snoracer Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Sorry if this has been asked and answered elsewhere, but I searched and couldn't find it. What is the proper way to store my coach for the winter. Since the air bags deflate over time, is it harmful to the bags to allow the coach to sit on the deflated bags, or should I have supported the coach up on it's jacks? Seems to me that the jacks would gradually loose pressure and retract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidL Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Jacks should not retract over time unless there is a solenoid, fitting, hose leak which is abnormal. Ensure you don't have anything under the coach or extended slides just in case. Air bags will deflate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhReally Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 Definitely jacks up. Rust and corrosion can occur on jack rams and seals will dry out if jacks left down over prolonged period. Only exception to this would be if you wanted to visit coach no less than every two weeks and lubricate rams and seals with WD 40, or raise and lower jacks during that visit. -Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradHend Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 I would most definitely say jacks up (fully retracted). You don’t want the piston getting corroded or dried up and it could in fact damage the packing and/or wiper seal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurrayD Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 You will not harm the air bags by allowing them to deflate. Extending the jacks for long periods exposes the cylinder to weathering which could cause issues. Have you ever seen a motorhome on jacks in a dealer lot? Those units are sometimes there for a year or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoracer Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 Man those were quick replies!! thanks guys. You all confirmed exactly what I was thinking as far as leaving jacks extended for long term storage. Good to know that having the coach sit on deflated air bags will not do any harm to the bags. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cubflyer Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 29 minutes ago, snoracer said: having the coach sit on deflated air bags will not do any harm to the bags. It is my understanding about the construction of the airbags, there is an internal stop that makes contact with the airbag at it's deflated condition. The weight of the coach being supported by the airbag material is not a thing. I'm not sure about the construction of the jacks, but many hydraulic actuators have the seals riding on the inside of the external cylinder and the exposed chrome shaft is just riding on a "guide", not the seals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary 05 AMB DST Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 (edited) For the last 3 winters, since I wasn't heading south, I built pilings out of wolmanized 2-4x6x8" for a 11x8 piling and put them under the jacks, 3 or 4 blocks in height. You can get 12 pieces out of an 8'-4x6. Dump the airbags and let the jack sit on the piling. You have to be on a level surface so the frame doesn't twist and you would have more room under the MH if needed, as in caging the brakes, so they won't rust to the rear drums. For what it's worth, wolmanized isn't in the Merrian Webster dictionary. Gary 05 AMB DST Edited February 5 by Gary 05 AMB DST more info 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veraken Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 For winter storage, I leave my jacks up and put a set of wood blocks under each jack. I then dump the air bags. The coach will lower down on these blocks without extending the jacks. This takes the weight off the tires. I asked (Paul) Azpete, the resident HWH expert, about this procedure and said it is OK. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoracer Posted February 6 Author Share Posted February 6 19 hours ago, Gary 05 AMB DST said: For the last 3 winters, since I wasn't heading south, I built pilings out of wolmanized 2-4x6x8" for a 11x8 piling and put them under the jacks, 3 or 4 blocks in height. You can get 12 pieces out of an 8'-4x6. Dump the airbags and let the jack sit on the piling. You have to be on a level surface so the frame doesn't twist and you would have more room under the MH if needed, as in caging the brakes, so they won't rust to the rear drums. For what it's worth, wolmanized isn't in the Merrian Webster dictionary. Gary 05 AMB DST Good Idea, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dl_racing427 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 I wouldn't leave the jacks extended long term, due to the dust and corrosion issues on the rams. My solution is to use 4 properly rated jack stands. I raise the coach a few inches above ride height with the jacks, then put the stands under hard points on the frame, making sure they're level with each other. I lower the coach onto the stands, allowing the jacks to fully retract. This accomplishes all the important things like preventing the air springs from being fully compressed, keeps the coach weight off the tires, and protects the jacks. The coach is also high enough from the ground, and safely supported, to allow working on systems if necessary. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary 05 AMB DST Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 A well respected member of the ramblin'pushers web site said to put support under only the vertical frame members, not horizonal frame. Evidently the horizonal frame is not capable of carrying the weight with a jack stand and could cause bending the frame. This was given years ago. The 8 air bag suspension has many vertical members. I don't know if your 93 Dynasty has 4 or 8 bags. Maybe Larry will jump in. Gary 05 AMB DST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidL Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 (edited) if you look at the owner's manuals for many of the jack companies (like HWH), they say to spray the chrome cylinders with silicone / WD40 (check your manual for the specifics) to avoid corrosion. Certainly that is for when the jacks are extended for long periods because they are protected when up by the hydraulic oil....so that would imply, they are perfectly good with leaving the jack extended for long periods, as long as you keep them clean and coated. "Basic cleaning of the complete jack assembly is accomplished with the use of soap and water. Spaying the jacks with a spray wand at a car wash would be acceptable. The only time a jack rod would need cleaning is if the jack has been extended for a period of time. The jack should not be extended just to clean the rod. WARNING: If the jack is extended, use soap and water or WD-40 on the jack rod then wipe the rod dry with a clean cloth. FORWARD OR BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. IMPORTANT: Do not use a dirty rag to wipe the jack rod or do not wipe the jack rod if it is coated with dirt. This could scratch and damage the rod. Make sure to use water or WD-40 to loosen any dirt before wiping the jack rod. If the jack rod has been greased or silicone sprays have been used on the jack rod, use WD-40 to loosen the grease or silicone and wipe the rod clean." Edited February 7 by DavidL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dl_racing427 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 3 hours ago, Gary 05 AMB DST said: A well respected member of the ramblin'pushers web site said to put support under only the vertical frame members, not horizonal frame. Evidently the horizonal frame is not capable of carrying the weight with a jack stand and could cause bending the frame. This was given years ago. The 8 air bag suspension has many vertical members. I don't know if your 93 Dynasty has 4 or 8 bags. Maybe Larry will jump in. Gary 05 AMB DST Yep, that's why I said hard points, which are points capable of carrying the load without damage. I pick hard points close to the jacks, so the stresses in the frame are as the designers intended. Of course you wouldn't support it under a long unsupported horizontal part of the frame. My Dynasty is an 8 bag coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary 05 AMB DST Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 11 hours ago, dl_racing427 said: Yep, that's why I said hard points, which are points capable of carrying the load without damage. I pick hard points close to the jacks, so the stresses in the frame are as the designers intended. Of course you wouldn't support it under a long unsupported horizontal part of the frame. My Dynasty is an 8 bag coach. Sorry, didn't know what hard points were. Gary 05 AMB DST 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dl_racing427 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 7 hours ago, Gary 05 AMB DST said: Sorry, didn't know what hard points were. Gary 05 AMB DST Thanks Gary for clarifying for anyone else as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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