SWharton Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 I thought my question to Lippert and their response might answer some questions you all have. In our Winnebago we have the Lippert Electronic leveling system. The system generally works fine but when we are in an unlevel location by more than a few inches one leg always is off the ground by 1-3 inches. I have re-calibrated the system numerous times, plenty of hydraulic fluid. It is not always the same leg. It doesn't make any difference if we put a block down or not. Happens whether auto or manual. What can I do to get all 4 legs to go down to provide stabilization? Lippert Response: Our system does not have a ground detect to know if all the legs are on the ground. Once the system sees that the unit is level, it will stop operating the jacks. You may have one or more jacks not touching. This is perfectly normal. You can put leveling blocks down under the legs that are not touching and this will help with them touching the ground and adding more stabilization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Unreal!!! How stable is a rig that doesn't have all the levelers on the ground?!!! By design!!! Apparently, Lippert thinks level is fine with stable not being an issue. Obviously, they have never been in a rig with the jacks up while Dave is walking about. Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted September 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Luckily it doesn't happen often, we have even tried to put down blocks and it doesn't seem to help. Only in certain situations which are few. Re-calibrating helps for a while, then it starts again, sometimes manual resolves the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 2 minutes ago, SWharton said: Re-calibrating helps for a while, then it starts again, sometimes manual resolves the problem. I wonder why Winnebago stopped using HWH levelers and slide mechanisms? I had levelers by Big Foot and have worked on a few different brands but not Lippert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted September 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Have no idea, I have a Winnebago, maybe it was a Winnebago spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandsys Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 You might want to send Lippert's response to Winnebago. They may not know Lippert's leveling system is not a stabilizing system.. Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted September 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 It is called a leveling system not a stabilizing system. I am sure Winnie knowingly makes these decisions. $$$$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 2 hours ago, SWharton said: It is called a leveling system not a stabilizing system. A good leveling system does both. I suspect that you are right about cost being at least part of the problem but, having met Winnebago design people they all seem to be genuinely interested in improving their products ability to meet customer needs. Winnebago has sent a team to the last 2 Escapades to discuss what RV owners want and need while not even showing their products to attendees. If you haven't been in contact with Winnebago on the issue, I think that you should at least give that a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted September 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 OK. I emailed the Lippert response and question to Winn. Curious if I get any kind of a response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FL-JOE Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 19 hours ago, SWharton said: Lippert Response: Our system does not have a ground detect to know if all the legs are on the ground. Once the system sees that the unit is level, it will stop operating the jacks. You may have one or more jacks not touching. This is perfectly normal. You can put leveling blocks down under the legs that are not touching and this will help with them touching the ground and adding more stabilization. Not sure how new your system is, but a friend has a 2016 Thor Challenger Class A and experienced about the same thing. He had it back to the dealer several times over a 4 or 5 month period and they couldn't figure it out. They called in a Lippert factory tech and apparently he finally found what was wrong. The situation was resolved but I'm not sure what they found was the issue. He, and I, have had Lippert systems on both gas Class As and past fivers, never had just 3 legs go down nor heard of what Lippert told you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted September 6, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 Ours is a 2015. This has been happening from the beginning and is just a pesty problem. Most of the time we are OK. Just happened one time too many so I sent them a note. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted September 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 I have my first response: This is something that I have heard before. There was a little more to the story that I was told. What I have heard is that when in auto level, if the coach levels itself and even if all the jacks are touching the ground, it will shut the system down. A customer, if they wish can put it into manual mode and bring the jack/jacks down just to the point where it contacts the ground. My response: I have no problem with the coach perceiving level and shutting down with all 4 jacks down. If one leg is up a bit and I switch to manual mode that does not help because both legs will go down together, twisting the frame. This could easily be resolved by 1) having a pressure switch of some sort to make sure all legs are down and grounded prior to leveling and/or being able to control each leg individually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance A Lott Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 I have no experience with your system but I do have farm experience with hydraulics, electronic controls and replacing one with the other. There should be a way to put shut off valves in the line to keep the down cylinder from going any further. Or if it is controlled with electric valves, witch I suspect as it has auto level, you should be able to install switches to isolate the valves and only run the one you need. This would probably meen turning off power or ground to the valves you dont want to activate. Another thought would be Jack stands or Jacks on the side with the Jacks down then raise the Jack and relevel on auto. Have you tried old fashioned blocks under the tires to get it closer to level before putting the Jack's down. With my living quarters horse trailer I have to use blocks or a Jack at the rear before putting my "self leveling" Jack's down on the front or I get the same problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZHome Posted March 11, 2020 Report Share Posted March 11, 2020 We have a 2014 Winnebago Vista which came equipped with Lippert leveling system. A year or so after it's purchase (new) we started having a problem with the system either not retracting or extending. Several visits to RV repair shops (Tucson to Spokane) ensued but repairs turned out to be temporary (1 week to 3 months). We finally bit the proverbial bullet and went to HWH plant in Iowa and had the entire system replaced. It has worked unfailingly ever since!!! Before the replacement, our frequent communications with Winnebago and Lippert brought no relief. We have not communicated with either ever since though we still own and travel in the 2014 Vista. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbyb Posted March 14, 2020 Report Share Posted March 14, 2020 Winnie probably dropped Lippert slides as they had so much trouble. I forget the name of the system but it is something like shcwintek?? Lippert has become the largest supplier to the RV industry. But almost everything they make is cheaply made. They have bought out mfrs. of various components and then cheapened the product. I think Lippert means junk in Swahili!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jblo Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 Don't believe a Schwintek slide mechanism has any relationship to either the LCI or HWH leveling systems. We have had both manual and auto LCI hydraulic systems and both worked fine if I operated them correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Second Chance Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 On 3/14/2020 at 6:33 PM, Bobbyb said: Winnie probably dropped Lippert slides as they had so much trouble. I forget the name of the system but it is something like shcwintek?? Lippert has become the largest supplier to the RV industry. But almost everything they make is cheaply made. They have bought out mfrs. of various components and then cheapened the product. I think Lippert means junk in Swahili!!! Schwintek is a Lippert (LCI) product. https://www.lci1.com/slide-outs Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jblo Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 Should have said Schwintek not a leveling system? Only a slide system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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