1983 Hydraulic Leveling System

[Jim Stoltz]

Looking at a take-off hydraulic jack system from an '83 motorhome. It's a bit rusty but the guy claims it works. I like it because HWH is still in business so I could presumably get parts.

My question is where they would have mounted the controls back in '83. It's not electronic - you work the hydraulic valves individually. Would they have put this in the cab? Or somewhere outside. It looks like this control panel may have been outside somewhere based on its condition. On the other hand, it's 32-years old.

[david craft]

trick way to go on the p-30.  weigh the front and then get the appropriate spring set.  no more airbags necessary...the factory spring is too light to run without air...

[Jim Stoltz]

Yes - I'm looking at the Super Steer springs. They want me to weigh it first, though. Need to find a truck scale locally, preferably one that will do all 4 corners.

[david craft]

the rear always go behind the axle.  the front typically behind the axle but i have installed in front.  steering box is usually the stopper here.  it would be good the see the rams without springs and extended fully to show the condition of the pistons. i.e. smooth and no pits

[Jim Stoltz]

He's got a bunch of pics, but none with the pistons extended. He claims it was tested before it was removed and that the only leak is on an elbow that goes into one of the cylinders. Says it's a complete take-off from an '83 Eldorado RV.

He wants $1,135 plus $160 shipping. I offered him $500. Any more is too risky, in my opinion. What do you think?

It's a 30-day auction with a very limited audience. I doubt it's going anywhere for that asking price.

[Jim Stoltz]

Well the eBay seller ended the auction on 2/21, implying that he sold it. I wasn't willing to pay more than $700 for it ($500 plus shipping). Evidently someone else was willing to pay more.

So, instead I got a set of 4, 30" scissor jacks with a 7,500 lb. capacity each. And a 1/2" electric impact wrench (which I wanted to buy anyway). All in I'm at $230. A fraction of the cost but not as glamorous. Equally effective I think.

[david craft]

you just saved a lot of work and possibly exponentially more grief...just the move I would have made. functional, affordable, practical...good call

[Jimco_W001]

Simple is better.My 1970 Winnebago F-17 on a Ford P350 chassis is so simple that it always works on its own.Human error is the only thing that will stop it from working so far but that's something I don't really want to talk about.OK one example is the time I was jump starting another motorhome with it and touched one of the jumper cables in the wrong spot in the dark parking lot.Lost the alternator that night.The next day I had to get the back up one out of the storage bay and install it.

[Jim Stoltz]

Yes, simple is better. It would have been a fun project, but not at that cost.