Electric vs Hydraulic Jacks

WhoDat · 03-05-2021, 10:26 PM

Looking to purchase new 5th wheel. My current has hydraulic jack system with 6 jacks. Trying to decide between two models for next purchase. One has electric jacks (6) and one has hydraulic jacks (6). I've only had personal experience with hydraulic. What are pros and cons between the two? I like both models a lot. About $6,000 difference in price.

terry and jo · 03-06-2021, 08:56 AM

Prior to us buying the Mobile Suites by DRV, we had a 26-foot fifth wheel with electric jacks on the landing gear. (No additional leveling jacks.) It seemed to take a long time to raise and lower the jacks to hook up to the truck.

After bringing the Mobile Suites home with its hydraulic system, it really surprised me at how quickly the jacks operated. In fact, I'd almost have called it "amazing."

The biggest issue with hydraulic jacks "could" be the possibility of hydraulic line leakage or even leakage within the hydraulic cylinders. However, having been in farming and seeing the operations of hydraulics on farm implements, I suspect that they are more capable of "heavy work" than the electric systems. Of course, that may depend on the "gearing" of the electric systems.

Terry

WhoDat · 03-06-2021, 10:55 AM

Thank you.

Notanlines · 03-06-2021, 06:23 PM

Keep in mind that the electric components will be ordered online but the hydraulics will be fixed locally at any number of places all across the country where your pump or cylinder will be very, very basic. Repairs can always be had locally.

WhoDat · 03-07-2021, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notanlines

Keep in mind that the electric components will be ordered online but the hydraulics will be fixed locally at any number of places all across the country where your pump or cylinder will be very, very basic. Repairs can always be had locally.

Thanks. I am learning a lot with this. Thinking about backing up and rethinking. The price point I purchased at three years ago bought much more quality then. A factory rep that was at the dealership I use told me things like the electric landing gear are now being installed on a lot of new models instead of hydraulic to keep them affordable. When I bought mine almost everything I looked at in the same price range was hydraulic. The model I have also came with washer/dryer and generator. The same current model doesn’t.

MTK46 · 03-08-2021, 04:47 PM

I'm familiar with electric front jacks for 5th wheels.
Only rears I've had were for stabilizers.
Personally I would pick hydraulic over electric any day.
They are faster and size for size can lift more than electric. As Jim said can be repaired at most hydraulic shops.

**wingnut60** · 03-09-2021, 09:14 PM

After having some of both types, will opt for hydraulic every time if possible.

BearKeller · 03-15-2021, 04:19 PM

I’ve had both. Hands down I’d go hydraulic.

Tarheel2 · 03-15-2021, 04:21 PM

Well Iv’e had both and had trouble with both. But I guess I’d choose hydraulic instead of electric (faster & stronger).

CoMaddMax · 03-15-2021, 04:22 PM

I have a 43' 5er with electric jacks and they can't level the trailer with out the circuit board resetting and restarting almost every time. If I'm close to level then they are fine but if I need to raise any side more than 6 inches it has to reset every time. The always get the job done but I've had it reset 4 times to get the trailer level....gets annoying after the second time! I have 6 jacks and I would say the trailer is too heavy for the electric jacks it has.

LarryFlew · 03-15-2021, 04:42 PM

DITTO some of the other sentiments, had both hydraulics is the way to go. BTW we have had problems with some and local repairs are great. Also since ours was a level up Lippert 6 jack system Lippert took care of sending us parts we needed when it was a repair I could do along with detailed instructions.

BTW Lippert service man on site for one of the repairs said no problem lifting the 16,500 Alpine with the jacks so have changed tires, done bearings etc using the hydraulics as jacks and then jack stands after raised.

Dave The AV Guy · 03-15-2021, 07:49 PM

We have a 2007 38' Carriage Carri-Lite that we had retrofitted with the Big Foot system. It's hydraulic, but has a small motor & cylinder for each of the four jacks. It's been a great system. We left the original rear electric stabilizer jacks in place and when we park for more than a few days, I will also use the rear stabilizer units for extra general RV stability.

terry and jo · 03-16-2021, 06:40 AM

To add to what I posted above, we had the axles replaced on our 2010 Mobile Suites several months back. The RV is rated at 18,500 lbs GVWR and the four Level-Up jacks on the RV held up the RV all while we made the change. The tech that did the work also had jacks available, but we never used them.

Terry

Dave The AV Guy · 03-16-2021, 12:28 PM

Our Carri-lite weighs in at about 17,500 pounds and the four jack Big Foot system has no problem picking it up off the ground. It's great for wheel changing and has got me out of the mud at least once.

popupgooseneckhitch · 08-02-2024, 11:42 AM

We're new to RVing and had no idea what we needed, so we chatted with Bernard at Hitches and Couplers about options and he pointed us to a 5th wheel electric jack converter. We were sold on the easy operation: no more manual pumping. It also came with everything we needed and we didn't have to buy extra parts. We've been really pleased with it so far.

RJShiflet · 08-09-2024, 07:23 AM

Hydraulic is certainly faster...no doubt.

But hydraulic leaks can be really, really messy and expensive to fix...if you can find someone to repair it. I've had hydraulic leaks on two different RVs (fifth wheel and motorhome).

Being in our mid-70s, we downsized from a 42-foot fifth wheel to a 37-foot motorhome and now to a 32-foot fifth wheel. Our current fifth wheel has electric four-point leveling. Yes, it's slower, but it's dependable.

That's what was offered on the rig we wanted so that's what we got. I can see if we were moving every day or so the slowness of electrical would be frustrating, but that's not the case.