Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: JWW on April 07, 2015, 04:15:36 pm
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As we continue our educational process in pursuit of down sizing, I see that it is not uncommon for P.C.'s to be built without jacks.
I suppose in dealing with not having them you revert back to the method I used with travel trailers years ago........blocks.
Will appreciate input from P.C. owners regarding the pros and cons of jacks on P.C.'s. I can't think of a reason to not have them, but thats what I'm here for.
Also read the opinion of one forum member (from the archives) who stated that having two slides on one side (2910D) made it difficult to level.???
In our 35 years of RV'ing, I will guess that we are able to find level sites 25% of the time. But I suspect I will find that the shorter wheel base of a P.C. will increase the odds of finding a level spot it will fit on, vs. the wheel base of a 43' Class A.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions.
Happy Motoring
Johnny
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I have jacks and have had them on every one of the seven motorhomes I have owned. I would not buy a motorhome without them. I hate having to sleep with my feet higher than my head. On our way home from our last trip that would of been the case if I had not had them. Just my 2 cents worth, as they say.
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Get the jacks. Easy to level, as you know. No rock-and-roll, as you know. And you'll get a big chuck of the cost back when you sell. No good reason to not get them.
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We had winnebago Rialtas for 20 years without jacks. Used the Lego like blocks and were happy. The moho still bounced when you moved around.
Bought our PC with jacks - LOVE THEM. No more bouncing when moving around inside. Wouldn't dream of not having them ever again.
j
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I doubt you'll get your money back on the jacks anymore than one does on accessories for a motorcycle (10% at best). I recently bought a used 2011 2552 with 19,000 miles because I hate buying new even though I can. (It's just me. )That being said. the RV I bought had jacks, had it not I still would have bought it. When buying used you go for as many things as you can on your want list knowing you probably wont get all and go for the deal. I ended up with more than I had been looking for at just a few grand over wholesale and thousands under the lowest book. When your buying new I would never look at what I might get back out of an option in dollars. I look at what I will get out of an option in enjoyment. If your buying new, go for the jacks, I believe you'll be glad you did, but do not look at what you may get back when your done because that's all speculative.
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Joseph, I agree that you shouldn’t buy expecting to get your money back. That’s not what I said. Get the jacks for the ease of leveling and stability. But getting some of your money back is a plus – some people do not buy jacks simply because of the cost. Getting some of the cost back is a consideration. And I believe many buyers are like me – I’d never buy a motorhome without jacks. That eliminates many buyers when selling.
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Your probably right for most. I am just one who buys based on what I will enjoy and never consider what I may get back in the end. It's generally so minute anyway. Heck if I was concerned on what I' get back my better half would never get to remodel and she has done that twice on our current home in 4 years. I almost go into DE fib every time I see a general contractors truck in the neighborhood.
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All but the longest models PC builds for inventory usually don't have jacks and if you plan to tow a car and park the rv for weeks at a time then may do without. We just ordered a 2400 planning to move it a lot so got the jacks hoping to save the back.
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On the subject of jacks, I see many rv's stored with the jacks down. Is that the preferred method? If so that would be another reason for having them.
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As we continue our educational process in pursuit of down sizing, I see that it is not uncommon for P.C.'s to be built without jacks.
I suppose in dealing with not having them you revert back to the method I used with travel trailers years ago........blocks.
Will appreciate input from P.C. owners regarding the pros and cons of jacks on P.C.'s. I can't think of a reason to not have them, but thats what I'm here for.
Also read the opinion of one forum member (from the archives) who stated that having two slides on one side (2910D) made it difficult to level.???
In our 35 years of RV'ing, I will guess that we are able to find level sites 25% of the time. But I suspect I will find that the shorter wheel base of a P.C. will increase the odds of finding a level spot it will fit on, vs. the wheel base of a 43' Class A.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions.
Happy Motoring
Johnny
Obviously at odds with many of the other members, but I believe jacks are just something else to go wrong. I've been camping for 18 years...first a truck camper, then a 24' Winnebago Minnie, next a 25' Forest River Lexington and now a 27' Phoenix Cruiser 2551. None of them had jacks except the truck camper (same jacks used to lift the camper off the pickup) and I have never found a need for jacks. Oh sure, we've stayed at sites (or parked on a street) where things aren't "level" but never had a problem finding a place level enough for us. I have tried the lego blocks...and they work fine...but take up storage space, so most times, never used them.
Your mileage may vary.
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Many Thanks to all who responded !
I had an opinion, but you folks verified it.
With regards to storing with the jacks down, many opinions vary.
I'll offer mine, and it's worth what your paying for it.......
As an owner of a fleet of medium duty trucks, I have learned that the service life of tires on a Motorhome is relative, but not limited to, the fact that the tires (in addition to the suspension), are LOADED, in some cases almost to maximum limits, every hour of every day. A medium duty truck is typically only loaded 50% of its service life.
I think it's a good idea to store a coach with the jacks down, at least supporting some of the load.
More important is the surface on which it is stored.....concrete OK, gravel or asphalt require isolation of the tires.....wood, plastic, etc......
Next question, which might be best answered via a call to P.C., can jacks be added, retrofitted, to a unit at the factory?
Happy Motoring
Johnny
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Not taken as being at odds Don.
Thank you for your opinion.
Our last coach had a residential fridge........if my memory is correct the RV type fridges need to be relatively level to operate properly???
Happy Motoring
Johnny
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JWW, Good info, makes sense as well. Now I do see rvs with the jacks down and their tires on squares of plywood. What is it about asphalt that causes harm? Assuming it has something to do with petroleum make up in asphalt But I'm using swag at best.
As far as the jacks down are concerned, does anyone know PC's view on this?
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Joseph,
Your assumption is correct based on what I have been told. Not a chemist, but do know a few.
And the best thing is that wood is cheap compared to tires, so if the theory is incorrect no harm no foul.
Happy Motoring
Johnny
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"Next question, which might be best answered via a call to P.C., can jacks be added, retrofitted, to a unit at the factory?"
Phoenix sends the unit down the road about two miles to HWH for the jacks to be installed. It does not matter if the unit is new or used. Many RV dealer, including Camping World, can and do install the jacks on most motorhomes.
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Thanks Tom ! Good info
Happy Motoring
Johnny
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Not taken as being at odds Don.
Thank you for your opinion.
Our last coach had a residential fridge........if my memory is correct the RV type fridges need to be relatively level to operate properly???
Happy Motoring
Johnny
Residential fridge...no idea. RV fridge...yes, relatively level, the crown of the road or a couple inches lower or higher on one axle of the RV causes no issues.
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JWW, Good info, makes sense as well. Now I do see rvs with the jacks down and their tires on squares of plywood. What is it about asphalt that causes harm? Assuming it has something to do with petroleum make up in asphalt
I don't think asphalt harms tires, but water does. Water can actually seep into a tire and rust the steel belts and bead wires. I do know that for long term storage, the magazines I read recommend keeping the tires off surfaces that can get wet, like dirt and concrete.
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We don't have the jacks. When we don't need them, I don't miss them. But when I pull out the Lynx blocks, I wish we had them. Since we travel to primitive places, the camp sites are often angled and uneven. I anticipate one day I will break down and get the jacks installed. As I get older, the idea of jacks looks better and better. I just have not gotten to that point inside my head and wallet yet.
My advise is to get them and be done.
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Thanks Ron !
Happy Motoring
Johnny
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Another note about the cost. The PC website inventory shows the cost of leveling jacks for a new 3100 as $4335. Assuming a 25% discount, the cost might be about $3250. Using the NADA website for the value of my 2011 model 3100, it shows the added value of leveling jacks as $1475. The cost difference of about $1775 is certainly worth it to me, not only for the ease and speed of leveling, but equally valuable to me is the stability – no rock-and-roll when moving around inside or when exiting and entering. And not just the cost itself, but attracting buyers later: without jacks, you will be excluding an entire block buyers (like me) who wouldn’t even consider a motorhome without jacks. To me, it’s a no-brainer.
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GoPhoenix,
I hear you. My head is in the sand when it comes to PC resale value. I suppose if the plan is to trade-in on a regular basis, then it's smart to equip your rig with "resale" in mind.
Irene and I are people who think a bit odd compared to the rest of America. Society says YES to this, NO to that, but we feel the opposite, seemingly with everything. For example, we ended up designing our house ourselves because nobody marketed anything similar to the house we wanted. I suppose one day it could hurt us that our house does not fit the typical profile, but we really don't care. The same with our PC. But we don't plan on making changes with house (26 years so far) or PC (8 years so far). Both odd items....Oh well. At least we are happy.....well....maybe jacks on the PC one day. :) Maybe I'll get them installed for a retirement gift to myself, that is if I can retire at the right age, under the right circumstances.
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Ron, I may be thinking about resale value more than most folks. We’ve been RVing for over 30 years by tent, pop-up, and five motorhomes (two PCs). In addition to eight European countries, Guam, the Caribbean, and Canada, we’ve travelled in all 50 states, 49 by RV (can’t figure a good way to get our PC to Hawaii). But now with my wife nearing 80, we’re slowing down and will be selling our beloved PC within a year or two. Resale value is now a real consideration.
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We married young in 1978, tent camped until 1983 when we bought our first motor home, had that until 2007 when we bought our PC.
In everything for the long haul. We retired our washer and dryer just last month, bought them in 1979. We raised a family in there somewhere so they were worked hard too. We keep things well beyond typical. We are terrible consumers, bad for the economy. :)
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Ron,
Off topic a bit but........due to recent personal experience i must inform you that your new washer and dryer, in all probability, will not provide a 36 year service life ! (WH)
Happy Motoring
Johnny
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Ron,
Off topic a bit but........due to recent personal experience i must inform you that your new washer and dryer, in all probability, will not provide a 36 year service life ! (WH)
Happy Motoring
Johnny
Yes, I surely believe you. Other than vehicles, it seems these days, appliances, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc, are intentionally NOT made to last. I hear hot water heaters are some of the worst.
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I learned when I started looking for an RV that when using NADA you do not add any of the options, only the mileage (unless its a diesel). I leaned the options made no difference in price what so ever when I bought mine. I also learned you do much better with a dealer than a private seller in many cases. Private sellers all feel their unit is that one cream puff that's worth thousands more than high book. I paid thousands less than the lowest book price and only a little more than 3 grand over wholesale. Being I will probably never own another motor home beyond this one by the time I get rid of it I'm guessing it wont be worth much any way.
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Ron,
Off topic a bit but........due to recent personal experience i must inform you that your new washer and dryer, in all probability, will not provide a 36 year service life ! (WH)
Happy Motoring
Johnny
Shoot, we just replaced a Kenmore upright freezer that my Grandparents bought in 1957! A very early frost free. Used it in 4 different houses and never once did it see a repair person. Almost all metal. New one same size, half the weight. A lot of plastic.
I know our electric bill went down noticeably the first month it was gone......
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Unfortunately, dealing with a private seller is often fraught with emotional baggage (all too often, a private seller attaches more value to their experiences than whatever is actually worth).
However, occasionally, a private seller is realistic and will sell a unit for what it's actually worth, minus a dealer's 'added value'. If you get really lucky, you can find a good buy.
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Bob, no question some great deals are out there with private sellers as well. I think there are many people that don't take into consideration just how much wiggle room dealers have on used units.