Fiver leveling systems

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Jul 5, 2014 | 03:40 PM

#16

RV_Tech

Hotshot

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 10,060

Likes: 491

From: Bristol, TN.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingedone

When you make a lot of items, you are bound to have more problems put out on the net. I would be most interested in what percentage of issues versus other manufacturers. Wish that data was readily available.

I do want to be clear that the only problem we had was a 50 amp resettable fuse going bad. Other than that, it has been a great system. And Lippert didn't make the fuse. Plus the fuse I bought was bad and not Lipperts too.

My frame is Lippert also. And even with the extra stress of the swivel wheel, no issues (knocks on wood). And at the Coachmen rally, no one I talked to had problems with their frames.

I don't think there is a frame problem, at least not one I have seen. The fuse issue is a nuisance and needs to be addressed because it is so common. I run into that one often and there no really good fix.

Some folks on the Internet are stating if you make sure you have two batteries so the amp drop doesn't bump up as the pump runs, there is not a problem, but I have tried that on the lot using my booster box as a second battery with no change in function. In addition, when I watch my meter, the amp draw does not increase over time. It simply remains slightly above 50 amps the entire time with some RVs. Of course I see it most often with the large slides when the pump has to work harder.

My own thinking is slide size and weight have increased, but the hydraulic systems have no evolved to handle the increases. A more efficient pump motor might solve the problem as would increases in wire gage and fuse size provided the pump can handle it.

In the electric systems, I see the clutches go out over time and several times I have run into slides where the gear teeth the engage the square tube are partially gone due to the weight of the slide. I say the weight because I have never seen it on any small slides, only the super slides.

My two cents,

Steve

Jul 5, 2014 | 04:22 PM

#17

Irelands child

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 1,899

Likes: 12

From: Upstate NY

I'm all too well aware that the highest percentage of good products lies with most owners and that only a small percentage have problems and make complaints. I'm also very aware that many problems are self induced by folks that expect that by just buying a product all is perfect. Then there are people that just should never - ever - own a camper or anything else more complicated then a door ****, being totally incompetent in even the 'challenge' of changing a light bulb. Heck, just read a few AMAZON reviews. As far as the Lippert leveler system, there do seem to be a few problems with the ones I noted to be the most often reported along with calibration issues - which appears to be really user education. I just like to be on top of potential issues.

Jul 5, 2014 | 06:06 PM

#18

wingedone

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2014

Posts: 427

Likes: 4

From: Prescott, Michigan

It's funny you bring up the calibration issue. When we first got ours, it would work fine sometimes, autoleveling, and other times it would go nuts, lifting the streetside wheels way off the ground, way out of level.

Luckily, in short order, we went to the Coachmen Service and Seminar rally. Lippert was there. Asked the Lippert tech, he knew exactly the problem. Went out to our rig and reversed 2 wires that were hooked up incorrectly.

Part of problems people have with these subcontracted parts, is that they are installed not by the designers and makers but by people that get paid to put together rigs as fast as they can. Thus they make mistakes.

I wonder how many other rigs leave the plant with perfectly good systems, poorly installed.