluid to yours? I think you need an oil can with a trigger to get it in without making a mess.
Mine do move and will turn as you indicated bending the pin. If they were solid it would keep them from turning but I think they need to have some movement to adjust for irregularities in the surface they are on. Mine is always the right rear also. Have not added fluid as it appears all ok but will check. It uses tranny fluid right?
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:46 PM   #8
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Here is the manual for the levelers. On page 16 is the blow-up of the pin switch.
http://nebula.wsimg.com/e9d87f917db1...&alloworigin=1

Also HopHed page 14 show ATF Dexron III
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:56 PM   #9
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I found that because the leveler only has a 12" stroke and the bottom of the foot is 8-9" off the ground, that only leaves a 3-4" lift. I am not comfortable with that, so I run the MH up on leaving blocks and place legos under the leveler feet and raise it up that way. That way I'm sure to have the wheels on the ground. Last week in San Diego, I had an 8" difference from front to rear at my site. Managed to get it within 1" of level.
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Old 04-25-2017, 12:14 AM   #10
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This will work!
The Hillman Group 1/4 in. x 2 in. Single Hole Clevis Pin (10-Pack)-883471 - The Home Depot
Should last quite a while! They also come in stainless. Wonder if they have a higher rated strength?
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Old 04-25-2017, 12:38 AM   #11
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Stainless steel Clevis pins or Carbon steel? Maybe they want the steel softer to bend if needed rather than break the bushing and barrel?? I'll ask tomorrow and about the foot plates.

Oh here" another similar with 18-8 stainless steel on Amazon. Need to see if they meet the BigFoot spec's for the pin
https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Gro...grooved+clevis
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Old 04-25-2017, 03:58 AM   #12
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This will work!
The Hillman Group 1/4 in. x 2 in. Single Hole Clevis Pin (10-Pack)-883471 - The Home Depot
Should last quite a while! They also come in stainless. Wonder if they have a higher rated strength?
I would think that it is better to bend the pin then to have to replace the jack, something has to give when that happens, so I wouldn't try and find something stronger a bent pin is better then a broken or riped off ram. just my opinion...
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Old 04-25-2017, 09:06 AM   #13
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I would think that it is better to bend the pin then to have to replace the jack, something has to give when that happens, so I wouldn't try and find something stronger a bent pin is better then a broken or riped off ram. just my opinion...
Thanks, that's what I was thinking, too!
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Old 04-25-2017, 11:38 AM   #14
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Called BigFoot Levelers today. Their words," any clevis pin the correct size will do".
As for the feet, they should be somewhat loose to accommodate different grades. Also, the new feet that are turned up on the sides are 10" and the smaller 7" are flat. There is no right and left levelers so that the pin and barrel are able to face front and thus avoid the pin bending.
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Old 06-16-2017, 07:41 PM   #15
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How about the Ride-Rite airbags.. pump them up temporarily

I am the new guy here, but couldn't you add air to your Ride-Rites when going in and out of a driveway? You would need a compressor but would that work? Will the Ride-Rites raise the RV up a few inches to save the jack/pin?
Anyone have the specs on the Ride Rites? I have a (likely smaller) set of Ride Rites on my 2000 Tundra and they work quite well for leveling loads.
Dave
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Old 06-16-2017, 11:18 PM   #16
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I am the new guy here, but couldn't you add air to your Ride-Rites when going in and out of a driveway? You would need a compressor but would that work? Will the Ride-Rites raise the RV up a few inches to save the jack/pin?
Anyone have the specs on the Ride Rites? I have a (likely smaller) set of Ride Rites on my 2000 Tundra and they work quite well for leveling loads.
Dave
I have put up to 90 lbs in mine and still not enough lift. Any more than that just stiffens the ride and not much more lift. Even if it did I would have to then deflate the Ride Rites after leaving the driveway for the drive. Coming back into the driveway I would need to haul out the compressor to re-inflate the Ride Rides while on the street then back in. My wooden ramps seem to work fine but appreciate the input on trying to resolve the issue.
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Old 06-17-2017, 01:48 AM   #17
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I don't recall if I mentioned that after the first bent pin, I raised all the levelers up 1 hole or 1". That's the most available. I spoke with Bigfoot and I am still within their parameters. I was concerned the fronts would scrape also.
One of our forum members VWExpert added a compressor to his system. Wonder if he scrapes and bends pins?
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Old 06-17-2017, 10:54 AM   #18
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I don't recall if I mentioned that after the first bent pin, I raised all the levelers up 1 hole or 1". That's the most available. I spoke with Bigfoot and I am still within their parameters. I was concerned the fronts would scrape also.
One of our forum members VWExpert added a compressor to his system. Wonder if he scrapes and bends pins?
Sage,
We talked about raising it in the past but mine are set at the highest hole so no adjustment there. It's mostly the configuration of our driveway. Short but somewhat steep apron so the tail end drags due to the slope and because it is short the jack foot hits at the to of the apron at the sidewalk. I have gotten used to putting 2 boards down on the right side just to raise it enough to miss the jacks. As far as on board compressor I have thought about it but dont want to incur the expense especially since I dont think it raises it enough to miss the jack foot. Thanks for the recommendation.

BTW. Just got back from 5 days at Rincon. Weather could not have been any better this past week there.
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Old 06-17-2017, 07:52 PM   #19
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I just bent the left rear today

I managed to straighten it some so the alarm would silence. All works well now 6 days before a cross country trip. I think I will buy a pack of those pins for the rv.
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Old 06-17-2017, 08:02 PM   #20
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I managed to straighten it some so the alarm would silence. All works well now 6 days before a cross country trip. I think I will buy a pack of those pins for the rv.
Keep a hacksaw blade and wrench onboard too!
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