Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Elliott on May 25, 2024, 09:43:42 pm

Title: ORED ride height
Post by: Elliott on May 25, 2024, 09:43:42 pm
What is the correct way to measure ride height on an Oshkosh chassis? My rear end appears to sit a little lower than the front end.
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: Caflashbob on May 26, 2024, 12:04:03 am
Level ground is the kitchen counter level?
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: wolfe10 on May 26, 2024, 08:21:18 am
Hopefully you will be able to get the "where to measure and the correct dimension".
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on May 26, 2024, 09:04:08 am
What is the correct way to measure ride height on an Oshkosh chassis?
Apparently this is one of those "ageless" questions.  Here is a blast from our Forum past:

Correct ride height for '91 Grand Villa on Oshkosh chassis? (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=12358.0)

Sorry, I can't help.  Even a quick Google search doesn't enlighten - most answers I found are variations of the phrase: "Ask the chassis manufacturer for the specs".  Big help when the company no longer exists.

Just for my own curiosity, can you refresh us on how your coach is suspended, front and rear?  Springs, air bags, torsion bars, or some combination of those methods?

Good luck!
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: Elliott on May 26, 2024, 09:39:03 am
Apparently this is one of those "ageless" questions.  Here is a blast from our Forum past:

Correct ride height for '91 Grand Villa on Oshkosh chassis? (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=12358.0)

Sorry, I can't help.  Even a quick Google search doesn't enlighten - most answers I found are variations of the phrase: "Ask the chassis manufacturer for the specs".  Big help when the company no longer exists.

Just for my own curiosity, can you refresh us on how your coach is suspended, front and rear?  Springs, air bags, torsion bars, or some combination of those methods?

Good luck!
It's the traditional 2 airbags at the center of axle and shocks setup.

I have the Oshkosh service manual for my coach and it seems even their writers tried to punt on the  question.
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: Elliott on May 26, 2024, 09:40:57 am
Level ground is the kitchen counter level?
Really hard for my to find somewhere truly level to check where I'm at but I suspect it would be pretty level, yes. If it is out of spec it's probably not by much
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: wolfe10 on May 26, 2024, 09:49:35 am
Elliott,

In the absence of the real answer, another "pretty good guess" is to measure shock absorber compressed length and also extended length. Put ride height slightly higher than half way between those numbers.  Critically, this assumes both OE design shocks and that they were speced properly to begin with.

But, it will give you another indicator.
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: Elliott on May 26, 2024, 10:15:41 am
So my coach seems to be exhibiting the same behavior as the two guys in the thread Chuck linked to. Slightly lower in the back at ride height. En lieu of proper specs to adjust to Im going to leave it alone for now. When I get back this fall I'll put new shocks in and then see where we land between max extension and compression of the shocks like you suggest Brett
Title: Re: ORED ride height
Post by: Protech Racing on May 26, 2024, 11:32:38 am
My fist fits above all of the tires .  Hang a tape measure over the top airbag plate and see what you have.  8.3 inch is. Close .
Then peek at the drive shaft angle .  That should be the main consideration imho.