The Hydraulic Leveling Jacks on My Motorhome Will Not Retract All The Way

by Andy Pino
(Escondido, CA 92025 USA)

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR RV’S HYDRAULIC JACK LEVELING SYSTEM

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR RV’S HYDRAULIC JACK LEVELING SYSTEM

I have a 1995 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37 foot Motorhome and I can't find an owner’s manual to see if I can resolve my problem. The problem is that the front stabilizer will not come up when I push the button to release it to come up. I was able to get all three stabilizers to go down and all worked fine.

Good Sam Extended Service Plan is mechanical breakdown insurance for your RV, 5th Wheel, Trailer, and Tow Vehicle! FREE Quote

When I wanted them up, the back two came up fine but the front one is stuck although it did rise about 2 inches then stopped. The manual gives instructions for how to raise it in cases where it doesn't work, but I don't know where to find the part that it states I can work to get the stabilizer to go up. Help!

I can't move the Motorhome until the front stabilizer goes up. Thanks for anything you can do to help me.

ANSWER: Hi Andy sorry to hear that you are going through this. There are a couple of things you can try before you have to call out the professionals to take a look. The jacks on your Motorhome are made by Powergear.

Here is what Powergear recommends you do if your leveling jacks do not fully retract. First check your jacks to see if they have grease fittings on them. If they do;
use a grease gun and shoot some Lithium Grease into the fittings.

Next using a clean cloth you need to clean off the jack chrome rod and spray it with some Silicone Spray (Do not use WD40).

Over 1,500,000 successful roadside rescues—Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service

Once you have greased and sprayed the chrome leg try rotating the jack to spread the grease evenly. Now lower all of the leveling jacks and perform the same procedure on all of them. Also make sure to spray the stubborn leveling jack with more silicone spray.

Once all of the leveling jacks have been cleaned, greased and sprayed, try retracting the jacks again and hopefully your stubborn jack will now fully retract. If it still only partially retracts you can try to use a crowbar and some pieces of wood for leverage to try to push it up to its fully retracted position and take it in and have a Certified RV Technician determine what the problem is.

You should perform this routine jack cleaning, greasing, and spraying procedure at least once every year to prevent future problems.

I hope this helps.

Join the Good Sam Club Today! Discounts, Tips, Tools & Much More!


Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by clicking on the "Click Here To Post Comments" link located near the bottom of this page.

Happy RVing

RVing Al

Comments for The Hydraulic Leveling Jacks on My Motorhome Will Not Retract All The Way

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Jacks will not extend
by: AnonymousEd

LCI display says error retract time out. Unable to level. Jacks are up. Display will not respond to any command.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		hydraulic jacks
by: Rhett Raby

I am not that familiar with gas coaches but should be similar to the diesel coaches .If so the release for getting a stuck jack down is in the back of the storage compartment adjacent to the jack .Read your instruction manual before doing this.On the diesel coaches the hydraulic system is accessed thru the back of the battery compartment (now don't that suck)!!!!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Rolled forward when jacks down
by: Anonymous

One of my jacks won’t come up after accident Ly put 37’ Tuscany into gear. Stupid! I know, but what can I expect now. I just picked this 2013 RV up today.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Hydraulic jacks
by: Bud PalmerAnonymous

I own a Itasca Suncruiser 2006 33V, the problem that I am having is that when I go to lower all four jacks and level the coach, after about three days the right front and left rear jacks go back up. I have check for leaks but have found none. I have also taken the coach to six RV dealerships and they say that they can't find the problem. I have even taken it to CampingWorld in San Martin CA. and they can not find the problem ether. The next person I will be calling is an RV Tech. Anything you can recommend would be helpful thank you .
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		levelers on 2003 Flair RV
by: Anonymous

I have a 2003 Flair Motor Home. I let the jacks down. The drivers side rear jack will not raise. What do I do?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Retracting light is on but all levers are up
by: Anonymous

The down light is on and all levers are up
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Hydraulic leveling rear jacks
by: Anonymous

I have a 2010 Travel Trailer, my rear jakes are not working, what can I do
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		hydraulic issues Monaco diplomat 2007
by: mervyn

Hello. I am having issues with my 2007 Monaco diplomat coach. When I tried retracting my jacks to move stalls, all jacks retracted except for ONE of the rear jacks. When I checked it out, there was hydraulic fluid on the stand itself. Enough to have concern.

ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Refreshing to find RV'er's with advice
by: Lisa & Brad

A couple of months ago we bought a 2008 Winnebago Destination. It only had 4400 miles on it and was in pristine condition. We have taken several trips to a park about 1 hour away. There are cement pads at all sites and we have never had a problem with the stabilizer's or a/c.

We went to a new park this last weekend and we were unable to get the coach below 93 degrees and our dogs got sick and vomited all over the coach while traveling. UGH!! Upon arrival at our site, the stabilizer's refused to lower on the gravel surface. The dash a/c blew room temp air and the generator kept turning on and off on the trip home. We filled the gas tank to help keep the generator running, but it still turned off randomly about 5 more times. I know that we will encounter very warm weather as full time RV"er's, but we did all we knew to do: closed all window coverings, closed off back of coach and it's vents, aimed all vents forward and used dash fans.

Any advice that you can give we newbies would be greatly appreciated.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		where is the hydraulic reservoir located in my 1996 35ft fleetwpot
by: Harold

Where do you find the oil reservoir for the hydraulic leveling system.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Air in the lines
by: Anonymous

Hi my name is Carlos and the problem I have with my jacks system is that once they are extended, something seems to cause air to get into the line and I have to be bleeding them to retract them. I need suggestions as to what is causing this problem. Please help
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Hydrolic leveler
by: Anonymous

I have a 2011 Winnebago Vista 26P, the back passenger jack keeps getting stuck down, or up around at the halfway point. I just had them cleaned professionally at McGeorges and they worked fine for about two times with no alarm a week later. Alarms and the same jack keeps stopping around half way on the up and down using the auto. What to do, should I clean it again with the Silicone Spray and grease it again?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		front hydraulic jacks
by: Anonymous

front jacks will not raise all the way up.got to use floor jacks to raise up all the way.what can I do to fix it.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Quick fix for leveling jacks not returning to up position.
by: David R. Aloisio

I have had problems with rear jacks going up all ther way. I lubricated them with silicon spray and it seemed to work alot better. I also changed springs. I have to lubricate every 6 months. Thanks for info. I have a 2005 Hurricane Class A motorhome.
Rating
starstarstar 		Could be extend switch
by: MEKKMan

Similar problem. RV store used large floor jack to force jack up. Nearly had rear wheels off ground with no movement in the jack when there was a loud snap. Jack then completely retracted. Unfortunately "jacks down" alarm remained on. Disconnecting extend switch wiring turned off alarm. Coach could then be raised and lowered and jack worked perfectly and completely retracted. I can't find any information on the switch but this must have been what was preventing the jack from completely retracting.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Check the fluid level
by: Anonymous

I had the same problem on my 1995 Pace Arrow... the hydraulic fluid reservoir was about one pint low. Mine was located behind the passenger front tire. The hydraulic fluid is cheap and available at any automotive store. I filled it and it has work without a any further problems.

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Ask an RV Question.

LEARN HOW TO RUN 2 RV A/Cs ON A 30 AMP CONNECTION