Hydraulic Experts???

[Cummins12V98]

Changed out my hydraulic pump and all went well, it was not lifting the front rams very well. Added fluid and extended front rams then disconnected from truck. Did not cycle anything.

A few days later I retracted the slides and hooked to the truck to head to SoCal. I raised the front rams and then the drivers side ram started drifting down. GRRRRRRR. I then extended and retracted the fronts several times and still it started to drift down.

I had my friend rebuild the rams already with quality parts and I know that is NOT the issue as the RV never drops after disconnecting and leveling.

So I hooked up a strap and headed south. Along the way I noticed the other started doing the same. I drilled they the steel collar and drilled self drilling screws into the silver steel sleeve to hold the rams up when in transit. This had worked for 1.5 months. Been too busy with other things to do anything about it!

My thought is a solenoid is not shutting off when retracted alowing fluid to push past to allow the ram to start dropping.

I have no idea how this system works and what valves do what.

Any help is appreciated. This is on my 2015 39TKSB3 Mobile Suites.

[ARCliz]

have you tried cycling the legs a few times , could be debris stuck in solenoid ??????

[Cummins12V98]

have you tried cycling the legs a few times , could be debris stuck in solenoid ??????


Yes they have been up and down several times.

[FuShiLuMeitan]

You have a leak. Most likely pulling air into the system. Tighten everything. Bleed. Fill fluid backup. Extend retract 5-6 times and test.

[Rontravelon]

Cummins12V98,
Look further down in the "DRV/Formerly Doubletree" forum under "Leaking front jacks". Lots of info there. I have the same problem with my 2009 DRV. It's intermittent. Cost to repair is stiff. I use your strap solution when necessary.

[FuShiLuMeitan]

Add some CAT fluid, will resolve that. We haven’t had the issue come back after basic maintenance.

[RAMer-Jammer]

Definitely a valve not closing completely if both rams drift. Solenoids don’t leak, valves do. The solenoid may be functioning fine, but crud (technical term) could be keeping the solenoid-operated valve from closing completely, allowing fluid to pass.

[dmorse68]

Air in the system takes many, many cyclings of both the landing gear, as well as all the hydraulic slides to purge out. According to Lippert, there is a very specific way to do this. I discovered this when I had a hydraulic hose blow off from a bad crimp job. I lost a couple of quarts of fluid, and got air in the system when I install a new hydraulic line. When I contacted Lippert, I received a very specific set of instructions to cycle the hydraulic system in order to purge all the air out of the entire system. I believe it goes like:

1) Fill hydraulic reservoir with recommended fluid 1/2” from top of tank. Wait until air has settled in tank from filling. Air is indicated by a lighter, pink color of fluid in the tank.
2) Hook up truck to trailer to support the 5’er
3) Extend DS slide out.
3) Extend ODS slide out.
4) Extend Landing gear (fronts)
5) Extend Leveling Jacks (rears)
6) Wait to move on to next steps until air has settled out of tank.
7) Retract everything by reversing the above order
8 ) Wait for all air in tank to settle and dissipate in reservoir before repeating above steps.
9) Repeat above steps as necessary until all air is purged out and not seen in the reservoir anymore.

[Larry drv 7*3]

Having same issue with my landing gear. Thanks for lippert bleeding process
I held retrack button for about 5 minutes after 3 attempts of up / drift down, landing gear stayed up. Then took several attempts to get system to cycle down landing gear.

[dmorse68]

Having same issue with my landing gear. Thanks for lippert bleeding process
I held retrack button for about 5 minutes after 3 attempts of up / drift down, landing gear stayed up. Then took several attempts to get system to cycle down landing gear.
Do you think air could have been in the system?

[Larry drv 7*3]

DRV Elite was purchased and 24 hours later enroute home road debris flew from opposing traffic and damaged underbelly. Has been in dealer for repair. Landing gear issue was evident first a.m. after purchase.
Dealer suggests leak in system allowing air.

[stanleyz]

I sounds like the internal seal is worn out but you are 100 percent sure they were rebuilt so here is the test, Retract gear, hold one in retracted position if necessary, With gear fully retracted remove upper hose from one leg and cap or plug hose end enough to keep it from dripping, Now while you watch hole where upper hose was have someone push RETRACT button. If the seal is good you will not get fluid out the hole. If you get a goodly amount of fluid out the seal is failing. If seal is not failing it must be one of the suggestions above.