hydraulic leveling

Topic: hydraulic leveling (Read 1127 times) previous topic - next topic

hydraulic leveling

January 31, 2023, 01:00:59 pm

looking for a recommendation for a hydraulic leveling system for a 40ft 2003 U320 w/tag

thanks

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #1 – January 31, 2023, 01:14:30 pm

Are you saying you want to install a new hydraulic leveling system on your coach? Currently it has air levelling via the airbags correct? When working properly, that's a fantastic system.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #2 – January 31, 2023, 01:21:03 pm

i agree but when stationary for an extended period, i get tired of aux compressor running .... i am planning later this year to get my air system looked at and rebalanced ... so maybe get a new hydraulic system added .....

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #3 – January 31, 2023, 01:24:32 pm

Spend the money on getting your system repaired. The weight and cost hit would be prohibitive. My coach will go for weeks and stay in level with the aux compressor disconnected. If your on level ground, ( I am not) you could just dump air and be done. Turn your level off

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #4 – January 31, 2023, 01:28:28 pm

Quote from: ccote – January 31, 2023, 01:00:59 pm

looking for a recommendation for a hydraulic leveling system for a 40ft 2003 U320 w/tag

thanks

Why do you want to have one? The hydraulic leveling systems are designed for specific coaches. The Unicoach is not on any lists for a conversion. I would like to be able to correct for more unlevel conditions and searched for one myself. Now I carry wood if I don't know the terrain I will be camping at. Also a hydraulic Rube Goldberg would probably crack the windshields.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #5 – January 31, 2023, 01:31:03 pm

You can probably completely overhaul your air system for a fraction of what a new hydraulic leveling system would cost. More than likely an overhaul isn't even necessary and a few simple maintenance/rebuild projects would make you a happy camper. I'm in the same boat as DSD and can go weeks without relevelling. I was on the extreme end of a leaky system (stripped out manifold, among other things) and I still only had to put a couple coach bucks into it.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #6 – January 31, 2023, 01:33:20 pm

doesn't that cause the air bags to collapse and on the long run cause dammage ?... besides if you are not perfectly level, the fridge does not work properly !!!!

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #7 – January 31, 2023, 01:44:02 pm

i had the guys at Foretravel look at it 15 mos ago and it is not much better .... i will be in AZ in apr / may ... any recommendation for a shop there that could do a good ckup/ rebuild job

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #8 – January 31, 2023, 01:49:18 pm

Quote from: ccote – January 31, 2023, 01:44:02 pm

i had the guys at Foretravel look at it 15 mos ago and it is not much better .... i will be in AZ in apr / may ... any recommendation for a shop there that could do a good ckup/ rebuild job ?

I live in Arizona and there isn't anyone I would trust to work on a leveling system here. Your best bet is Keith Risch in Nacogdoches or going directly to the HWH mothership in Moscow Iowa. Unfortunately it's a war of whack-a-mole and one shop visit often isn't enough.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #9 – January 31, 2023, 05:12:57 pm

Yes it needs to remain level and no the bags are not like tires. Collapsed bags should be fine by design.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #10 – January 31, 2023, 10:05:52 pm

Quote from: ccote – January 31, 2023, 01:21:03 pm

i agree but when stationary for an extended period, i get tired of aux compressor running .... i am planning later this year to get my air system looked at and rebalanced ... so maybe get a new hydraulic system added .....

Use a bubble solution checking for air leaks. Start with drain valves in wheel well, and slideout control box in basement.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #11 – February 01, 2023, 08:03:42 am

Find the leaks, could be an easy fix.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #12 – February 01, 2023, 09:29:46 am

There is one member here who has Air suspension with hydraulic levelers. Nobody here believed him until he posted the pics. Maybe he'll chime in.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #13 – February 01, 2023, 09:49:25 am

I wanted both but when I looked at the work and the cost I gave up on the idea. The main reason
I wanted the hydraulic levelers is they make it a lot easier to jack the coach up to work on it.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #14 – February 01, 2023, 10:48:53 am

Quote from: oldguy – February 01, 2023, 09:49:25 am

I wanted both but when I looked at the work and the cost I gave up on the idea. The main reason
I wanted the hydraulic levelers is they make it a lot easier to jack the coach up to work on it.

Maybe just me, but I would not want to be under a coach if just hydraulic jacks are keeping it up. I feel the same way about being under the coach with the air bags having it raised up.

This year I got my first experience with air leaks. where the compressor was running a lot. The first few were easy to find. The compressor was running way less but was still running too much. When I was at FOT getting service they had a special on hunting down air leaks. I told them to go for it. Of course they looked in the places I didn't. They found all 4 shutoff valves leaking on the HWH bladder controls. The also found both PPV''s leaking at the top. I know if an exhaust valve is internal leaking it would be a hard one to find.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #15 – February 01, 2023, 03:29:25 pm

When I had the Monaco it had jacks and it made it a lot easier to get under but it was always
block. With Foretravel the bags are blocked and if a wheel comes off that is blocked.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #16 – February 01, 2023, 03:56:12 pm

Quote from: Bob_B – February 01, 2023, 09:29:46 am

There is one member here who has Air suspension with hydraulic levelers. Nobody here believed him until he posted the pics. Maybe he'll chime in.

joeszeidel, in this thread (note Chuck's observation that the hydraulic jacks don't contact the ground such as traditional leveling jacks do):

hwh leveling process

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #17 – February 01, 2023, 08:40:08 pm

Michelle, You amaze me as to being able to find the thread on any topic that comes up.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #18 – February 01, 2023, 09:00:30 pm

Quote from: Michelle – February 01, 2023, 03:56:12 pm

joeszeidel, in this thread (note Chuck's observation that the hydraulic jacks don't contact the ground such as traditional leveling jacks do):

hwh leveling process

Thanks for posting. I thought I remembered reading but started thinking it may had been a SOB. Back in the precoach purchase reading months. The places ive gone with the HWH air suspension just amaze me. I far exceed everyone's recommendations but never EVER let the axles touch the frame under load and have sensors to monitor it. Lifting to change a tire if you were not on the axle and subframe is a recipe for disaster IMO on a Foretravel. Ask Elliot what happens with one tire off the ground. Too much stress. Coach and owner. I would not want to cut into my CCC by adding only occasional used equipment. Its already too fat. Neat Idea, hard pass. Fix the HWH, you too will be very satisfied or frustrated till you do.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #19 – February 02, 2023, 06:39:49 pm

Quote from: turbojack – February 01, 2023, 08:40:08 pm

Michelle, You amaze me as to being able to find the thread on any topic that comes up.

Thanks - I love a good challenge! Of course, we have such a great search engine on this site it's kind of cheating...

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #20 – February 02, 2023, 08:40:04 pm

Just so I'm clear with this, the Jack system works like my 88 GV only the jacks come straight down after defeating the airbags as opposed to flipping forward ?

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #21 – February 03, 2023, 12:21:48 am

Quote from: Olde English – February 02, 2023, 08:40:04 pm

Just so I'm clear with this, the Jack system works like my 88 GV only the jacks come straight down after defeating the airbags as opposed to flipping forward ?

They come straight down but only spread the chassis from the body, they don't go to the ground.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #22 – February 03, 2023, 10:56:53 am

Quote from: craneman – February 03, 2023, 12:21:48 am

They come straight down but only spread the chassis from the body, they don't go to the ground.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #23 – February 03, 2023, 05:27:04 pm

They separate the body from the chassis ?
Why would that be a good idea ?
I see a foot pad what does that contact ?
I'm sorry but I'm not intentionally being thick.

Re: hydraulic leveling

Reply #24 – February 03, 2023, 07:23:59 pm

Quote from: Olde English – February 03, 2023, 05:27:04 pm

They separate the body from the chassis ?
Why would that be a good idea ?
I see a foot pad what does that contact ?
I'm sorry but I'm not intentionally being thick.

Goes from coach frame to suspension undercarriage

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