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12-08-2018, 08:26 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location:
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #14360
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Cold Weather Hydraulics
We are moving from So Cal to Denver. On the trip of moving our Montana, stopping in Kingman, AZ, Grants, NM and then Aguilar, CO, we noticed that our slide outs and leveling jacks do not work very well in cold weather. In Grants, it dropped to 7 degrees. The landing jacks, when retracting, would stop as if they had reached top but were still extended. And thus we had to restart the cycle, sometimes 4-5 times, before they would fully retract. Same with the slide outs, they would stop, and then we would have to stop and restart the extension to get them fully out. Is there something we need to do to the hydraulics in cold weather?
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12-08-2018, 09:48 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Eureka Springs
Posts: 432
M.O.C. #17829
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N2BchMtnMrsh
We are moving from So Cal to Denver. On the trip of moving our Montana, stopping in Kingman, AZ, Grants, NM and then Aguilar, CO, we noticed that our slide outs and leveling jacks do not work very well in cold weather. In Grants, it dropped to 7 degrees. The landing jacks, when retracting, would stop as if they had reached top but were still extended. And thus we had to restart the cycle, sometimes 4-5 times, before they would fully retract. Same with the slide outs, they would stop, and then we would have to stop and restart the extension to get them fully out. Is there something we need to do to the hydraulics in cold weather?
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I replaced the 50amp to the hydraulic pump with an 80amp.
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12-08-2018, 10:18 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Most of us have made that upgrade. It is a reset mounted to the back wall easily traceable to the pump.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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12-08-2018, 12:06 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,691
M.O.C. #4831
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Lippert has recommendations for the hydraulic fluid to use. There is a document in the Files section describing their recommendations. Clicky
In colder temperatures (less than 10° F) the cylinders and jacks may extend and retract slowly due to the fluid’s molecular nature. For cold weather operation, fluid specially formulated for low temperatures may be desirable. Please consult factory before using any other fluids.
Additionally consider adding a quart or two of anti-stiction fluid. It is intended to stop the popping, bumps and clunks but may also help in cold weather. Read LIP Sheet 0295 HERE
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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12-08-2018, 12:27 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Taylor Ridge
Posts: 224
M.O.C. #18049
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On cold weather the hydraulic oil thickens and takes more amps to run the pump. They o ly put a 40 amp auto reset breaker in. Lippert says to install a 80 amp in. That should take care of your problem.
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12-08-2018, 01:18 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N2BchMtnMrsh
We are moving from So Cal to Denver. On the trip of moving our Montana, stopping in Kingman, AZ, Grants, NM and then Aguilar, CO, we noticed that our slide outs and leveling jacks do not work very well in cold weather. In Grants, it dropped to 7 degrees. The landing jacks, when retracting, would stop as if they had reached top but were still extended. And thus we had to restart the cycle, sometimes 4-5 times, before they would fully retract. Same with the slide outs, they would stop, and then we would have to stop and restart the extension to get them fully out. Is there something we need to do to the hydraulics in cold weather?
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What year Montana do you have? Only install a larger breaker if the wiring from the battery to the hydraulic pump is #4 copper, which is what is used on the newer rigs. Not sure what wire size was used to power the hydraulic pump on the older rigs, but oversizing a breaker on wire that is too light can cause problems. If the wiring is good, the 80 amp breaker will fix the problem. Once I replaced our breaker, even in subfreezing temps, the system works with no stopping.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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12-08-2018, 01:25 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Auburn
Posts: 879
M.O.C. #18474
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If the wire is big enough, here is the type breaker you need. NOTE: you may have to drill out the eyelets of the connectors to 1/4" to get them on the posts.
__________________
2020 Montana 3790RD Legacy EditionOnan, TST TPMS, TrailAir pin, Discs,
2013 F350 DRW 4x4 CC LBViair 10007, Ride-Rites, Westin HDx, 12k Smittybilt
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12-08-2018, 08:29 PM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location:
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #14360
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I apologize, I have a 2013 Montana, Model 3750FL. Thank you for all the answers. Are you saying to replace the entire pump or just the fuse? I am a bit confused.
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12-08-2018, 08:58 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Just the breaker
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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12-08-2018, 09:00 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 4,085
M.O.C. #20477
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Just the breaker.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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12-08-2018, 09:47 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Tacoma
Posts: 1,567
M.O.C. #20475
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N2BchMtnMrsh
I apologize, I have a 2013 Montana, Model 3750FL. Thank you for all the answers. Are you saying to replace the entire pump or just the fuse? I am a bit confused.
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Just the breaker if the wiring is #4 or bigger!
__________________
Bob & Carol Washington St
2017 HC HM352RL 2018 Dodge 3500 laramie CC LB 4x4
Curt Q25 with puck system, Factory air bags
Happy Trails
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12-16-2018, 01:11 PM
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#12
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Hurlock
Posts: 9
M.O.C. #13730
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Breaker upgrade
My Montana is a 2006 RL3500. I had a similar problem when I bought it. I ended up contacting Lippert, besides putting dual breakers on, I also replaced the cables, at their direction. However, I have not had problems since. We tend to travel in colder weather mostly.
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12-16-2018, 01:28 PM
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#13
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: duncan
Posts: 65
M.O.C. #16056
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Hi I concur with Carl & Susan, Lippert has a viscosity sheet showing which viscosity fluid you use with the temperature range that you will be operating in. As a further note: It would do you well now to re&re your fluid anyway, this is a maintenance that few owners "ever" think about ? Remember, just like brake fluid in your car, the reservoir is "vented" to atmosphere, so when the rams are driven out, a momentary "lower" pressure is created in the reservoir, & any dirt particulates in the air are drawn in, the fluid will absorb those.
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12-16-2018, 01:53 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: North Lake Tahoe
Posts: 639
M.O.C. #18510
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My wife and I would leave the 5th wheel plugged into 50 amps until all jacks were up, and we were ready to shove off, and then we would disconnect shore power. Still the last jack to come up is the front passenger side jack, and it would sometimes only come up half way, so my wife would put her foot under it and lift and help it, and it would go all the way up on cold days.
__________________
2017 3820FK Legacy Edition full body paint Montana, For Sale this November, 2018. 2016 Ram 3500 long bed Dually Cummins Turbo with air bags
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12-16-2018, 02:28 PM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Estherville
Posts: 53
M.O.C. #21904
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There is a hydraulic oil formulated for snow plow hydraulics that works in cold weather, I doubt Lippert even knows it exists. You can replace with it and not mess with breakers.
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12-16-2018, 02:48 PM
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#16
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Amherst
Posts: 40
M.O.C. #21043
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Had the same problem I changed out the 50 amp breaker to an 80 amp breaker,and changed the hyd.fluid to synthetic.No more problem.
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12-16-2018, 05:48 PM
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#17
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 79
M.O.C. #10843
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Just a thought here.
If you are running the slides and jacks off of batteries, remember that batteries don't work as well in the cold, and marginal batteries may die in the cold.
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12-16-2018, 07:49 PM
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#18
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,774
M.O.C. #12947
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We regularly set up, with jacks down and slides out prior to plugging in the power cord. This is no different than dry camping with just batteries. The system is designed to operate on 12 volts, and as long as the breaker isn't constantly tripping and resetting, your hydraulics will continue to work. The more the breaker trips, the weaker it gets, regardless of whether the AC is turned on. The instructions from Lippert says the system must be operated with fully charged batteries or with AC connected, but in any case you must have 12 volts from the batteries, and if you are operating the system with weak or partially charged batteries, you risk burning up the pump motor due to low voltage. If you look at the fluid recommendations, standard ATF has a pour point at least lower than -45 degrees, so unless you are in seriously extreme cold temps, the normal ATF should work. On page 16 of the manual, in the parts list, Lippert shows an 80 amp breaker, so anything less is not within Lippert's specs. https://www.lci1.com/assets/content/...r_s_Manual.pdf
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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12-16-2018, 09:53 PM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Chico
Posts: 269
M.O.C. #14041
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Your trailer is telling you something. You are going the wrong way.
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12-16-2018, 10:49 PM
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#20
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
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My right rear jack sometimes has a hard time retracting all the way up and I have the 80 amp breaker. I have to go manual then the jack retracts all the way. This usually happens when I am in 30 to 40 degree weather. Some things on these rv's are just stubborn.
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