Non-Motorized Vehicles
Standard Control Unit
With or Without Lock/Equalize Valve
Spring-Retract Jacks
Do not retract the front jacks unless the trailer can be hitched to a tow vehicle at this time or the front of the trailer can be safely supported by alternate landing gear, jack stands or blocks.
Slowly open the two outer solenoid valves to retract the rear jacks. If the control unit has the lock/equalize valve, the valves are in a different location. Refer to “Standard Hydraulic Control Unit With Lock/Equalize Valve“. When the weight is off the rear jacks, the front jacks can be retracted. Hitch the trailer to the tow vehicle during this process or support the front of the trailer with alternate landing gear or stands. Slowly open the appropriate valves to retract the front jacks. If necessary, pry the jacks up. It is recommended to leave the valves open until the coach has been delivered to the repair site.
This type of hydraulic control unit has a shuttle valve. If none of the jacks will retract after the valves have been opened manually, there is most likely a shuttle valve problem. Click here, MI158813, for a detailed explanation and diagram to retract jacks if there is a shuttle valve issue.
If a jack will not retract no matter what is tried, the cylinder may have to be removed. The vehicle may have to be lifted to remove a cylinder. It may be possible due to a hose issue, the jack will retract when the hose is removed.
Non-Motorized Vehicles
With Two Solenoid Valves for Each Jack
With or Without Auxiliary Hand Pump
The auxiliary hand pump cannot be used to help retract spring-retract jacks. These control units have a manifold that is labeled with the valve location for each jack or function and which is the extend or retract valve. Do not retract the front jacks unless the trailer can be hitched to a tow vehicle at this time or the front of the trailer can be safely supported by alternate landing gear, jack stands or blocks. Some vehicles will have a remote manifold with two valves per jack for the front or rear jacks. The remote manifold may be located near the hydraulic control unit or near the jacks it controls. Slowly open the appropriate solenoid valves to retract the rear jacks. Although the power retract style jack will have to be pried up if the system does not have an auxiliary hand pump, the vehicle will still lower when the valve is opened until weight is off the jack. If the control unit is equipped with an auxiliary hand pump, click here MP349904 for detailed instructions on the use of the hand pump. For power retract jacks, when the weight is off the jacks, it may be easier to use the hand pump to retract one jack at a time. If the hand pump will not function it may need to be primed, click here MP440009 for detailed priming instructions. If the hand pump still does not function, the jack(s) will have to be pried up or removed. When the weight is off the rear jacks, the front jacks can be retracted. Hitch the trailer to the tow vehicle during this process or support the front of the trailer with alternate landing gear or stands. Slowly open the appropriate valves to retract the front jacks. If necessary, pry the jacks up. It is recommended to leave the valves open until the coach has been delivered to the repair site.