Jacks for lifting?

[eZAK]

Can the powered jacks be used for lifting the wheels off the ground for maintenance? I would of course use jack stands for safety.

[DQDick]

I've done it for years. But I hadn't noticed you have an HC. Don't think I would do it with the electric jacks.

[scuba dude]

I read on forum where people do it for that very reason but personally i would not recommend it. I actually thought I would try it once and I found that it is very easy to twist your camper and get it way out of level possible twisting framing and causing floor problems. I just use a couple of 12 ton jacks and that works well without having to lift camper way up.

[WeBeFulltime]

I can't say for sure about the electric jacks your HC probably has but I have used the hydraulic jacks a few times on 2 different Montanas with no issues but was sure to used jack stands for safety.

[jjwhite368]

If you are changing a tire, use a Trailer Aide. Much easier and a lot less risk.

[AZ Traveler]

Pat,

No problem with hydraulic jacks but not sure with the HC electric jacks.

[DutchmenSport]

I tried lifting with my electric jacks on my High Country and the jacks reached a point where they seemed to really struggle. It was actually kind of scary and before I felt anything would break, or snap, or crumble, I stopped and brought them back down. The wheels never did get off the ground. I really don't think mine can actually go high enough to actually lift the wheels clear of the ground. I'll never try it again. If I need a wheel off the ground, this is how I'm doing it now:

[77cruiser]

Had mine sitting on just the jacks for a few days while I did an alignment. No issues.

[RickyRobert]

There is a reason that these devices are called levelling systems and not lifting systems. Every manufacturer has a warning similar to the following:

"Failure to act in accordance with the following may result in death or serious personal injury. The use of the Ground Control® 3.0 leveling system to support the trailer for any reason other than which it is intended is prohibited by Lippert’s limited warranty. The Lippert leveling system is designed as a “leveling” system only and should not be used to provide service for any reason under the trailer such as changing tires or servicing the leveling system. Any attempts to change tires or perform other service while trailer is supported by the Ground Control 3.0 leveling system could result in damage to the 5th wheel and/or cause death or serious injury."

Forgetting the talk about twisting the frame etc., how about destroying the rig and anything/anyone under it should it come crashing down when one or more of the jacks fails? Anyone reaching under the rig to slide the jack stands under the frame and adjusting for a snug fit? Please, please think of that split second flash that goes through your brain when you're caught. It may very well be your very last thought.

Anyone remember the days when you kicked out the bumper jack after changing a tire? Remember how hard and fast it came crashing down?

This is personal to me - the death of my grandfather when a car hoist failed.

[wed]

Not a great idea. But if you don’t leave and use the stands

[Montana Man]

If you have the six point hydraulic system, use it to lift the trailer. Six jacks could lift two trailers.

[rohrmann]

The six jack hydraulic system is really effectively a three point system, because the two jacks in front are plumbed together, and the two jacks on each side are also plumbed together independently, so it’s not possible to twist the frame with three lifting points.

[1retired06]

I carry two 20T bottle jacks. Good for the fiver and the truck.

[StageCoachDriver]

I have a MHC 305RL and have had tires off the ground several times in uneven sites and once to change a tire.

[BB_TX]

I know people use boards as pictured above or those special ramps to pull one wheel on to raise the other wheel off the ground. But if each tire is supporting say 3,000 lbs, then using this method suddenly puts 6,000 lbs on that one wheel, axle, and attached suspension components. Is that really a good idea?

[AZ Traveler]

The dynamic stresses running down the road going over bumps and curbs likely exceed that of a static lift.

[phillyg]

I've used my Lippert 6-point jacks to lift one side at a time to service the bearings and brakes, or to change a tire. I know Lippert doesn't recommend it.

[suny07]

This comment is for the Lippert electric AutoLevel 3.0

I thought so as well - this lift-system should be able to lift the rig.
Actually I just changed tires due to a few flats lately.
My front right leg all of a sudden was shot.
I got it replaced by myself during a trip and thank god everything went smooth.

But during changing the leg I figured that there might be something bent. (see pics)
At least to my eye those to square beams to which the front legs attache seemed not right.

So after my trip I checked in with my dealer to look at it.
His comment was that he learned and saw that type of damage on the trainings but never in reality.
The manufacturer states in those training that the bending of those square beams is caused by jacking up the trailer.
Its a week point to protect the frame.

Holy... so now our Monty is back in the shop and gets this welded and fixed.

Note to myself, do not jack up completely with the Autolevel Jacks.

Mike

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by DutchmenSport

I tried lifting with my electric jacks on my High Country and the jacks reached a point where they seemed to really struggle. It was actually kind of scary and before I felt anything would break, or snap, or crumble, I stopped and brought them back down. The wheels never did get off the ground. I really don't think mine can actually go high enough to actually lift the wheels clear of the ground. I'll never try it again. If I need a wheel off the ground, this is how I'm doing it now:

Where are the pads for the bottom of those jacks?

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by suny07

This comment is for the Lippert electric AutoLevel 3.0

I thought so as well - this lift-system should be able to lift the rig.
Actually I just changed tires due to a few flats lately.
My front right leg all of a sudden was shot.
I got it replaced by myself during a trip and thank god everything went smooth.

But during changing the leg I figured that there might be something bent. (see pics)
At least to my eye those to square beams to which the front legs attache seemed not right.

So after my trip I checked in with my dealer to look at it.
His comment was that he learned and saw that type of damage on the trainings but never in reality.
The manufacturer states in those training that the bending of those square beams is caused by jacking up the trailer.
Its a week point to protect the frame.

Holy... so now our Monty is back in the shop and gets this welded and fixed.

Note to myself, do not jack up completely with the Autolevel Jacks.

Mike

A square tube is weak in that direction of force. A simple piece of flat square metal plate welded to each end of that square tube would have greatly strengthened it and very unlikely to have bent. And may well have prevented the weld from breaking from the frame.