Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: A Few Questions About My HWH (Read 747 times) previous topic - next topic

A Few Questions About My HWH

First question: When your coach is sitting for an extended period of time, does one activate the jack system and let it sit on the jacks rather than just sitting parked with the air bags deflated?

Second question (maybe issue): When I activate my HWH jack system, I have yet to see it do as the manual says it should. This relates to the red and white lights. When I lower the jacks before extending them, all of the red lights NEVER go out to when you would have all white lites. After waiting for five or six minutes, and I verify by sight that all jacks are down and in position, then I toggle the auto leveling switch, and even after they are all extended, not all the red lites go out. There is no more action from the system, and then after about five or so minutes, I shut off the ignition switch, with one or two jack lights still red. Any ideas? Or am I just not giving the system enough time? It would seem to me in the lowering portion, that maybe those red lighted jacks aren't latched in place? Any advice is appreciated!!!!

Question three: When I retract them, again, I always have one or two red lites still on. I either have to toggle the "Emergency Off" switch, or after however long, the lights finally all go out, well the "On/Off" switch eventually goes off. I always do a walk-around before just "taking off" down the road and verify all is where it should be. Again, ?????

As always, thanks in advance!!!
Big John
1989 Grand Villa 3600  Our "Furevertravel",  "Ole Furry" for short.....
Cat 3208T  250 HP
Allison MT-643
36SBIORED
Motorcade Number  18541
Build # 3388
2014 Ford F-150 flat towed (My Bride wants "her" MKX in the garage)
Big John, my Bride Miss Mary Lou, and Buddy, Robbi, Gizzy, and Mack ( our furry kids)

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #1 –
John,

Can't answer any of your questions - sorry.  I know nothing about the systems that use hydraulic jacks.

Can you post a photo of the control panel (or panels) for your HWH leveling system?  I am curious which series you have.

The link below shows how to ID the HWH system based on the appearance of the controls:

https://www.hwhcorp.com/ml17785_01_nom_pr_lesy.pdf


1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #2 –
John, don't know what system you have, so I might not be able to help. But sounds like you have a common problem....Sticky, dirty, dry jack shafts.
I have the 400 Series HWH system on our 1989 36' GV. Chassis is the V-817--leaf springs, no air bags.
When I park here in the driveway I extend the swing-down jacks and level the coach.
Then I crawl under and spray all four jack shafts and the pivot points with a light oil.
When we first got the coach some of the jack indicator lights would stay red after toggling the retract and then eventually go off when we were moving.
I stopped, went under the coach with my hammer and "banged the bottom of the mis-acting jack pad to compress the jack and the light went out.
Next time I had to extend the jacks I extended both jacks on the same side all the way and sprayed WD-40 on the top ends of the shafts. Waited an hour and then wiped the shafts and sprayed a light oil on them for protection. Lights and jacks have worked correctly since.
Try this first, and if you still have light issues, let me know.
Do you have the HWH trouble shooting manual? Their Repair Manual? I have both.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #3 –
This coach has Jacks and Air level ?

"does one activate the jack system and let it sit on the jacks rather than just sitting parked with the air bags deflated?"
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #4 –
Ok, it is a 400 series non Bi-Axis system.

Thanks for the info, Norm. This sounds like you had the same issues as I am having, and I would love to have the manuals (both) that you have. Unfortunately, evidently some of the paperwork/manuals that I should have are not there. I have the big Service Manual binder, and a filebox with files on all the coach systems. I don't have an owner's manual per se. The big binder has the info on the Oshkosh chassis only.

Our coach has air bag suspension and hydraulic HWH 400 series jack system. My question is to whether one would let the coach just sit there on the deflated air bag suspension, or whether one should activate the jack system and have it rest on the jacks if the coach is not being used for a period of time.
1989 Grand Villa 3600  Our "Furevertravel",  "Ole Furry" for short.....
Cat 3208T  250 HP
Allison MT-643
36SBIORED
Motorcade Number  18541
Build # 3388
2014 Ford F-150 flat towed (My Bride wants "her" MKX in the garage)
Big John, my Bride Miss Mary Lou, and Buddy, Robbi, Gizzy, and Mack ( our furry kids)

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #5 –
Quote from: warbirdlvr –
Ok, it is a 400 series non Bi-Axis system.

Thanks for the info, Norm. This sounds like you had the same issues as I am having, and I would love to have the manuals (both) that you have. Unfortunately, evidently some of the paperwork/manuals that I should have are not there. I have the big Service Manual binder, and a filebox with files on all the coach systems. I don't have an owner's manual per se. The big binder has the info on the Oshkosh chassis only.

Our coach has air bag suspension and hydraulic HWH 400 series jack system. My question is to whether one would let the coach just sit there on the deflated air bag suspension, or whether one should activate the jack system and have it rest on the jacks if the coach is not being used for a period of time.

I would treat it the same as my '81 with springs. Take the pressure off the bags not completely raised but more in the same position as when leveled. This assumes yours doesn't leak off, mine don't
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #6 –
My coach's air suspension will leak down over 24 hrs. to around 60#'s of pressure and that is where she sits. Now, some may say it shouldn't do that, but what I see indicates it operates as designed. Am I wrong? Should I go ahead and set the jacks as soon as I shut her down, or what????
1989 Grand Villa 3600  Our "Furevertravel",  "Ole Furry" for short.....
Cat 3208T  250 HP
Allison MT-643
36SBIORED
Motorcade Number  18541
Build # 3388
2014 Ford F-150 flat towed (My Bride wants "her" MKX in the garage)
Big John, my Bride Miss Mary Lou, and Buddy, Robbi, Gizzy, and Mack ( our furry kids)

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #7 –
The manuals I have do not say anything about sitting on the air bags or not. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.
I just scanned the operating procedure from the HWH Corporation's Operator's Service and Parts manual for motor coach leveling system Model AP 4189 and attached it.
I just stacked the three manuals of HWH information and measured it with my vernier calipers. The stack is .280" thick. One page measures .003" so .280"/.003"=93.3 pages!!!
A lot of copying, ink, paper, and labor, not including packaging and shipping costs.
Best bet right now is to try the things that have been mentioned in response to your questions first. Then send me a PO and we will try to solve the issues vie emails. normbreit@charter.net works better as it is easier to include pics and scans.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #8 –
I agree with Craneman. Level the coach with the jacks then let the air bags do whatever they want to do. This way any compression is passive.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #9 –
When I park in the drive for the winter the air bags settle down eventually and that's that. I wouldn't kick out the jacks as that leaves the jacks internals exposed to the elements.
The only major problem I've had with the jacks was installing new springs on one of the front jacks, after studying the set up for a while the only tool I used was a screw driver.
Try not to over think it, it's pretty basic engineering.
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #10 –
Thanks Norm, for the page. This manual I have, but thanks anyway. As far as the other manuals, maybe we can figure something out. Email is the way to do this, by far. I am going to use your proceedure to clear the lites when retracted. I'm sure the piston shafts are dirty, and a little cleanin' behind the ears surely won't hurt!!!
Thanks again!!!!
1989 Grand Villa 3600  Our "Furevertravel",  "Ole Furry" for short.....
Cat 3208T  250 HP
Allison MT-643
36SBIORED
Motorcade Number  18541
Build # 3388
2014 Ford F-150 flat towed (My Bride wants "her" MKX in the garage)
Big John, my Bride Miss Mary Lou, and Buddy, Robbi, Gizzy, and Mack ( our furry kids)

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #11 –
Thanks to all for the replies. As always, there is value in everyone of them!!!!
1989 Grand Villa 3600  Our "Furevertravel",  "Ole Furry" for short.....
Cat 3208T  250 HP
Allison MT-643
36SBIORED
Motorcade Number  18541
Build # 3388
2014 Ford F-150 flat towed (My Bride wants "her" MKX in the garage)
Big John, my Bride Miss Mary Lou, and Buddy, Robbi, Gizzy, and Mack ( our furry kids)

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #12 –
Document linked below has some info (Chapter 2) on the system under discussion:

BASIC HYDRAULICS

HWH 400 Series Service Manual:

https://www.hwhcorp.com/ml7879.pdf

Training document with some general info on HWH hydraulic leveling system components:

https://www.rvtechlibrary.com/chassis/HydraulicsandHWHSystems.pdf





1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"
 

Re: A Few Questions About My HWH

Reply #13 –
Quote from: warbirdlvr –
First question: When your coach is sitting for an extended period of time, does one activate the jack system and let it sit on the jacks rather than just sitting parked with the air bags deflated?

Second question (maybe issue): When I activate my HWH jack system, I have yet to see it do as the manual says it should. This relates to the red and white lights. When I lower the jacks before extending them, all of the red lights NEVER go out to when you would have all white lites.  to me in the lowering portion, that maybe those red lighted jacks aren't latched in place? Any advice is appreciated!!!!

Question three: When I retract them, again, I always have one or two red lites still on. I either have to toggle the "Emergency Off" switch, or after however long, the lights finally all go out, well the "On/Off" switch eventually goes off. I always do a walk-around before just "taking off" down the road and verify all is where it should be. Again, ?????

As always, thanks in advance!!!
Big John

The ground wires for each jack are clamped to the side of the jack with worm style clamps.  The big improvement was to use clamps with teeth.  That's where I begin looking.  Undo one, clean and re-clamp the ground wire.  Whether the jack is up or down is determined by a tilt switch.  Down happens because of a small hydraulic cylinder and cam, the return spring for the jack supplying the oil pressure.  It's a clever system.
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.