They towed it from the rear !!!
He ran an air hose to the front of the coach and aired up the bags..
So, I didn't end up needing the hub covers after all.. but I've got them in case I ever need them :)
I was point man driving down the highway with my flashers.. so I didn't get to get a picture of it being towed, except for the random shot I took of him behind me.
Sunday traffic was so much better than if I had chose a week day.. or even a Saturday
I had to steer the coach as he backed it into the spot... it just made it easier for him..
It took him about 2 hours to prep. and we were on the road..!!
It didn't look as dirty under over head parking... the sunlight made it look really filthy .. We are getting 8 to 10 inches of rain tonight in Houston with gusts of up to 100 miles per hour.. it ought to look a lot better tomorrow. !!!
Picture #2, he is chaining the rear end up to the frame
I should have compacted the limestone !!! 12 yards of limestone, recently dumped and spread...
He kept it at 50 mph most of the way.
Mark tks for the pictures. Appears you have a project but a great start. That coach should be able to come back to life. Several forum members have undertaken such a job I hope you can get the help you need to save you some coins in getting it back on the road. DAN
Mark, On the front of your coach are 2 2 inch receivers. Those were put there to tow the coach with. There may be in the coach a tow bar that will fit those receivers which would make towing much easier. Glad you got it home safely. If I was not 900 miles away I would volunteer to help you on site, but guess you will have to get along with all the advice you will receive here. Good luck.
Gary B
Mark--Congrats! It looks like your planning paid off and you landed safely. Good job. It was fun for us to cheer from the bleachers without having to crawl under the baby! All the best on the rest. I'll stay tuned...Paul
Mark,
Congrats on getting your rig home! Good photos too. Takes all the pressure ;) off finding the air problem.
Sorry I missed your call. Graduation weekend for relatives.
Pierce
I am glad you got it home safely. If it was pulled by the rear axle, your rear bulkhead joint has been under stress because that is where the control arms (trailing arms) attach to the axle. So unless he ran straps all the way to front bulkhead, check your bulkhead bolts. If there is no separation of the bulkhead joint after that stress test, they are probably okay, but it is something to check on.
Don
Don.
I share your concerns, can't tell from pix if the wrecker used an axle lift (I doubt) or chained the axle or rear frame work, other than the axle lift arm would panic me ?
Most wrecker oprs are only concerned for delivery, unseen damage is no concern.
I would insist on front tow with axle lift and remove both axles with covers.
Mark.
You might want to get some thick boards under the tires to spread the load as you did not compact the gravel. Make it a lot easier when you want to move it in the future.
Keith
No Sir,
It was not pulled by the back axel ..... there's heavy duty frame work that drops low that he put his forks under.. it was a perfect fit..
Hence, the reason he chained the differential to the upper frame so it wouldnt just hang going down the road..
I am going to call it, "The wheelie bar frame" Assuming that's what the steel swival wheel attatched is for... if you were to bottom out leaving a steep driveway ... Not that I'm going to be popping any wheelies going down a drag strip anytime soon ... ;)
I did snap a picture of the where the forks were placed.. i'll share that picture later today when I'm back home.
Thanks everyone for all your congrats and support ... !!! :)
Mark
Perhaps a Stinger? Ingram Wrecker Sales, Inc. New Vulcan Wreckers (http://www.wrecker-sales.com/sd_underlift.html)
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com%2Fforums%2Fattachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D366%26amp%3Bstc%3D1%26amp%3Bd%3D1213189983&hash=b23e4db7274fcd4fec4537858c17d1a1" rel="cached" data-hash="b23e4db7274fcd4fec4537858c17d1a1" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=366&stc=1&d=1213189983)
Mark,
As it WAS picked up from well toward the rear of the coach from the bulkhead (the bulkhead is located just in front of the rear wheels), you absolutely DO need to check the rear bulkhead, as there was quite a lot of "unnatural" strain on it.
No Sir, it was picked up from the very rear.. about 12 inches or so inside of the bumper.... there is a massive heavy duty welded steel frame that comes down each side and across .. it has drag a wheel attatched to it.. It's made to drag the ground first I assume before it tears anything out from underneath my coach. He placed his upward forks under that framework that is well below everything..
This is all part of my coach.. not his equipment.. I didn't look, but I'm pretty sure my receiver hitch is welded to this same heavy duty framework and the Detroit motor is probably mounted to this same framework higher up... I'll post a picture when I get home.
I'll check my bulkhead out just the same, as it sounds like some of you were having problems with it...
Thanks
Mark
Mark,
The rear bulkhead is forward of the point which the truck picked from if I understand where you are describing. That frame attaches to the bulkhead. Therefore the stress is placed on the bulkhead and the rolock'so which holds it together. The bulkhead really needs to be checked.
Larry
Interesting discussion here (among tow truck drivers) about the "Diesel Pusher Rear Tow". Food for thought...
Diesel Pusher Rear Tow in Motor Coach & Emergency Vehicle Towing Forum (http://tow411.yuku.com/topic/123799/Diesel-Pusher-Rear-Tow?page=1#.VWUqZ84-CuU)
Here are his upward forks... resting under my crash bar.... note my solid steel swivel wheel
You can't see my drivers side steel swiveled wheel in this picture or very much of his other fork.
Great thread cajk !!! I didn't like the way his forks were sitting in that picture... funny how everybody has a different opnion sometimes.. I felt real good about my tow truck operators choice and placement of forks.. I was only covered for 2 hours of pre tow prepwork.. then it was going to be $350 / hour on me... :o ... It took him exactly two hours to get it set to go..
I tipped him 50 bucks... I felt like I should have given him more.. He worked his arse off..
Mark
Door opened and closed fine when lifted, ... no windows popping... body appeared to be straight...
Anyone have any idea what those steel swiveled drag wheels I speak of are called ?
Mark,
Here are 2 threads where you can see some photos to better describe what folks are talking about
Has this happened to anyone? (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=15513.0)
Christi and Ray's frame separation issue (was Calamity Jane strikes again!) (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=14877.0)
Picking the coach up from the rear axle rearward puts tremendous stress on the bulkhead joint which is forward of the rear axle. As with many things, you may not see immediate catastrophic failure but it can start with a slight opening of that joint or just a couple of the Roloks breaking. The same load is now carried across a smaller area and stresses will be higher eventually leading to more problems. It's a relatively simple fix if caught early (and piece of mind if inspection reveals no issue).
If you have never seen it, there is a really excellent diagram of the rear frame construction in the 2nd link (page 2)- thanks, Michelle.
Do you mean picking the coach up from behind the rear axle? Picking the coach up by the rear axle is arguably similar to driving down the road (provided the angle lifted isn't too great . Agree with the "frame" behind the rear axle is designed to hold the engine, not lift the coach
Yes. She said "...rear axle rearward...", that is, anywhere
behind the rear axle. In Mark's case, they lifted from the very
farthest point "rearward". That is why the experienced and knowledgeable members are expressing concern.
Her wording reads to me to include the rear axle. Otherwise, I believe she would've said "anywhere behind the rear axle".
A strong flashlight and a five second look under each side at the bulkhead will answer many of the questions. If there is even the smallest gap anywhere across the rear bulkhead, it will need to be repaired before driving. Same goes for the front.
Pierce
Yes... excellent diagram Michelle...
Here's to hoping I didn't screw anything up ::)
Mark
It isn't the lifting so much as it is the pulling that concerns me. Certainly, the structural components low in the structure are put under tension while the upper parts are put under compression while lifting one end, because of the angle. Then going down the road we add the dynamics of road irregularities, and the push and pull of stopping and starting. The steel wall framing of the super structure with its diagonal bracing provides a lot of resistance to compression. It is the basement structure which will be under tension and the weakest point of that assembly is the rear bulkhead joint. Normally, the largest forces putting the bulkhead joint under tension come from the retarder. It is plenty strong to resist that force unless compromised by rust. I don't know how towing it from the rear compares, but I think it would be more constant tension from the lift angle and just resistance from drag etc.
Hopefully, It came through fully intact, as the super structure is very strong.
Don
Exactly and thank you Chuck. I guess I should have been more clear that I was talking about the frame, but since Mark stated the following I didn't think it was required at the time:
I had our 93 U280 towed by the rear end last spring. Don't recall exactly how many miles but there was no damage to the rear bulkhead.I tested the rolloks at 25 foot for pounds and they checked OK. Noticed this year I have a bit of resealing to do but it looks pretty good back there.
Roland
Thanks Roland.. :)
I noticed the front bags (front wheels) are still aired up.... I don't know what the wrecker driver did or didn't do..
He just manually filled the bags. The fact that they are holding air is a
good thing! There are many check valves and solenoid valves in the air system - now you know at least
some of yours are operating properly. You really need to procure a air system schematic for your coach.
Barry sent me an air schematic. thanks.. I think it's written in Greek :)
Mark,
Here is the repair manual for the HWH computer controlled air leveling system you have in your U300. It is in super easy to follow, step by step instructions with diagrams. It is in PDF format so download and keep with you as you travel.
You are getting to the stage where you will have to start replacing airbags. Check for erosion where you can see the cords. They are very thick in construction so can crack a lot before they start leaking. See older posts for directions on how to change them. If the compressor starting cycling often, you may have a leak. A tubeless tire plug may temporarily stop the leak until you can drive to have it changed. A serious leak may drop the coach until the tire touches the top of the wheel well. The other airbag next to it may not lift the coach off the tire. Ours didn't. Driving with the tire touching will damage the coach and could catch it on fire.
http://www.hwh.com/ml11148.pdf
Pierce
Also we've put 20,000 miles on our coach with a tiny bit of separation right under the water outlet and one missing bolt (all others torque up). So it's not necessarily immediately dire (though I am no longer of the opinion that mine can safely be ignored)
Pierce, Mark will have the manual air leveling system - no HWH anything on pre-'92 U300's. I recall giving Mark the leveling instructions on one of his prior posts.
Thanks Pierce,
Yes, correct John ... I have the manual 3 floor levelers to the left of the drivers seat on mine.. and thank you for your files
Barry sent me 11 files on the air etc.. all PDF.. I sent them to staples copy center and had them all printed up in legal size
Anybody that sent me files pertaining to my coach over the last 1.5 month's, I've had printed up.. pretty soon I will have the whole owners manual and it will have only cost me $500.00 :) maybe I should call Foretravel to see if they have the book available for purchase.
I don't have a printer.. I do, but my computer is too old and it's not compatible the newer printer. Staples, yesterday didn't receive the electrical schematic I sent them. so i had to get on their computer at 30 cents a minute, find it and copy to legal size, 3 pages.. it cost me $8.50 for 3 printed pages.. but i saved myself a trip home and back again.. (rolleyes) :)
Sorry, had the 1993 U300SE that was on eBay on my mind as I had just finished looking at it.
I wish we had the manual system!
Pierce
Your not the first person that's said that !!!
Been gone, but I just want to toss out this thought. If the coach is towed by the front axle or lifting front wheels, is it not "pulled" on the front bulkhead that normally experiences no "pulling"?
A very excellent point krush
Front and rear bulkheads are the same design-- same number of bolts, same box beams.
The front weighs a LOT less (generally around 1/2) than the rear. So lifting the front puts less stress on the bulkhead.
Also, the rear bulkhead is subjected to more degrading influences as spills in the wet bay can affect it.
Lastly, there is a lot more overhang in back, so the moment of torque on the bulkhead will be more if picked up way behind the rear axle.
But if lifting by the wheels or axle--what carries the weight when the tow truck isn't around?
I do agree, don't lift/tow from the rear frame behind the axle. But for intellectual honestly, some of these theories deserve at least a discussion.
I came across an RV that had gone over an embankment with just the back sticking up. I pulled one of the covers off our front, hooked a chain to our front hitch receiver and the other RV's rear receiver then pulled it up and back on the road using our 6.xx reverse gear. Never worried about the bulkhead and didn't even look at it afterwards. Pulled hard enough that the other RV's front wheels were off the ground when it was almost back up and high sided.
Pierce