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Topic: Increasing Ride Height (Read 1050 times) previous topic - next topic

Increasing Ride Height

This may be a dumb question, but I think I am going to have a problem getting my U300 into my driveway. Can I increase the ground clearance of the coach just before I pull into the drive with the HWH air system? If so, what is the best way to do so. OR, if there are any other ideas, please post them.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #1 –
Kent.  That is an excellent question.  I am looking forward to seeing the answers.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
This may be a dumb question, but I think I am going to have a problem getting my U300 into my driveway. Can I increase the ground clearance of the coach just before I pull into the drive with the HWH air system? If so, what is the best way to do so. OR, if there are any other ideas, please post them.
Kent,
I have the same problem.  What I do is turn the level system on, raise the front or back, as appropriate manually and hold the up arrow as you back in or go forward into the driveway.  Once you're clear, release the up arrow and everything goes back to ride height.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #3 –
I was hoping that would work. I will give it a try.

Has anyone ever modified the HWH system to keep the air system at its maximum height while driving across rough terrain?
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #4 –
Peter,
 
Here is a hypothetical situation.  If I were to find myself in a situation where I could only drive forward, but the pavement in front of the wheels suddenly increased six inches higher, could I raise the entire coach six inches and then move forward until all tires were on the new higher pavement and then release the up arrow?
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #5 –
Quote from: George Stoltz –
Peter,
 
Here is a hypothetical situation.  If I were to find myself in a situation where I could only drive forward, but the pavement in front of the wheels suddenly increased six inches higher, could I raise the entire coach six inches and then move forward until all tires were on the new higher pavement and then release the up arrow?
George,
You could.  Just remember that the air ride is just that.  It only raises the coach body not the chassis.  So this method only works when you want to overcome a ramp type incline and you do not want to scrape the "coach body" in the fore or aft ends.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #6 –
Kent
Early on in our FT ownership, on various Motorcade Club Motorcades, the accompanying FT technical crews (Steve and Jackie Jones, Jack and Bobbie Bradshaw, Phil and Donna Blackburn) advised us that at headway ground speeds, it's entirely acceptable to depress and hold the HWH Level "RAISE" command button, bringing the coach to a fully raised height, whenever you have a concern about ground clearance.  In fact, in the preceding evening's Driver's meetings, they occasionally pointed out specific route challenges where we needed to be aware of clearance obstacles and  where we should specifically consider the use of this value-added feature of our coaches. 
BUT, when you do so, you also need to be very aware that you are creating extreme drive line angles in a very short drive shaft.  This creates extreme stress rise in the drive line universal joints.  Therefore, you need to be extra diligent in applying power as softly and gently as possible in the particular situation at hand.  Then, go easy on the power changes until you feel the coach has reattained it's normal travel height (at least 20 to 30 seconds for me).
We've tested that advice numerous times over 140K(+) miles of travel.  We're still happy with the advice, with no obvious adverse effects.  AND, it's much better than repairing  fiberglass and mudflaps.
I know this is a bit vague and non-specific, but hope it helps.
Neal
The selected media item is not currently available.
Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #7 –
Neal, I was concerned about the drive line stress and that there might be a "lockout" built into the HWH system to protect it. This is great news and may save me about $2000 on a new driveway entrance.

This info was very helpful.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #8 –
Quote from: George Stoltz –
Peter,
 
Here is a hypothetical situation.  If I were to find myself in a situation where I could only drive forward, but the pavement in front of the wheels suddenly increased six inches higher, could I raise the entire coach six inches and then move forward until all tires were on the new higher pavement and then release the up arrow?
George,
If climbing the front wheels over a 6" high obstacle, while in the fully raised condition, is your hypothetical question..........the answer is NO..........not recommended.  The normal strain on the drive line would be tremendous and the strain, in the "Fully raised" condition, would be a recipe for breakage of those drive line U-joints.  That M-11 of yours has GOBS of torque!
Neal
The selected media item is not currently available.
Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #9 –
Kent,
 
I have a steep initial grade from the curb/gutter of close to 2 feet over a 8 foot distance.  The only way I can get in or out of our driveway is to hold the "Raise" button for at least a minute prior to approaching the incline.  Neal is right, you have to go very slowly as you move up or down the incline.  The first "victim" of moving before the engine is elevated will be the oil pan drain plug.  I have worn the edges off three in a 7 year period.  Remember, that as soon as you take your finger off the "raise" button, the coach will begin to lower to travel mode.
 
I was told by Keith Risch (master mechanic at Encore RV) that you can't use the front or back "up" arrows unless the tranny is in Neutral/Park.  As soon as you put the tranny in drive, the coach will lower to the Travel Height. Only the "Raise" button works in drive.
Don Hay
'92 Grandvilla, U-280
The Hayfever Express
Build #4055
'97 GEO Tracker
Life is like licking honey off a thorn.

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Neal Pillsbury –
In fact, in the preceding evening's Driver's meetings, they occasionally pointed out specific route challenges where we needed to be aware of clearance obstacles and  where we should specifically consider the use of this valuated feature of our coaches.
Neal,
Did you happen to pay attention to what they told owners of the U225/240 when they talked about that?  Just wondering how we were suppose to avoid those specific route challenges that they warned about.  Go another route?  I must admit that I do get concerned about road clearance at times, and do not have the luxury of air bags.  At least I don't have that long over hang that my previous SOB coaches had to worry about anymore
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #11 –
Thanks to all. I sure hope things work as planned.

Don, doesn't your U-280 have a skid bar beneath the oil pan?

Pat, your concern is well founded. I got my U-225 high centered, barely, but it was enough to take traction away from the drive wheels. Fortunately I was able to rock it off center and pull away but traction is not one of its strengths. With the hydraulic jacks, I don't see any way around a bad road or lane, however the normal ground clearance of the U-225/U-240 is considerably more than on the larger coaches. My guess is 4'' to 6" greater. My bet is Brett Wolfe or one of our other experts knows exactly.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #12 –
Quote from: PatC –
Quote from: Neal Pillsbury –
In fact, in the preceding evening's Driver's meetings, they occasionally pointed out specific route challenges where we needed to be aware of clearance obstacles and  where we should specifically consider the use of this valuated feature of our coaches.
Neal,
Did you happen to pay attention to what they told owners of the U225/240 when they talked about that?  Just wondering how we were suppose to avoid those specific route challenges that they warned about.  Go another route?
PatC,
I don't recall exactly, but I believe they advised alternate routing if the driver couldn't deploy a "spotter" to talk them through the obstacle.  Sorry I don't have a better insight for you.
Quote from: Don Hay –
..............  The first "victim" of moving before the engine is elevated will be the oil pan drain plug.  I have worn the edges off three in a 7 year period..................................
..................I was told by Keith Risch (master mechanic at Encore RV) that you can't use the front or back "up" arrows unless the tranny is in Neutral/Park.  As soon as you put the tranny in drive, the coach will lower to the Travel Height. Only the "Raise" button works in drive..................
Don,
FT did learn and improve the '98 FT U270's, at least.  I have a full tubular, rugged, sub frame, strategically located to protect the oil pan.  And, my '98 HWH controls are the same as yours...........when in gear, all HWH functions default to "Travel" ride height condition except for the "Raise" command, which requires a continuous pressing of the HWH control panel command switch in order to remain in effect.
Neal
The selected media item is not currently available.
Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #13 –
Kent Speers" Quote:  "Don, doesn't your U-280 have a skid bar beneath the oil pan?"
 
Kent:  No Skid Bar, unfortunately.
Don Hay
'92 Grandvilla, U-280
The Hayfever Express
Build #4055
'97 GEO Tracker
Life is like licking honey off a thorn.

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #14 –
Quote
Has anyone ever modified the HWH system to keep the air system at its maximum height while driving across rough terrain?
My 2003 and later models are already set up that way.
I hit the raise button once and it raises all the way without holding the button.
i need to do this everytime I back into my driveway.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"
 

Re: Increasing Ride Height

Reply #15 –
Ride height spec on 225 and 240 is 32-33" from the "shelf" behind each wheel position to the ground when parked on level ground. Just look inside the wheel well behind each wheel and you will find only one horizontal area close to that measurement.  I have seen many 225's and particularly 240's with ride heights over 2 inches below spec! And in many cases, all one has to do is remove shims to restore proper ride height.

Removing a shim from in front of and behind a wheel position RAISES that wheel position 1/4" (the thickness of the shim).

If you are concerned about your ride height on this suspension, measure ride height at each wheel position and count the number of shims in front of/behind each wheel position and PM me.  I can talk you through raising the ride height back up to factory spec if you have even average mechanical skill. 

Brett Wolfe
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020