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Air Bag Failure ?

Has anyone here suffered a air bag failure ? What age or how many miles did the bags have ?

I'm asking to try to determine a realistic replacement schedule for the bags. Based on my experience with the OLD GMC motorhomes the bags age pretty gracefully. A friend of mine with a '73 GMC (original owner) still has original bags, still holding air!
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #1 –
Not catastrophic, but our tag air bags were leaking pretty badly at roughly 12 years old.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #2 –
Met a Foretravel owner last year who had a bag fail.  Coach was about the same age as ours.  He insisted I should carry a block of wood to insert by the failed bag that would support the coach while you very carefully drove to a repair shop.

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #3 –
I recently acquired a 1986 Grand Villa 33' on a P30 GMC chassis that I'm restoring.  The "air springs" in the front are trash and look to have been that way for many years. The coil springs that the air bags are in are robust and the coach actually handles well on the highway. They are on the replacement list. The "real" air bags on the tag axle are fine, hold air, and look to go many more years of service.

wantabe

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #4 –
Although I've never had a leak, my air bags were showing light crazing when I followed my mechanic''s advice and had all eight replaced last month. They were 14 years old and he said they looked ready to pop. I suspect leaks were in store rather than catastrophic failure.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: wantabe –
I recently acquired a 1986 Grand Villa 33' on a P30 GMC chassis that I'm restoring.  The "air springs" in the front are trash and look to have been that way for many years. The coil springs that the air bags are in are robust and the coach actually handles well on the highway. They are on the replacement list. The "real" air bags on the tag axle are fine, hold air, and look to go many more years of service.

wantabe

Wantabe,

Welcome to the ForeForum.

The Chevy P is completely different than the chassis/air bags being discussed here. If you have other questions about your chassis or coach, probably better to start a new topic. That way, people with P 30 experience can assist you.

With the P chassis, I would check the front suspension components carefully and if parts are needed, see the link below.
That includes new front springs that do not need air bags to give the proper front end geometry.

Supersteer Products | Henderson's Line-Up Brake & RV Inc.
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

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #6 –
I had a front air bag leak 3 years ago on my 2001 U270.  It was drivable but leaked down pretty fast once I stopped.  I was in NAC at Bernd's shop- had him replace them all while I was there.  Glad our coach has 2 air bags per wheel or i could have been in real trouble.
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #7 –
There is another active thread now "Air Bag Age" which contains more information.
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada
 

Re: Air Bag Failure ?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Rich Bowman –
Met a Foretravel owner last year who had a bag fail.  Coach was about the same age as ours.  He insisted I should carry a block of wood to insert by the failed bag that would support the coach while you very carefully drove to a repair shop.
Rich
Leaks are usually slow and easily found as they usually face the tire. If you start losing air where the leak is hard for the compressor to keep up with, jack it up and use a tubeless tire plug kit to repair until you can replace the bag. Buy the Continental bags for half price. You may or may not want to remove the fender skirts, depending on your tools, location, etc.

Here is an old post on how I do it:  U300 Air Bag Installation & Tools - Google Photos

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)