[Motor31]

Good post. I found with hydraulics since the rams will be in the retracted position for shipping you can help to avoid most air by taking another step. If you can manipulate the ram by hand or extend it to to the position it will be in when you place it with the slide out have a tube and container of fluid available. Put the tube on the extend side fitting. Put the other end in the container of fluid. As you extend the ram piston it will suck fluid up inside the piston rather than air. Just like a Nurse or Doctor filling a syringe. Depress it a bit to remove the air you did get from the tube and re extend it to fill complete. Put a cap on the fitting to hold the drips to a minimum, then install the ram as posted above. Put a cap on all the fittings to avoid drips until you hook up the hoses. They are cheap and any hydraulic shop has them if the ram did not come with any.

The ram may have fluid in the retract side so no matter what, be prepared for a spill when you extend the piston as it will squirt out that fitting.