After a lengthy illness and motorhome setting up the whole time, I was finally able to check things out. I found an air leak and the coach sitting down on tires (no air pressure). My question is how to safely jack up coach and have room to get under to replace the faulty air line that is located around the back axle in center of coach.
Thank you for any advice and knowledge you can give me.
Jim Monk
1997 U270
Unless it is a fast leak, you should be able to use the air bags to raise the coach, then place blocks, and dump air so the coach rests safely on the blocks.
Thanks Tom, unfortunately it is a very fast leak. I can't build up enough pressure to change anything.
Jim,
Actually, a BIG leak is a lot easier to find than a slow one. Start at the air dryer. Also make sure the tank drain valves are closed.
Thanks Brett, I can hear the leak near the back axle but with the coach sitting on the tires I can't get underneath to narrow the problem down to repair it. I need to be able to jack up either the whole coach or raise it off the bottomed out position. I know if I can raise it I will have to block it for safety. Do you have any ideal how I can safely raise the coach without doing damage to it?
Try to raise it with the hwh, the little compressor will take a while, but should raise it unless it is an air bag or line to an air bag
I understand the problem, but don't have much of a solution. Is the leak forward of the engine bay ? Can you reach the ride height valves and maybe get air into the bags ? Maybe get some jacks under the structure in the rear? Be interesting to know how you solve this one.
Will the coach build enough air pressure to release the brakes? If so, Can you drive it up on some wood to get a little more room,if you could get it on some 6x6 maybe. Tires might drag a little but it would get you up.
X2 on this solution! The aux compressor feeds directly into the air bags (through the 6-packs), bypassing all the other air devices.
And if you aren't familiar with them, this topic has some suggestions for the safety blocks you'll need Working Safely around your Foretravel (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=10632.0)
Chuck may have hit on a solution, maybe even tie into the line at your aux compressor with a shop air compressor?
Dave, one option to connect into the aux air line rather than splicing may be to use the compressor with a rubber tip air gun and blow air into the third air tank. Go to the drain valve of the third tank...mine is just in front of the driver front tire...open the vslve, blow air in and then close valve when done.
Other ideas if this work?
If none of the above work and the coach is on level ground, maybe you could drive the rear wheels up onto ramps with the parking brake set. Since you don't have air pressure the parking brake will be on anyway. My coach will move with the parking brake set at about 1000 rpm. If it moves at a lower rpm the parking brake isn't holding as well as it should. Rusty brake rotors may require more than 1000 rpm to break loose. I would try moving it first a little before trying it on the ramps. It should stop as soon as you lift off the throttle. Even if the ramps don't raise it much, maybe give you enough room to get some jacks under the large frame members near the engine to jack it up some more. Edit: Although the tires are touching the top of the wheel well, the coach is actually sitting on the frame stops, and not much wear should occur for a short move.
With the coach sitting on the tires I don't think moving the coach is a good idea. Would use the small compressor to raise the coach instead...... Or find a real skinny person to call under there.
Roland
Hate to suggest it, but is it sitting where you can dig ?
@Jim,
I think I'd make a call to Foretravel.
My only other suggestion would be to lift the rear axle with a bottle jack and slide boards under the wheels.
see ya
ken
Thanks for all the responses and ideals. I will be able to work on it (weather permitting) this week. I will post the outcome.
The coach is sitting down on the hard stops, right? In that condition, it is perfectly safe to crawl under the coach - it can't drop down any more. I can slither under our coach when the air is dumped - I've done it on numerous occasions in our driveway. Once you are past the fiberglass sides, there is a surprising amount of room under the rear end, especially just aft of the axle, and around the transmission.
Find a skinny mechanic (or do it yourself) who can crawl under there and look around. If you're lucky, he will be able to reach the leak point, and at least do a temporary repair. If you can just build enough air pressure to raise the coach fully (should only require about 90 psi?), then you can insert your safety stands and do a permanent repair.
Edit: I think Roland already suggested this solution (in a post above).
Chuck that's good info, kind of what I was hoping I could do. I am not too far out from surgery so I will have to find a "skinny mechanic" to crawl under there & do the repair. I hope to jack up the coach some and block it up to make it a little easier. The coach is under a shed so I will have to wait for the wet weather to go away. We are predicted to get six to ten inches of rain in the next three days. We are in Southeast Texas.