Ace...location of leveling jack hydraulic pump - Page 3

Bill Johnson · 01-23-2023, 07:13 PM

Happy you found it

Rvman12 · 01-23-2023, 07:22 PM

Happy I found it....hate the location.

Bill Johnson · 01-23-2023, 07:24 PM

Might be a pain if you ever need to retract the jacks manually

Jimbo56 · 01-23-2023, 07:56 PM

So you found the pump. Good for you. But why were you looking for it?

Rvman12 · 01-23-2023, 08:20 PM

Bill......I agree.

Jimbo.....just trying to figure out where things are as we are new to this. The jacks worked at the PDI but I was not educated enough to ask about maintenance
until I read the Lippert manual. I thought the pump was in the battery bay as there are a bunch of wires behind the battery. I spoke to Lippert and they said nope. That lead me to try and find it. What is disturbing is I called Thor and General RV the dealer and neither knew where it was!

Jimbo56 · 01-23-2023, 08:29 PM

Bill, next time you’re under there check the bolt tightness that holds the pad to the ram. Mine were loose.

Bill Johnson · 01-23-2023, 08:53 PM

I'll do that if it ever reaches 40 degrees, thanks

John & Diane · 01-23-2023, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Johnson

Might be a pain if you ever need to retract the jacks manually

What a horrible location! From looking at the pictures I'm not sure how you could SAFELY retract the jacks manually.

If the floor plan allowed, I'd be cutting an access panel above it.

paulwadley · 01-23-2023, 10:02 PM

It looks like you would have to crawl underneath it to manually retrack the jacks which would be a BIG safety concern. That is not the ideal best place to put it.

Paul

Bill Johnson · 01-23-2023, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John & Diane

What a horrible location! From looking at the pictures I'm not sure how you could SAFELY retract the jacks manually.

If the floor plan allowed, I'd be cutting an access panel above it.

It's easy, just crawl to the middle of the motorhome and have someone drive up on boards and hope the motorhome doesn't hit you, then crawl out. I'm sure Thor really thought this one out. It probably comes with a small shovel to dig the dirt or gravel out around the side so a person can climb out

Rvman12 · 01-23-2023, 11:02 PM

Even the Thor Tech person choked a bit when I found it. They had no idea where it was. Obviously, he didn't think it was a great location.

Trying to figure out Thors motivation....usually it's cost....would be placing it in the battery bay be more costly...I have no idea.

I am going to share with Thor the safety issue as that is a good point....profits over people you know.

paulwadley · 01-24-2023, 01:26 AM

Is there a possible access panel on the floor inside your coach just above where the hydraulic system is located? Maybe they built in a removeable floor panel?

Paul

Rvman12 · 01-24-2023, 01:42 AM

Paul

I will pose that question to Thor but the rear layout of our coach is bathroom..shower and king bed on a slide. I know there is no access panel there now.

That would take a lot of foresight by Thor!

Attachment 40669

Bill Johnson · 01-24-2023, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rvman12

Paul

I will pose that question to Thor but the rear layout of our coach is bathroom..shower and king bed on a slide. I know there is no access panel there now.

That would be mine also, probably the walkway just behind the bed

Rvman12 · 01-24-2023, 01:53 AM

I think the motto...nobody builds them better...is missing on a few cylinders.

There is actually a Thor video demonstrating the manual override approach from the pump in the battery bay....guess they don't ascribe to the theory if it's not broke don't fix it!

I actually asked the Tech today why the change but he was guarded in his response.

Bill Johnson · 01-24-2023, 01:56 AM

So true, no engineers work there

Rvman12 · 01-24-2023, 02:49 PM

I today posed the issues to Thor about the location, access, etc.

Got a canned response....
To have the Service Center address these issues.

The same Service Center that did not know where it was even located.

John & Diane · 01-25-2023, 12:50 AM

I would contact the manufacturer of your system and inquire if the location your pump is at meets their approval. Does their operating instructions cover manually operating the jacks from such a precarious location??

Personally I would be wanting the pump relocated to the battery compartment at Thor's expense. Good luck.

Rvman12 · 01-25-2023, 01:09 AM

Contacted Lippert....they place all responsibility for pump placement on the RV manufacturer.

The Lippert Resource Manual on line at Thor Owners Resources does reference the pump to be in an outside storage bay.

Also warn against working underneath the MH without use of front and rear axle supports.....wonder where Thor put them on the coach!

Thor....

I asked those precise questions by email and they defer you to the Dealer Service for an evaluation.

Assuming the other 2023 ACE MHs are the same I would be curious why the change from Battery Bay where maintenance would be simple.

Rvman12 · 01-26-2023, 02:06 AM

Okay....Let me peel the onion down a bit and step away from the location of the pump issue.

Assuming it is what it is what recommendations does anyone have when I eventually get to the dealer about doing something about all the wires hanging low.

Don't even know if they all relate to the hydraulic pump or other components.

The typical dealer approach is zip ties....not sure that is the best answer.

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