We Reverse-Engineered the Kwikee Level Best 3000.
Now We Manufacture the Replacement.

The Problem Every Level Best 3000 Owner Knows

The Kwikee Level Best 3000 hydraulic leveling system was installed on thousands of Winnebago, Fleetwood, and other Class A motorhomes throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. It was a well-engineered system — a central hydraulic pump, a solenoid manifold, and four individual hydraulic cylinders at each corner of the coach. When it worked, it worked well.

The problem is that Kwikee is now owned by Lippert Components, and Lippert has discontinued the original hydraulic jack. When owners call Lippert for a replacement, they are told the same thing: the original hydraulic jack is no longer available, and the recommended path is to replace the entire leveling system — a job that can cost well over $7,000 in parts and labor.

For owners with a perfectly functional pump, manifold, and controller, this is an expensive and unnecessary solution. The hydraulic infrastructure in these coaches is robust and long-lived. The jacks themselves — specifically the hydraulic cylinders — are the only component that wears out. We decided to do something about that.

What Mercury Hydraulics Did

We took a Kwikee Level Best 3000 hydraulic jack into our Melbourne, Florida facility and reverse-engineered it from the ground up. Every dimension was measured and documented: bore diameter, rod diameter, stroke length, port thread size and location, mounting plate geometry, and foot pad configuration. We then designed a replacement unit that matches every one of those specifications exactly.

The result is a form, fit, and function replacement jack that installs directly in place of the original Kwikee Level Best 3000 unit. Your existing hydraulic lines connect to the same port locations. Your existing mounting bolts go through the same holes. Your existing pump, manifold, solenoid valves, and controller operate the new jack exactly as they operated the original.

There is one additional improvement we made that the original did not have: our replacement jack is fully repairable. The seal pack, piston rod, and internal components are all serviceable. When the seals wear out in 10 or 15 years, you send the jack back to us for a rebuild — you do not buy a new jack.

The Real Cost Comparison

When an owner contacts Lippert about a failed Level Best 3000 jack, the conversation typically ends with one of two recommendations: purchase Lippert's current Atlas jack (p/n 359278), which is an electric-over-hydraulic unit that requires abandoning your existing hydraulic infrastructure, or replace the entire leveling system. Neither option preserves what you already have. Here is how the numbers compare.

The Lippert Atlas jack (p/n 359278) is marketed as a replacement for the Level Best 3000, but it is not a hydraulic drop-in. It is an electric-over-hydraulic unit — each jack contains its own self-contained motor and pump. This means your existing central hydraulic pump, manifold, and solenoid valves become obsolete. Owners who have gone this route report that the installation requires removing all hydraulic lines from the coach, capping the manifold ports, running new wiring to each jack location, and in some cases replacing the control panel. The parts cost alone for four Atlas jacks runs $5,000 to over $6,300 at current Lippert pricing, before any labor.

The Mercury Hydraulics replacement jack costs a fraction of that, installs in 30–60 minutes per jack with basic hand tools, and leaves your existing hydraulic infrastructure completely intact. For owners with a functional pump and manifold, it is the only solution that makes economic sense.

Why "Repairable" Matters More Than You Think

The original Kwikee Level Best 3000 jack was not designed to be repaired. When the seals failed, owners were told to replace the entire jack. Lippert's current Atlas jack follows the same philosophy — it is a sealed unit, not a serviceable one.

Every hydraulic cylinder eventually needs new seals. That is not a defect — it is physics. Seal material degrades over time from heat cycling, UV exposure, and the mechanical stress of thousands of extension and retraction cycles. A well-maintained hydraulic cylinder with serviceable seals can last indefinitely. A sealed, non-repairable unit has a finite lifespan with no path to extension.

When you purchase a Mercury Hydraulics replacement jack, you are not buying a consumable. You are buying a component that can be rebuilt at our facility for a fraction of the cost of a new unit whenever the seals eventually wear. That is the same standard we apply to every aerospace, defense, and marine hydraulic component we manufacture — and it is the standard your coach deserves.

Compatibility

The Mercury Hydraulics replacement jack is designed to fit coaches that were originally equipped with the Kwikee Level Best 3000 hydraulic leveling system. This system was installed on a wide range of Class A motorhomes from the late 1990s through the mid-2000s, including many Winnebago, Fleetwood, and other major manufacturers.

Before ordering, we recommend confirming your system by locating the Kwikee Level Best label on your pump/reservoir assembly (typically mounted in an exterior bay near the driver's side), and verifying that your jacks have hydraulic lines running to the top and bottom ports of each cylinder. If your jacks have only two small wires and no hydraulic line connections, you have a different system.

Not sure if your coach qualifies? Call us at (321) 312-0689 with your coach year, make, and model and we will confirm compatibility before you order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources