'We' are very new to the motorhome world and seeking some advice from those with more experience. Can anyone give me some 'pros' and/or 'cons' on hydraulic levellers. Suppliers and/or guesstimates re pricing of same. Cannot find a great deal of info online & those that do make no suggestion of pricing.
Yes, I do own the good old plastic version under the wheels etc, but for various health & well being reasons I would like to look into the hydraulic version. Currently own an Avida 'Eyre' motorhome. Surely someone out there has these fitted to a vehicle and can offer your 'learned' advice.
Thanks,
Bas + Eve said
06:56 PM Aug 30, 2015
Looked at them a year or so ago...expensive I think @ $2-3k and they are heavy.
hard1mic said
07:00 PM Aug 30, 2015
Bas + Eve,
Thanks for a response - thought they may be costly, but failed to think of the weight....more to consider!!
Woody n Sue said
07:29 PM Aug 30, 2015
Why not the 12v electric legs shurly they go big enough to lift your rig, have no idea of cost though
hard1mic said
08:02 PM Aug 30, 2015
Woody n Sue,
Definitely worth looking into - solution to weight issues with others.
Thanks.
vk6gmd said
04:43 PM Aug 31, 2015
I have the Bigfoot levelling system on my chassis right now. 4 legs, each with hydraulic pump and reservoir. They are really solid and i have a custom version. Normally the rear jacks on a gooseneck/fith wheeler are shorter. The front, called landing gear needs to have more stroke to unhitch. On a motor home you will have all 4 the same. However I have also the higher stroke at the rears since I have more ground clearance than the usual motor home and I want to be able to level at slopes or real uneven ground, so a short stroke doesn't do.
The total system is somewhere between 60 and 70 kg and each jack has a capacity of 5t. I installed it and tried it and was not really impressed by the control unit. Various downsides of that control unit (and they claim to be the leader in the market) made me make my own, which I did.
You can read about it on my website and also the new control unit.
I brought it over from the US in my container and it was around US$4500. I am sure that this is the most stable and solid solution but it has its price and the standard control unit is not that crash hot.
Similar arguments apply to my air suspension automatic levelling system for my airbag suspension. I will, most likely, also make my own control unit eventually.
I wanted a levelling system which can handle the weight of the van easy and gives me the freedom of handling real rugged terrain, so I had to have higher stroke. All the system I looked at were not sufficient or had to be mounted too low reducing ground clearance even further. My jacks have a stroke of 30" and if this is not sufficient I throw a block under the foot plate.
It is extremely convenient once it is working properly.
Regards
Gmd
hard1mic said
05:08 PM Aug 31, 2015
Gmd,
Thanks very much for the info. No 'real' surprise re the price & no doubt will be more if I have someone else do the fitting. Nothing 'handy man' about me unfortunately. Bit surprised about the weight, but others have suggested weight issues. Appreciate your input.
snapper49 said
04:39 PM Sep 1, 2015
If installing on a van all ready purchased you would have to consider the weight as they would come off of your allowable payload
'We' are very new to the motorhome world and seeking some advice from those with more experience. Can anyone give me some 'pros' and/or 'cons' on hydraulic levellers. Suppliers and/or guesstimates re pricing of same. Cannot find a great deal of info online & those that do make no suggestion of pricing.
Yes, I do own the good old plastic version under the wheels etc, but for various health & well being reasons I would like to look into the hydraulic version. Currently own an Avida 'Eyre' motorhome. Surely someone out there has these fitted to a vehicle and can offer your 'learned' advice.
Thanks,
Thanks for a response - thought they may be costly, but failed to think of the weight....more to consider!!
Woody n Sue,
Definitely worth looking into - solution to weight issues with others.
Thanks.
I have the Bigfoot levelling system on my chassis right now. 4 legs, each with hydraulic pump and reservoir. They are really solid and i have a custom version. Normally the rear jacks on a gooseneck/fith wheeler are shorter. The front, called landing gear needs to have more stroke to unhitch. On a motor home you will have all 4 the same. However I have also the higher stroke at the rears since I have more ground clearance than the usual motor home and I want to be able to level at slopes or real uneven ground, so a short stroke doesn't do.
The total system is somewhere between 60 and 70 kg and each jack has a capacity of 5t. I installed it and tried it and was not really impressed by the control unit. Various downsides of that control unit (and they claim to be the leader in the market) made me make my own, which I did.
You can read about it on my website and also the new control unit.
I brought it over from the US in my container and it was around US$4500. I am sure that this is the most stable and solid solution but it has its price and the standard control unit is not that crash hot.
Similar arguments apply to my air suspension automatic levelling system for my airbag suspension. I will, most likely, also make my own control unit eventually.
I wanted a levelling system which can handle the weight of the van easy and gives me the freedom of handling real rugged terrain, so I had to have higher stroke. All the system I looked at were not sufficient or had to be mounted too low reducing ground clearance even further. My jacks have a stroke of 30" and if this is not sufficient I throw a block under the foot plate.
It is extremely convenient once it is working properly.
Regards
Gmd
Thanks very much for the info. No 'real' surprise re the price & no doubt will be more if I have someone else do the fitting. Nothing 'handy man' about me unfortunately. Bit surprised about the weight, but others have suggested weight issues. Appreciate your input.