Front wheels off the ground...for weeks?

[dkoldman]

It's "critical thinking"... which I believe you subscribe to. Then there's those who blindly follow, not questioning anything. I have a sister-in-law who does exactly that.

The old adage "consider the source" applies here. Critical thinkers go outside the box and make an INFORMED factually based decision, while considering the source. When you discover the WHY in someone else's decision making... you usually have your answer. In this case... did this answer come directly from the engineering/design department? OR is it straight out of the legal department via Duck's reference... "CYA legalese"?

The source is the RV Mfg Owners manual. "Critical Thinking" by the layman RV Owner is NOT questioning everything in an Operator's manual from a renown RV Mfg such as WBGO, TMC etc. One should always follow their manual, if they have reason to believe to do otherwise so be it ( thus accept the liability that may have been attempted to be protected), but no matter how much lipstick you or anyone else tries to put on the pig, I don't care if it is Grandma's 1st RV, or Grandpa's 10th RV, if they are following procedures outlined in their manual, that in itself is not a problem. If one can't understand Why some follow the manual, that sounds like a self personal problem that overreaches to me. Not a critical thinking, nor deficiency of GrandMa or GrandPa.

i.e. I am not going to psycho analyze if I really need my jacks down when I extend / retract the slide just because it is in the manual, nor do I need to review why I am being asked set the emergency brake just to drop the jacks when the park brakes are already set. When I bought my WBGO, I inherited years and years of knowledge that came with the manual. It also came with no less than 40 other manuals from other OEM Mfg such as Ford, Onan, Power Gear etc. They have been there and done that too. FWIW, despite the Duck's reference, those manuals are not written by Attorney's but Technical Writers in conjunction with Engineering. The Attorneys do have say of some topics to include and some language, but it is usually as a result of the many lawsuits they deal with daily. Nothing wrong with a Mfg protecting their liability and advising you on what they believe is safest approach. It is your RV, your choice. I will stick with my manual on such matters, if folks don't understand why, that is their problem. I tried to answer why as best as I could.

 

[MJC68]

So, after reading all those opinions and (you know what opinions are like everyone has one). I have determined I should burn the owner's manual as it is nothing more than a piece of toilet paper designed to cover the manufacturers rear. Oh, I downloaded the manual as a PDF so I will delete the file too.

 

[Chateau_Nomad]

I ABSOLUTELY follow manuals... like my Jeep manual flat towing instructions... maintenance intervals... and actually 99% of specific instructions in there. For the trivial, I know the difference between CYA and personal safety.

P.S. After much consternation I actually threw out the vented contraptions on my lawn mower gasoline containers. YIKES!

 

[ducksface]

You should see a manual as the guideline it is and not the absolute some of you insist on tainting facts by saying it is.

It is not an absolute.

Guideline
Suggestion
Should
Can
Are starting points.

Cannot
Absolute
Void warranty
Lawful
Are dictates.

IF our manual has a dictate, put weight on it.

Your manual may say exactly what oil to use, what wax to use, when to change oil, tire pressure.
YOU ALL KNOW THESE ARE SUGGESTIONS.

So, do buy only that oil, do buy only that wax, do use only that tire pressure if you need an average and not a thought.
DO NOT inflict your narrowness on others by purposefully refusing to know a guideline from a mandate.

 

[ducksface]

The definition on the internets and ai are almost exactly my words above...the words I've used for five(ish) years here.
Type in yourself:
Mandate vs guideline
Then type:
Is a manual a mandate.

Once you type that in and read it...I sway easily...zway me.

Mandate vs guideline?
guideline is a recommendation, while a mandate is a rule that must be followed.
Guidelines Provide general guidance and advice, Help streamline processes, Can be adaptable, Are not binding and can be helpful but not mandatory, and Can be used to explain policies to the public.
Mandates
Are rules that must be obeyed
Can be issued by the executive branch, such as a governor or school board
Can be judicial commands that enforce court decisions
Can require nonfederal entities to take an action or comply with a prohibition


Is a manual a mandate?
A manual is generally considered a guideline rather than a mandate, as it provides detailed instructions and information on how to perform a task, but doesn't necessarily enforce strict compliance in every situation; it offers guidance and recommendations, allowing for some flexibility in application depending on the specific circumstances.

You're scaring/scarring newbs by your strict narrow adhesion to points of light that have broad inadhesive glows about them.
You're concentrating on the flame and not the light it produces around it.

Staring at the candle does not allow you to read the book.
(Duckism)

 

[dkoldman]

The definition on the internets and ai are almost exactly my words above...the words I've used for five(ish) years here.
Type in yourself:
Mandate vs guideline
Then type:
Is a manual a mandate.

Once you type that in and read it...I sway easily...zway me.

Mandate vs guideline?
guideline is a recommendation, while a mandate is a rule that must be followed.
Guidelines Provide general guidance and advice, Help streamline processes, Can be adaptable, Are not binding and can be helpful but not mandatory, and Can be used to explain policies to the public.
Mandates
Are rules that must be obeyed
Can be issued by the executive branch, such as a governor or school board
Can be judicial commands that enforce court decisions
Can require nonfederal entities to take an action or comply with a prohibition


Is a manual a mandate?
A manual is generally considered a guideline rather than a mandate, as it provides detailed instructions and information on how to perform a task, but doesn't necessarily enforce strict compliance in every situation; it offers guidance and recommendations, allowing for some flexibility in application depending on the specific circumstances.

You're scaring/scarring newbs by your strict narrow adhesion to points of light that have broad inadhesive glows about them.
You're concentrating on the flame and not the light it produces around it.

Staring at the candle does not allow you to read the book.
(Duckism)

I don't think any manual is a mandate, or no one has said as such on this thread anyway. i.e. I used my jacks to remove a tire and manual says not to. I had a need, if someone told me they would not use the jack lift to change their tires, I would not view as blasphemy. In this case in reference to this thread... the question was "WHY one would use the process they do to level to keep wheels on the ground". The manual is only one reason I gave. This debate is ensuing out of apparent disbelief to accept the premise that many keep wheels on the ground when leveling because their manual simply tells them to do so. Nothing more and nothing to scare anybody, if anything it scares a newbie if they are told they cannot reference their manual for a valid reason as to why they may do any given practice.

Also, it is disingenuous to reference items that are NOT normally found in an RV Owners manual. i.e. my manual says nothing about which oil type etc. It is fair to view the manual as guideline, which I have stated. But what this is all about to me, is the REFUSAL to acknowledge why some will make the efforts they do to keep their wheels on the ground. It is not out of ignorance, but with a genuine basis that have been covered. It is not to say that all should follow the procedure or suggestion, but it is to say WHY some do.

So, after reading all those opinions and (you know what opinions are like everyone has one). I have determined I should burn the owner's manual as it is nothing more than a piece of toilet paper designed to cover the manufacturers rear. Oh, I downloaded the manual as a PDF so I will delete the file too.

Be ye to toss the 1st manual and thyne shall follow.

 

[dkoldman]

I ABSOLUTELY follow manuals... like my Jeep manual flat towing instructions... maintenance intervals... and actually 99% of specific instructions in there. For the trivial, I know the difference between CYA and personal safety.

P.S. After much consternation I actually threw out the vented contraptions on my lawn mower gasoline containers. YIKES!

I actually had the same problem, I went to all electric to resolve. I have a few of those gas cans around and I can drop off at the border of Ohio if you wish to pick them up

FWIW, I actually had to make a cheat sheet on all of my instructions to get my SUV in Tow Neutral mode. If I did everyday maybe I could remember. It is all electric so it is impossible to flat tow without following the step by step procedures.

 

[Jimbo57]

I can on mine (Lippert Level-Up). Just put it manual, press RETRACT, then press the arrow key corresponding to the jack pair you want retracted.



Mine takes a long press of the RETRACT to execute the auto-RETRACT (while NOT in manual mode).

Interesting I will try that tomorrow

 

[Jimbo57]

thanks for being brave DK, but I am still unclear as to the concern of wheels up. it seems to me that if the vehicle is level, the weight distribution is equal, or at least as equal as if on level ground. furthermore, I thought levelers were attached in some way to the frame, thus where is the stress concern on the vehicle (not the levelers)? as for parked on a hill, now that I can see a concern with the possibility of vehicle movement as the braking tires come up. never do that on an incline!

"uneven stress, and is generally considered unsafe"

seems to me uneven stress is when things become unlevel, as in one wheel in a hole, the adjacent wheel on a "bump". now that is stress, a twisting effect. and who are these "generally" people? I am not in that group. and PLEAAAASE dont respond "the experts", as I consider myself in that group (how's that for brave, bold!?).

I can only as my experience this last weekend , I did not have extra boards for under rear wheels and jacks were fully extended . It was like MH was on stilts rocked when people in the back moved. Since I was not able to lower jacks till Sunday when I accidentally found the breaker was tripped for pump. Live and learn

 

[Jimbo57]

Hey again. I searched, I promise, and didn't see a consensus here. Our RV park moved us to a somewhat less level site and our front wheels are 6 inches off the ground with front jacks maxxed out. We can't move to another campground and plan to be here for 6 weeks or more.

I've had wheels up before, without issue, but not for weeks on end. I did purchase some wood planks to shim under the wheels, but not sure they do any good, maybe take some weight off shocks and jacks.

Any ideas here? I can block a bit more under the front jacks so they aren't maxxed out, but the wheels would still be off the ground. We are on good pavement, so now worries about settling


Thanks in advance!

Place blocks under jacks, lift until your above front is high, place blocks under wheel and lower front down stop when level. You can go back and forth adding blocks under jacks then tires. Just make sure your blocks are big enough ( so they are wider then the height you are going)