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08-15-2015, 08:55 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 54
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Homemade hydraulic level system
Has an one done this. It is one of two options I didn't get on my 35qb4. The first was a fire place. That was easy. I have done some research and it appears to be a straight forward hydraulic system. Just need the controller, which would be easy to install. I'm sure I could put the system together cheaper than they sell for. Any info or opinions welcome.
Thanks
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08-15-2015, 10:25 PM
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#2
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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I know you said hydraulic but here's what I did on my 07 Wildcat. It does have hydraulic front gear and slides. Simply for cost and ease of install, I went electric.
I purchased 2 electric tongue jacks through Walmart's website for only 99 bucks each. I ran a dedicated 10 gauge wire through a 30amp circuit breaker to the rear just aft the rear axle.
I used 2x4x.25" tubing for frame mounts that I welded to the jacks. I also cut down the jack tubes making them 7" shorter. I outfitted the jacks with the auto retracting 6" Flip feet @ 39 bucks ea. The assembly then is bolted through the frame with 1/2" bolts. The top of the mount rest tight against the top flange of the frame making it rigid.
Once wired up I am able to lift the entire coach off the ground if I want to. Each jack is independent and are still able to be manually retracted if there's failure. The jacks even have 2 LED lights that shine down on the foot for night time ops.
Here's some pics.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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08-15-2015, 10:34 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 42
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I like that.
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08-15-2015, 11:13 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 87
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Nice setup.
__________________
Mike & Kim Kilday
11' F250 6.7 SD
15' XLR 27HFS EP
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08-15-2015, 11:24 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 847
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 05CrewDually
I know you said hydraulic but here's what I did on my 07 Wildcat. It does have hydraulic front gear and slides. Simply for cost and ease of install, I went electric.
I purchased 2 electric tongue jacks through Walmart's website for only 99 bucks each. I ran a dedicated 10 gauge wire through a 30amp circuit breaker to the rear just aft the rear axle.
I used 2x4x.25" tubing for frame mounts that I welded to the jacks. I also cut down the jack tubes making them 7" shorter. I outfitted the jacks with the auto retracting 6" Flip feet @ 39 bucks ea. The assembly then is bolted through the frame with 1/2" bolts. The top of the mount rest tight against the top flange of the frame making it rigid.
Once wired up I am able to lift the entire coach off the ground if I want to. Each jack is independent and are still able to be manually retracted if there's failure. The jacks even have 2 LED lights that shine down on the foot for night time ops.
Here's some pics.
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that looks like the old ultra fab jack...it did not have a clutch as i remember. how does it respond at the end of its travel when totally retracted?
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08-15-2015, 11:40 PM
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#6
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crockett
that looks like the old ultra fab jack...it did not have a clutch as i remember. how does it respond at the end of its travel when totally retracted?
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They're made in China with no name on the boxes. No weak troublesome clutches. When retracted it folds the foot up and stops. The circuit breaker protects it.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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08-16-2015, 10:00 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 847
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i used to just avoid running that jack against the stop. should be ok if you just feather it up to travel position. running up with full momentum may give you premature failure. the old ultra fab was rated 3500 pound and a durable jack. it looks just like it. nice mod IMO..
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08-16-2015, 02:04 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 42
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08-16-2015, 05:02 PM
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#9
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Having trouble with my phone viewing the item. The little picture that I can see looks right. The price is right too.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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08-16-2015, 07:41 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Where ever my DH takes me!
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 05CrewDually
They're made in China with no name on the boxes. No weak troublesome clutches. When retracted it folds the foot up and stops. The circuit breaker protects it.
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My DH wants to know how do you control the twisting of the frame since front jacks are not as controllable as the back ones.
__________________
1999 Ford F350 7.3 diesel.
2012 Sandpiper 346RET
Just absolutely love our 5er!
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08-16-2015, 07:49 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: crete,il /texas
Posts: 498
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more power to you, i would warn you not to twist the frame tooo mutch when leveling , like my level up system, when it works and it does now after being fixed at the FROG rally hats off to the tecks great job
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08-16-2015, 08:30 PM
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#12
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KarenDLS
My DH wants to know how do you control the twisting of the frame since front jacks are not as controllable as the back ones.
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After I unhook from my TV I lower the front gear so it is low in the front out of level. Then I go in the back and level side to side with the electric ones. Then I level it front to back up front with the hydraulic gear.
Keep in mind, the hydraulic gear in the front is self equalizing left to right so there is no twisting.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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08-16-2015, 08:36 PM
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#13
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Bill
more power to you, i would warn you not to twist the frame tooo mutch when leveling , like my level up system, when it works and it does now after being fixed at the FROG rally hats off to the tecks great job
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I'm not relying on some computer that can get knocked out of wack and jack my coach to pieces. If you notice the jacks are near the axle. They are not adding any more stress than driving up a leveling Lego block.
I'm in full control and take full responsibility. It's really so simple and easily repaired or retracted with a simple 3/4" wrench. No worries of it getting stuck down or out of adjustment like some of those over - engineered systems.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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08-17-2015, 03:47 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Where ever my DH takes me!
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 05CrewDually
I know you said hydraulic but here's what I did on my 07 Wildcat. It does have hydraulic front gear and slides. Simply for cost and ease of install, I went electric.
I purchased 2 electric tongue jacks through Walmart's website for only 99 bucks each. I ran a dedicated 10 gauge wire through a 30amp circuit breaker to the rear just aft the rear axle.
I used 2x4x.25" tubing for frame mounts that I welded to the jacks. I also cut down the jack tubes making them 7" shorter. I outfitted the jacks with the auto retracting 6" Flip feet @ 39 bucks ea. The assembly then is bolted through the frame with 1/2" bolts. The top of the mount rest tight against the top flange of the frame making it rigid.
Once wired up I am able to lift the entire coach off the ground if I want to. Each jack is independent and are still able to be manually retracted if there's failure. The jacks even have 2 LED lights that shine down on the foot for night time ops.
Here's some pics.
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05CrewDually: Okay here I am again. DH would like to know how do you raise or lower the legs. Do you have to crawl under trailer or did you install switch or remote control? I guess what I need to ask is can you give more instructions on the install? Karen
__________________
1999 Ford F350 7.3 diesel.
2012 Sandpiper 346RET
Just absolutely love our 5er!
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08-17-2015, 04:09 PM
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#15
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KarenDLS
05CrewDually: Okay here I am again. DH would like to know how do you raise or lower the legs. Do you have to crawl under trailer or did you install switch or remote control? I guess what I need to ask is can you give more instructions on the install? Karen
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No crawling around. In the top pic is the toggle switch. Push it towards the center of the coach and the leg comes down. Pull it towards you and the leg goes up. The second pic shows my hand on the switch for operation.
It's a single hot wire hook up with it grounded through the chassis.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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08-17-2015, 05:33 PM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 54
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Thanks. I think I will be going Electric. Just had hydraulic in my head, but that seems to work well. I'm going to use 4. Two at the rear and two by the wheels
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08-18-2015, 12:18 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 847
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lookin better as we go...but im not a fan of one button stuff...
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08-18-2015, 06:37 AM
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#18
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crockett
lookin better as we go...but im not a fan of one button stuff...
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What do you mean "one button stuff"? Each leveler has there own independent DPDT switch. Plus the main supply feed can be switched off. The only buttons are for the LED lights on the head.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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08-18-2015, 08:20 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 847
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confusing post on my part...i like the concept but im not a fan of power awnings, level up, ect...
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08-18-2015, 08:31 AM
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#20
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crockett
confusing post on my part...i like the concept but im not a fan of power awnings, level up, ect...
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I got ya now. You like the Armstrong stuff. I left enough clearance on the top of the housing to access the manual crank using a ratchet and 3/4 socket. Not only just incase of failure, but incase I forget how nice it is having them I can do it manually. I don't see me ever needing that reminder.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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