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01-22-2019, 10:51 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 46
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Hydraulic leveling system does not like cold weather
Anyone else have issues with the hydraulic leveling system when the weather turns cold?
If we're camped out when temps drop to 25° at night and all the jack's have trouble retracting. Do they make such a thing as lighter weight hydraulic fluid?
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01-23-2019, 05:31 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,345
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There may be a warning label that describes what your experiencing. Unfortunately there isn’t any “fix” that I’m aware of, maybe one of our members that live in a cold region will have a solution.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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01-23-2019, 06:45 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Petersburg, KY
Posts: 276
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I put a bigger circuit breaker on mine. old one had several wires hooked to it and was undersized. I don't remember the amperage I used to replace it but it works perfectly now.
__________________
2017 Fuzion 417
2018 Ram 3500 Longhorn
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01-23-2019, 07:45 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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I don't know what fluid is in yours, on mine I pulled out 1 quart of the original fluid & replaced with a 15w motorcycle fork oil, this was recommended by factory service tech, this helped cold weather operation & also stopped the creaking/groaning/popping of the jacks in extreme weather changes. Since then I keep the reservoir topped off the the fork oil. Just FYI, before adding oil to reservoir be sure all jacks are up & slides in or you risk overfilling, fill to 1/4-1/2" below fill opening, then cycle jacks & slides a few times to circulate in the new fluid.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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01-23-2019, 08:49 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,013
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I live in cold weather. Look at Lippert recommended fluid for colder weather and change out the fluid. It will make a world of difference in how much current the hyd pump motor has to draw when operating LG or slides
I’d also recommend substitution 1 qt of their cold weather fluid viscosity with a quart of anti stiction fluid. It will lessons issues with LG making popping sounds when down.
https://www.lci1.com/images/support/lipsheet/0291.pdf
https://www.lci1.com/images/support/lipsheet/0295.pdf
__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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01-23-2019, 08:53 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,013
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Also if you have issue with hyd landing gear or slides stopping during motion upgrade the auto reset DC breaker from battery to the dual polarity solenoid on the pump motor to an 80 amp breaker.
https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...ulic_Pumps.pdf
__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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01-23-2019, 09:17 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
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I blew out two hydraulic coolers on my tractor and my neighbor blew at least 3 hydraulic lines and a cooler on his tractor over the past 10 years during "startup/warmup". Just because it will "start and run" doesn't mean it's not doing damage to seals, valves and piston rings by forcing them to operate on hydraulic fluid that's too thick to flow easily. It's not just "hard on the pump" but can be damaging to the entire system.
If you're having issues, two solutions, drag it somewhere warmer (the ideal solution for cold weather camping) and for a more realistic solution, drain the fluid and replace it with one from the Lippert list that is thinner at colder temperatures.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-23-2019, 09:18 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 46
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Thanks for the pdfs. Do you think it's necessary to replace all the current fluid or can I remove a quart or two and then add some of the low temp synthetic? I only have issues a few times a year when camping in the fall.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckS
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01-23-2019, 09:23 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 46
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Being we use our trailer in a wide range of temps are there any issues in using cold climate fluid in hotter temps?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
I blew out two hydraulic coolers on my tractor and my neighbor blew at least 3 hydraulic lines and a cooler on his tractor over the past 10 years during "startup/warmup". Just because it will "start and run" doesn't mean it's not doing damage to seals, valves and piston rings by forcing them to operate on hydraulic fluid that's too thick to flow easily. It's not just "hard on the pump" but can be damaging to the entire system.
If you're having issues, two solutions, drag it somewhere warmer (the ideal solution for cold weather camping) and for a more realistic solution, drain the fluid and replace it with one from the Lippert list that is thinner at colder temperatures.
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01-23-2019, 10:02 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,996
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandfreak
Being we use our trailer in a wide range of temps are there any issues in using cold climate fluid in hotter temps?
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With the limited use a hydraulic system gets in an RV, I don't know of any "downside" to using "cold climate fluids" year round... The only disadvantage I know if is that they typically cost more, so manufacturers don't use them as OEM so they preserve their profit margin....
I use "cold climate hydraulic fluid" in my tractor year round. Summer fluid temps get "hot enough to burn your hand" but I've never experienced any fluid breakdown from heat.... I have, multiple times, as indicated above, had problems with "summer fluid being too cold"....
My "recommended all season fluid" costs about $45 for a 5 gallon pail. The "cold weather fluid" costs about $90 per pail, so you can see why Keystone/Lippert and the others don't use it for every trailer that leaves the factory.....
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-23-2019, 11:41 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Auburn
Posts: 319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandfreak
Anyone else have issues with the hydraulic leveling system when the weather turns cold?
If we're camped out when temps drop to 25° at night and all the jack's have trouble retracting. Do they make such a thing as lighter weight hydraulic fluid?
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Interesting that yours had trouble retracting. The one time I had problems with mine was picking it up from the dealer service dept in Reno during the winter. I was trying to extend the jacks in order to hook up and they wouldn't budge. One of the service guys showed me that if you retract them a little bit to "get the fluid moving" before trying to extend, you'll have better luck.
__________________
2002 Ford F350 7.3 Super Duty XLT 4x4 CC LB SRW -- Pullrite Super 5th 16K
2017 Keystone Carbon 337
2022 Honda CRF-450R
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01-23-2019, 11:58 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Goose Creek
Posts: 1
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I have a new camper, 2019 Fuzion 369, first time out this past weekend...The same thing happened to me. it would just shutdown after about 10 seconds of retracting, & I would have to wait & start over until all the legs were up.
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01-23-2019, 01:03 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,013
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If your going to swap out the fluid with lower viscosity and also highly recommend adding qt of stiction fluid ...
Retract all gear and slides. Siphon out as much as you can
Fill reservoir ... cycle the LG and slides 3 or 4 times each to mix the fluid
Pause for about 5 minutes after each cycle to let pump motor cool off
This will mix new fluid with old fluid that was in hyd lines and hyd pistons.
All will be fine.
__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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01-23-2019, 01:45 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,345
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You may not need to siphon any fluid out. With everything retracted, see where the fluid level is. Last on I did took the qt and barely made it to the full line.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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01-23-2019, 08:30 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 46
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Thanks for the tips guys.
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01-23-2019, 08:45 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Rockett, TX
Posts: 481
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MKGRAHAM
I have a new camper, 2019 Fuzion 369, first time out this past weekend...The same thing happened to me. it would just shutdown after about 10 seconds of retracting, & I would have to wait & start over until all the legs were up.
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There is a sticker on the door of my landing gear control that states if the retract all function will not work correctly in cold weather to put the system in manual mode to completely retract. Worked for me on my trip up north after Christmas.
__________________
Jerry & Debbie
with Fur Babies Sasha & Sam
2018 Alpine 3401RS
2019 Ford F350 SRW
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01-24-2019, 08:17 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,013
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Upgrade the auto reset breaker from dual polarity solenoid to battery. Replace fluid with lighter viscosity fluid. The pump and motor will like you for it.
Even a manual retract with hyd system using drill is putting a load on the seals of the entire hyd system in cold weather.
__________________
2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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01-24-2019, 10:50 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Montgomery
Posts: 29
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What about using a space heater and warming the pump and reservoir before using??
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01-25-2019, 08:59 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Rockett, TX
Posts: 481
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckS
Even a manual retract with hyd system using drill is putting a load on the seals of the entire hyd system in cold weather.
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If you are referring to my post above, I wasn't referring to an actual manual retraction with a drill but the manual mode of the system as opposed to the auto "retract all" mode. Scroll to manual mode then push the retract button then rear or front to retract.
__________________
Jerry & Debbie
with Fur Babies Sasha & Sam
2018 Alpine 3401RS
2019 Ford F350 SRW
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01-29-2019, 01:54 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Richmond, TX
Posts: 99
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Same issue. . .
You are talking about this one correct? Two wires coming off of it: 1 to DC panel in rig and the other to the level up pump. So your saying these are 50amp reset breakers. Only need to upgrade the level up one? Where do you get them?🤔
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