Raising tires off ground

[jmduc]

Just like your feet -- keep your wheels on the ground.

[F and E Damp]

When camping, absolutely not. Front wheels off may be OK, but it's a long way to the first step on the stairs. Back wheels off, no parking brake!

On the other hand, when parking it for the winter on a level lot, I'm considering just off the ground, lifting it with the jacks, then putting heavy-duty axle stands under the frame immedaitely next to the jacks and retracting the jacks.

The jack manufacturer says not to leave the jacks down without frequent anti-corrosion procedures (wipe down the exposed piston rods with silicone fluid every week) if you're parked "close' to salt water. They define "close" as within 60 miles. We're about 60 yards, across the street from houses that are on salt-water marina waterfront.

[Trempert]

I use the auto levelers and sometimes they take the front wheels off the ground and sometimes the back wheels come off the ground. One of the reasons I bought a class A was because I was tired of putting blocks under wheels, trying to get things level, etc. I like to pull in and "push a button". I did put the unit through a test and put it in my driveway which has a fairly significant slope. The jacks would not extend because it said the coach exceeded the safe angle (there is a light for that). I've got to think the manufacturer has taken into consideration the safety factor of having either front or rear wheels off the ground. In fact, the other day the two right wheels were off the ground as the lot I was on was sloped to the right.

That said, if anyone has ever heard of a coach "rolling" off the jacks or collapsing because the wheels were off the ground, please post so I can change my practices.

Thanks.

[Lawfive]

I've been reading this thread with interest. My auto setting on the Lipperts often lifted the whole coach off the ground. Resetting the level point per the manual didn't change anything. Just to be more secure I use the manual setting and do my own thing. I try to keep the back wheels on the ground as best I can. Given the weights on the leveler legs, I have a hard time imagining any coach rolling over somehow. If it did, then it hits the wheels and parking brake applies.

I try to get fairly level before I set up but I too am not going to mess around with a bunch of leveling pads or other paraphernalia. If someone has tipped over, I would love to hear about it.

[jmduc]

I saw a camper last year raise his rear to high ( wheels off the ground ) and rolled about 6-8 inches and bent his 2 rear jacks. I am sure that cost a couple of bucks to repair. The worst part for him was the " lecture" he got from his DW, she knew some words that would have made a sailor blush.

[Trempert]

jmduc,
Sounds to me like he didn't use the proper procedure from the manual. You are to always get all 4 jacks on the ground prior to raising the coach. If all he did was raise the rear and the front jacks were not solidly on the ground, I can absolutely see this happening. If you use the proper procedure, the jacks are built to lift the coach as needed to level it.

[Ovair]

Agreed, with only the rear lifted, you're asking for trouble. But with all four pads in firm contact with terra firma it should be as stable as a deck on sloped terrain.