Big foot jacks.

johns4104s · September 10, 2009, 04:41:30 AM

Are the Big Foot jacks about the best for our coaches? Using blocks how high can you safley lift the coach? Who has the best pricing on them?

Thanks

John

cody · September 10, 2009, 04:47:09 AM

The best price I found is at Bontragers, I paid 60 bucks for the jacks and 150 for the controls, don't know if they work yet tho cause they are still in the boxes in the garage lol. I was lucky when I got them cause they don't normally carry them.

luvrbus · September 10, 2009, 05:59:49 AM

John, the best price on installed price on Big Foot Levers I found is at Quartzsite in Jan you need 19 inch lifts the short lifts will do you no good on a coach.
I saw a set for sale last year there for 400 bucks new still in the box with controls but they were only 10 inch lift.
As far being the best that is like ice cream I don't like the Big Foot when I install mine I bite the bullet and bought HWH levers there no compairsion in the size of the ram , shoe and noise level of the 2 units and plus Big Foot can not be mounted on a angle for side to side stabilization and unless they have changed the design the only pivot point they have is oneway on the shoe.
Ask Doyle how he likes his Big Foots in high winds his Eagle rocks like row boat.
But price wise they are cheaper than the HWH about 1/2

good luck

johns4104s · September 10, 2009, 12:12:40 PM

Clifford,

What is the best price on HWH? Do you have a spec so I can start looking? How high using blocks can you get your coach?

John

Van · September 10, 2009, 12:27:17 PM

Hi john,When I helped do the adjustment on Doyles eagle he lifted the entire bus off the ground so we could get under it ,pretty cool when needing to pull the wheels

,no blocks

johns4104s · September 10, 2009, 02:08:56 PM

Van,

With the air bags on the MCI I don't know if we could do that?

John

uncle ned · September 10, 2009, 03:47:29 PM

I have hyd. jacks on my 04 and i can pick up any tire to change.

Also makes it easy to level and be stable.

uncle ned

johns4104s · September 10, 2009, 04:44:01 PM

Uncle Ned,

So when you raise the drive axle the radius arms must pull the axle up therefore not stretching the bags and shocks to much?

Thanks

John

Van · September 10, 2009, 06:10:24 PM

John ,so do air bag suspensions run shocks ?

JohnEd · September 10, 2009, 06:49:39 PM

Van,

I absolutely know they do for a fact.

Never fondled one but I seen pictures....honest.

John

rip · September 10, 2009, 07:05:15 PM

John; I have Big Foots levelers on my Prevost for over five years now and I have not have any problems with mine.The bus weights 40,000 lbs.and I have had all wheels off the ground at once.I have air dumps on my bags so when I level it is rock solid.I have been in some really big storms with high winds when parked and it is very stable.
Don

luvrbus · September 10, 2009, 07:31:04 PM

John, Big Foot would be your best buy HWH levers have to be bought through a dealer and installed by a authorized installer.
Come to Quartszite in Jan and I know a guy that will sell you a set of Big Foot for 4 grand installed or sell you a set for around 2 grand and you can install them.

HWH was my choice after looking at 3 different brands each one of my HWH are rated at 48,000 lbs not a chance of me bending a rod like I've seen with Big Foot and you working on the Gulf Coast at the plants you know a angle is more stable and stronger than a straight pier.

good luck

tomhamrick · September 11, 2009, 05:36:32 AM

We built our jacks out of surplus hydraulic power packs and cylinders. If I remember correctly the cylinders are 24 inch with each of the 4 having its own powerpack so all I have to run to each unit is 12 volts. The cylinder and the power packs are mounted on a steel plate so that by removing 10 bolts I can take the whole assembly out if repair or replacement is needed. So far that has not been necessary.
Tom Hamrick
1984 Eagle 10S

akroyaleagle · September 11, 2009, 07:16:43 AM

I've had Bigfoot jacks for 13 years. If I ever built another bus, I would install them again.
They work great on my Eagle. I had a solenoid fail once and Quadra sent me 8 new ones.
Few companies are like that. Fantastic vent is another.
These are virtually maintenance free. I never check the fluid in them because it is a captive system and as long as there is no leak the fluid has to be there.
My Eagle is solid as a rock on the jacks and they have never ratcheted. I've seen mine on the jacks with every wheel removed. Don't recommend it but the tire shop was installing new tires and that's how they did it. Made me pretty nervous when I saw it.

luvrbus · September 11, 2009, 08:39:45 AM

John, if you do buy Big Foot let Sonnie install them for you he does it right by tying the front together with a channel.
So many Eagles and MCI's I have seen have the front jacks attached to bay supports behind the front axle and that is not good for system that was design to carry 1200 of weight.
That is another debate you will get into mounting the jacks in front of the wheels or behind the front wheel or which is best the 3 point or 4 point leveling system .
I'll leave that one alone.
Good luck on what ever you do

Big foot jacks.

cody