Clunking sounds

[Joe_GA]

Hey guys, now that we are living in our CC full time, we are hearing a lot of clunking sounds. Sometimes it will do it while we are sitting still. Other times, it seems that when we move, we cause the clunk. I don't know if it is the hydraulics or frame making the noise. I've heard the usual noise from the hydraulics that you need the special oil additive for, but this is much louder. Do you think this is normal?

[Duckogram]

A lot of possibilities.
Weight on suspension.
Settling, especially if you are not on a hard surface.
Welds popping on the overhang due to too many pairs of shoes in the bedroom wardrobe.

or the most likely cause...
Creek complaining about not being in Florida.

[Joe_GA]

I'm hoping for the later cause, Duck. We are full timers and we are heavy, so I do worry about structural. We also have been seeing some good temperature swings. We were in the 40's the other night and 50's last night. 70's to 80's during the day.

[Joe_GA]

We are also on gravel, but this place is mostly rock and I believe it is very solid.

[jwakeman]

I had this problem and we solved the noise by removing a quart of hyd oil and replacing it with a quart of "fork oil" obtained from a motor cycle shop.
We only had the problem when parked on our home concrete slab.

This was done with the instruction from cedar creek.

Do a search and you should come up with forum instructions.

[ESVA Travelers]

We noticed the same issue with our 34SB Touring Edition and finally came to the conclusion it was the result of expansion and contraction from temperature changes. When we were in FL for the winter we did not hear a single clunk. The temperature range you mention sounds like enough of a swing to cause it. I would look at temp 's, time of day/night, and locations before taking more drastic action. Ours always sounded like it was the frame under the LR, or occasionally the BR area.

[BigJohnD]

All too common with the level up system. We did the fluid additive that Lippert recommends, twice. Still popped some. What ESVA says has a lot to do with it. Temp change. We always heard / fealt it more as it warmed up in the AM, and cooled off in the PM. Either way, we solved ours with jack stands when we lived in it. 6 of them, one by each level up jack. Never popped or made any noise after that.

Attached is from Lippert on the popping noise.

[Joe_GA]

Thanks for the replies, y'all. I'll have to get the anti-stiction fluid and give it a try. This time and the last time when it made the most noise, it was when some of the hydraulic rams were nearly fully extended.

[jbrostek]

I found if I am pushing the level up system too far (too much weight off the axles) I get the clunking. If I keep enough pressure on the axles, then I dont seem to have that issue with the leveling system clunking.

[38FLCamper]

It is likely stiction in the hydraulics - we have it now and then - temperature seems to have some impact. Also if I close one or more of the hydraulic room valves and close the other two rooms in, the remaining open room will creek/pop until I open the valve back up.

[WeRCreekers]

I think the "weight off the axles" answer is pretty accurate. Any time I extend the level-up system too high, I get the strange creeking, groaning, clunking sounds too, especially when parked on hard surfaces. I think it has to do with the trailer flexing and moving around a bit on the level-up legs because too much weight is off the axles. Any time I can set the system to keep more weight on the axles, I don't hear and feel all the noise as much. On the other hand, I kind of like being able to walk under the front overhang without having to bend the old back too much. Oh well life is all about trade-offs I guess.

[Joe_GA]

Skip, I like being able to walk under the front, too!

[WeRCreekers]

Hey anyone, is there anything we can do to get these ads that show up in our posts to stop?? They are very annoying IMO. Or is this the "price" we pay for having a free access website for the forum?

[WeRCreekers]

Hmmmm... All I had to do is gripe about it and the ads magically disappear? Veddy eenteresting...

[Duckogram]

SandS,
I think you only get the ads if you are not logged in.

[WeRCreekers]

Kerbango!! You are correct Ducky! Thanks.