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I bought a new Thor Axis 25.4, i asked the sales man about getting hydraulic leveling jacks installed, he said they have a shop that they send coaches out to have it done and they install the all electric units for about $7,000.00.
I am a retired heavy equipment mechanic so i decided to do it my self, I did the online research and settled on the HWH hydraulic kit for the Ford E-450 frame. They offered two units, joy stick control and the electronic control, i went with the more expensive electronic control and purchased it from Amazon for $3,600.00, freight was free. The instructions were very vague so i had to call the business to talk to some one in support, The front jack install requires removing the two storage compartments on both sides of the coach and drilling the frame just behind the spring hangers for the install, storage compartments are re installed. Front jacks went according to plan but the rear was a little more of a challenge, the mounting brackets mount on the out side of the frame and when the jacks are in the horziontal position they are just below the out side of the bottom of the frame, the generator will not allow this on the rear so the jacks must mount directly below the bottom center of the frame rail, i had to build a cross member using a length of 3 inch channel iron and mounting it flange down on the underside of the frame going left to right, i had to weld a 6 inch X 6 inch X 1/4 plate to the flanges of the 3 inch channel on both sides, this allowed me to mount the jack with out using the factory mounting brackets, when the rear jacks are up in the horzontial position they are directly underneath the center line of the frame rails. The pump control unit mounted in the right compartment just ahead of the right rear tires. the key pad control took the place of a drink holder on the left side of the drivers area, hoses and wiring harness are ready to go and after adding oil and cycling the unit a few times i was now free to just push a key pad and let the electronics level the coach all on its own. This is not a Kit for the week end DIY, but if you have a drill press, small welder and and some basic hand and power tools it can be done with out the added expense of having a shop do it for you.
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