Raising on E and P levellers to save the tyres

[Wellington]

It seems sensible to do it, except I don’t know how much is enough! How do you know when there is enough lift to relieve enough weight off the tyres, without lifting them clear? Also, I’m assuming there is some kind of built in stop to prevent eejits like me jacking it up too far and damaging something expensive?

It seems like a very silly question!

 

[funflair]

Well you are right about there being a stop so you can’t go too far but by the time it stops the wheels could be off the ground, if you want to just take some weight off it would be easiest to watch outside and stop when you see the bulge of the tyre at the bottom disappear, to do this you would need a remote so you can be outside or you need someone inside on the button, if the van is outside you should spray the exposed rams with silicone spray.

 

[ceejayt]

I believe the manual does warn against using the system for lifting the wheels off the ground?

 

[Richard n Ann]

By all means do it if it makes you feel better but our van sits for 5 months every year in 1 position in the garage, the wheels don't turn and the engine doesn't run. The van is into it's seventh year now doesn't time fly... We still consider it to be new

 

[TinaLes]

5K plus for the E&P levellers would buy a lot of new tyres, it wouldn't be my first concern to be honest.
Levelling on all terrains would be my first, but that's probably me being extremely jealous of those that have it, along with full air suspension, and a Morrelo/Concorde MH !
Yes it would have to be my last van to even consider fitting those options on a "normal" van.
I would imagine that just taking the weight off the tyres would be sufficient to avoid stagnant bulges from appearing.
How far do you take these things?, fitting UV covers on all wheels when parked up in sun to protect the tyres?

I will have to make do with either finding a "levelish" spot or levelling ramps until then.
Happy travels.
LES

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[Wellington]

I wouldn't worry about it if I didn't have levellers fitted, but as they are just sitting there, they may as well be used. The van sits a lot, especially at the moment. I have only recently discovered the manual levelling feature, so I wanted to give it a go.

I absolutely love the levellers. I know sleeping on a slant doesn't really bother a lot of people, but I reckon its worth every penny.

 

[Wellington]

I believe the manual does warn against using the system for lifting the wheels off the ground?

Yeah, but they also sell it as a tyre saving, wheel changing solution. So which is it?!

 

[jezport]

We leave ours jacked on the EP levellers to save wear on the tyres when parked for prolonged periods.

 

[eddie]

I am always concerned about potential damage to the seals and bushes of the steering and suspension "hanging" at the wrong angle for weeks on end.

Also the actual "ram" must suffer being exposed for weeks on end

I have had hydraulic jacks on every van for the last 20 years or so but have never bothered to use them when not actually using the van

 

[jezport]

I am always concerned about potential damage to the seals and bushes of the steering and suspension "hanging" at the wrong angle for weeks on end.

Also the actual "ram" must suffer being exposed for weeks on end

I have had hydraulic jacks on every van for the last 20 years or so but have never bothered to use them when not actually using the van

I think the idea is to reduce weight off the tyres not have it so high as to allow the wheels to hang, otherwise some scrote will pinch your wheels.

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[Hettie's Crew]

Our HPC levellers have a ‘stabilise’ setting that just takes the weight off the tyres without them leaving the ground. We always leave it parked liked this to relieve the tyres.

 

[funflair]

I am always concerned about potential damage to the seals and bushes of the steering and suspension "hanging" at the wrong angle for weeks on end.

Also the actual "ram" must suffer being exposed for weeks on end

I have had hydraulic jacks on every van for the last 20 years or so but have never bothered to use them when not actually using the van

If the ram is exposed they recommend spraying it with silicone spray, I have read that some people put pipe lagging around to stop any splashes or driving rain getting at the ram.

I think if you want to protect the tyres just taking some weight off them would be enough, I certainly wouldn't lift the wheels off the floor all the time in storage, although on ours the suspension has a stop so that it doesn't hang on the shockers and steering but sits against a mechanical stop.

 

[eddie]

Our HPC levellers have a ‘stabilise’ setting that just takes the weight off the tyres without them leaving the ground. We always leave it parked liked this to relieve the tyres.

What about damage to the ram? Any hydraulic experts around?

 

[David and Sally]

Our HPC levellers have a ‘stabilise’ setting that just takes the weight off the tyres without them leaving the ground. We always leave it parked liked this to relieve the tyres.

We have HPC which I am now using to level the van on the driveway and in so doing it takes most of the weight off the rear tyres & just a little off the front.

I'm not that worried about squaring the tyres off. After all, how long do they stay still in dealer's yards.?

 

[eddie]

Just googled some hydraulic ram manufacturers and they all say that the best way to preserve the ram is to store it within the cylinder to avoid pitting and rust that destroys the ram by damaging the seals.

Add to that that I never keep a camper long enough to worry about the tyres and tyres are cheaper and easier to replace than hydraulic levelling systems, I'll stick with using them when I am in the camper and not worry about the tyres when its parked up

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[Ditcha]

Some info here already covered on the results of leaving your jack's down for extended periods.

I Love My E & P Jacks

Another question ...what do the little arrows by the green centre dot/light signify? Sometimes there's one, sometimes two when the jacks are down and the green light in the middle is green (i take that as level if its green). Cheers

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Robert Clark]

Yeah, but they also sell it as a tyre saving, wheel changing solution. So which is it?!

Tyre changing is fine, just don’t use them to lift the van up if you’re planning to work underneath

 

[Oldbob]

Leaving Rams under pressure for long periods of time is not good for the seals, or ram linings. It will eventually blow the seals as they are rubber and hard plastic depending on make.
Also depending on quality of the chrome, as has been said before on here, you will get pitting and then in turn that will wreck your seals.

 

[TinaLes]

Thinking about Hydraulic Ram systems/systems in general, I am sure most of us have seen JCB diggers being parked up after a days work or for any length of time in that all Arms & Buckets are drawn upwards, to ensure the rams are not left exposed to the elements. They are also parked with the weight taken off the arms by placing the bucket on the ground, therefore relieving any pressure on the hydraulic pipes/hoses which are normally the first things to fail on a well used vehicle.
That would tell me that having the rams raised not holding any weight for extended periods would make them last longer.
I guess these issues are examined & dealt with when you have your E&P or HPC systems serviced/inspected at regular service intervals by your installer.
LES

 

[Coolcats]

It seems sensible to do it, except I don’t know how much is enough! How do you know when there is enough lift to relieve enough weight off the tyres, without lifting them clear? Also, I’m assuming there is some kind of built in stop to prevent eejits like me jacking it up too far and damaging something expensive?

It seems like a very silly question!

Motorhome tyres are made with vehicles being stationary for long period of time.

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[bigtwin]

Is there much difference, from a seals perspective, between the hydraulic arms of levellers and the rods of your dampers on your suspension? They’re carrying the same weight (ignoring the effects of unsprung weight) and the diameter of Leveller arms is substantially larger than those of your suspension dampers so I’m not sure that there is much difference.

Consequently I’m not sure it’s something that would worry me.

Ian

 

[funflair]

Is there much difference, from a seals perspective, between the hydraulic arms of levellers and the rods of your dampers on your suspension? They’re carrying the same weight (ignoring the effects of unsprung weight) and the diameter of Leveller arms is substantially larger than those of your suspension dampers so I’m not sure that there is much difference.

Consequently I’m not sure it’s something that would worry me.

Ian

The dampers don't carry the weight of the van though that is the job of the springs.

I should add leaving weight on the jacks wouldn't worry me from a point of the seals but I would worry if the rams went rusty.
.

 

[David and Sally]

I spoke to the installers of our self-levelling. They had no concerns about leaving the jacks down for long periods. Never any problems they said.
Still under warranty so I will take their word for it.

 

[bigtwin]

The dampers don't carry the weight of the van though that is the job of the springs.
.

Good point, well made Martin.

Ian

 

[eddie]

No doubt rust and corrosion will be deemed ‘wear and tear’ in the warranty

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[Captain Birdseye]

Well you are right about there being a stop so you can’t go too far but by the time it stops the wheels could be off the ground, if you want to just take some weight off it would be easiest to watch outside and stop when you see the bulge of the tyre at the bottom disappear, to do this you would need a remote so you can be outside or you need someone inside on the button, if the van is outside you should spray the exposed rams with silicone spray.

That is exactly what we do.

 

[Coolcats]

Page 31 to 34 of the user manual is worth a read (Maintenance and Warranty) keep those pistons clean and treated. Personally. Tyres are made for long standing so I wouldn’t be worried about raising the MoHo

 

[Gaston aires]

Although we have auto levellers and full air suspension, we park on quite a steep drive and as such wouldn’t do this. Also when we use “parking“ it drops the van down so low that it would be impossible to nick the catalytic converter, an added bonus. The tyres soon regain their shape in any case.
Phil

 

[dunnah01]

If I could afford the jacks I'd simply use them to put the van onto heavy duty axle stands if I knew it was going to be sitting for a while.

 

[Ninjabob]

I always leave them down at home - just a slight relief on the tyres. Extra security feature and as my drive is level I can leave the handbrake off (just remember to put it back on before starting the engine or they will all retract with no handbrake on ). I coat them with silicone spray from time to time.

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