An essential aspect of having a safe trip on your RV is to ensure that it is properly leveled. It is crucial to make sure your RV is balanced and steady before hitting the road.
Hydraulic leveling jacks are popular today for RVers who want to level their vehicles for a safe trip ahead.
Let’s say you’re about to start a trip or are in the middle of one. You think the RV needs a little leveling, so reach out for your hydraulic leveling jacks.
And alas, they don’t work! Leaking hydraulic jacks can be quite the buzzkill. But not to worry, we have come up with a solution!
Continue reading our post to learn more about hydraulic leveling jacks and what to do when they leak.
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Leaking Hydraulic Leveling Jacks
Before we address leaking hydraulic jacks, let’s discuss how hydraulic leveling exactly works.
Leveling is vital to ensure that your RV stands uniformly. Leveling an RV is easier if it has an automatic leveling system.
Hydraulic jacks use liquid or hydraulic pressure for their functioning. They contain a tube filled with fluid that is responsible for creating the hydraulic pressure.
The jacks have springs that are pushed by this pressure. Once the pressure comes down, the leveling jacks go back up.
Leveling jacks can be regulated manually or automatically. However, the problem arises when there is a leak in your hydraulic leveling jacks.
Why are leaking hydraulic leveling jacks a problem? We’ve listed the reasons down below:
- Inadequate extension and retraction of the hydraulic jacks
- Improperly leveled RV
- Improper leveling interferes with the refrigerator’s mechanism
- Low temperature may result in frozen jacks
Hydraulic Leveling Jacks: Types of Jacks!
Now, let’s discuss the types of hydraulic leveling jacks. There are two main types of hydraulic leveling jacks. We’ve listed them down below, along with some of their variations!
The Hydraulic Trolley Jacks
Hydraulic trolley jacks are relatively safe to use. The trolley’s wheels create minor movements which help carry the shift due to weight distribution. There are sub-types of hydraulic trolley jacks.
We’ve enlisted them below:
- High-lift trolley jacks
- Extra-lift trolley jacks
- 10-ton long body trolley jacks
- 5-ton trolley jacks
- 3-ton extra-large trolley jacks
- Scissor jacks
The Bottle Jacks
Bottle jacks are great to have for personal usage. They are sufficiently compact to fit your car quickly and have high durability.
The bottle jacks contain air pumps that are fast-acting; it is designed to reduce heavy weight.
Let’s take a look at some variations of bottle jacks:
- ATD tools hydraulic bottle jack
- Torin hydraulic bottle jack
- 6-ton pro-lift hydraulic bottle jack
- All in one 3-ton bottle jack
Fixing RV Hydraulic Leveling Jacks Leaking!
The hydraulic leveling jacks don’t function properly if there is a leak. This can take a toll on the overall performance of your RV and may result in canceled plans.
Now, simply learn how to fix the jacks to avoid such situations! We have put together a step-by-step guide to ensure that you continue to have a fun, adventurous trip!
Step 1: Identify the site of leakage
The first step is to identify exactly where there is a leak. Locating the leak might be a little confusing initially.
There are two parts where leakages are commonly seen: Tubes and Hoses. Closely inspect each jack to detect any leakage. Once you’ve located the leak, you can move on to the second step.
Step 2: Clean up the contents
When hydraulic leveling jacks leak, they tend to release fluids around the area, making it a rather messy affair.
It is best to clean out all the leaking fluid discharged from the jacks so that the repair is effective and tidy.
If you’re situated in a cold weather climate, there is a good chance the fluid has frozen within the jacks.
Pouring warm water on the base helps to unfreeze these fluids. This will also help you locate any more leaks if present.
Step 3: Time to fix!
As we mentioned above, leaks are commonly found in the tubes or hoses of hydraulic leveling jacks.
The procedure for repair depends on where exactly the leak is. We have separated this step under two sub-headings to make it easier for you to follow:
Tubes
Have you located the leak in the tubes? The leak is most likely in the junction where the tubes connect with hoses.
If you’re in the same boat, you must replace the O-ring. The nuts have an internal rubber part called the O-rings. When the O-rings are damaged, the fluid starts leaking out. Once the O-rings are replaced, the nuts will be tighter and stronger. The fluid cannot find any gaps to leak out through.
Hoses
Hoses carry the fluid to the jacks from the tubes. This fluid can create a certain water pressure on which the jacks function. In case of a leak, there is no pressure build-up, resulting in dysfunction.
Repairing a leaking hose isn’t always the best option. There is a high risk of this issue occurring again.
If your hose has a leak or hole, it is best to replace the segment. Please measure how much of the hose you want to be replaced so you can run to the store and purchase the accurate size.
Step 4: Call a professional
It’s not always easy to fix leaking hydraulic leveling jacks. If, for some reason, you were unable to fix the jacks, call for help!
After all, it is not in our job description, and it might be better to leave these repairs to a professional.
If all you need is some extra assistance, you can always ask for a helping hand around your area. Getting some extra help has never harmed anyone!
Final Words
We’ve reached the end of the post! We hope our article has been of help to all those with leaking hydraulic leveling jacks.
Our step-by-step guide is simple and easy to understand, so don’t forget to try it. If you’ve tried, please drop a comment down below!
Happy RVing!