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06-20-2017, 10:18 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: fargo
Posts: 185
M.O.C. #17461
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level up rams leaking, anyone else?
I have a 2015 3711, live in MN so it has maybe been used 10 times.
Pulled it out of storage and I noticed that 2 of the 6 level up rams are leaking (rams are wet and about an oz of fluid on the concrete). It appears that the seals on the rams have failed, not hoses or valves but the actual seals within the rams.
Called my local dealer, they hadn't seen this before, our last couple of 5th wheels didn't do this either.
Is anyone else seeing this?
If so, was the fix to order new rams from lippert or have the existing ones rebuilt locally?
Any intel much appreciated.
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06-20-2017, 12:15 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Harford
Posts: 948
M.O.C. #7122
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I had this very same problem with the front two on my 2013 two years ago. Keystone replaced them at the fall rally that year. No problems since.
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06-20-2017, 04:11 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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None yet with our 2015 and we use it heavily.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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06-21-2017, 05:31 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Full timing in our 2012 3585SA for almost 6 years. No leaks or any other problems with Lippert 6 Point hydraulic system.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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06-21-2017, 07:17 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ione
Posts: 582
M.O.C. #11371
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About 6 weeks ago had to take my 2011 Big Sky to a shop to get new tank valves installed and two of the rams had been leaking some. Repair shop said the seals were leaking and the rams would need to be replaced. A week later I picked up the trailer after the valves and the dealer said he would check on price of two new rams. The trailer has been home now for about 6 weeks with all the jacks down and not even a single drop or sign of a ram leaking. I have been told before to wipe the rams before retracting with a oiled rag to get any grit off and it would save the seals.
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06-21-2017, 07:19 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1retired06
None yet with our 2015 and we use it heavily.
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I could be wrong (and sometimes am) but I think lack of use leads to seal problems more than heavy use.
__________________
2016 Montana 3711FL
2005 Ford F350, 6.0 diesel, short bed
Demco Hitchiker Auto Slide hitch
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06-21-2017, 07:35 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Full timing for six years. Usually wipe them down before retracting and only had to replace one ram over that time period.
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06-21-2017, 08:14 AM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2015
Location: fargo
Posts: 185
M.O.C. #17461
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thanks for the info
one thing to add; the rams were all up while in storage (the trailer was sitting on the hdt) when they were leaking; seems odd that they would leak at all with no pressure, but maybe
we are using the 5er this weekend so we'll see what happens, probably toss some ATF in the truck as a spare
I'll report back as to how it plays out and what the fix ends up being
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06-21-2017, 02:10 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,749
M.O.C. #7560
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Watch what you are doing when you toss that ATF into the truck. Make sure your reservoir is not filled with regular hydraulic fluid. I had a leak at one of the master valves coming back from AZ this spring and talked to Keystone (actually Lippert)about it. IF you have hydraulic fluid in the reservoir and add the ATF you may get yourself into a bigger problem since they do not mix well. I had to buy a gallon of regular hydraulic fluid rather than use the ATF. Don't know the problem mixing them but they told me not to add the ATF if my fluid in the reserve tank was tan or brown in color. Just a work of warning...
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06-21-2017, 09:56 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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Perhaps things have changed, but my 2005 Montana had tan hyd fluid in it's reservoir. Back then, they said Mercon ATF would work fine if the reservoir needed topped off. I did over 5 years of ownership with no issue.
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06-22-2017, 07:00 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,749
M.O.C. #7560
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I know what you mean on the use of the ATF and I assumed the same until this time on our 2013 unit. When I called them they told me to check the color of the fluid in the reservoir and if it was the tan color to only use hydraulic fluid. I guess this will be one of the questions that I'll be brining up this year at the MOC Fall Rally in Goshen. We'll see what they have to say this time.
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06-22-2017, 07:07 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SWFL
Posts: 964
M.O.C. #17801
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I thought about seal leaking a bit more and recall two other things that may prevent it: first is to spray some silicone on the legs every week or so if parked in a wet area (beach/high humidity), and the second is "stiction" by adding something to the fluid, recommended by Lippert in a bulletin.
__________________
2016 Montana 3711FL
2005 Ford F350, 6.0 diesel, short bed
Demco Hitchiker Auto Slide hitch
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