Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Safety blocks (Read 2053 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #25 –
Honestly I really don't think it's much of an issue either way. My biggest concern would to get the road grime off them and then keep them out of the sun. Yes they are inflated like a tire but don't share the same issues. The UV is probably the biggest factor. So I store my coach under shade and am required to have the front bags fully inflated and the rear flat if I want to keep the coach level. I can't tell that there has been any difference. The removed bags that were 20+ years old looked brand new inside and UV damaged on the sunny exposed sides. Prior owners had it under a hay shade so it got morning and afternoon exposure daily since it was parked in 2007 deflated and they worked fine for thousands of miles when I picked it up. 🤷

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #26 –
Today while i was trying to figure out my engine Issue, after i had it running  i realized the air bags aired up and lifted the coach
looked under the body to see where is the location to place the blocks
finding the spot , it appeared that the blocks i made will not fit
Oh No, on the forum i read to buy some hitch adaptor from harbor-freight  for 15 dollars each, but studying more members posting , i learned that the 12" blocks will be too hard to put in place and some time too hard to remove them
therefore I did not buy those which 8 of them would have cost 120.00 instead i ordered some to be cut to 11 3/4 size which they cost 167.00
then I painted them yellow still hanging to get completely dry, they ended up beautiful, I also am looking for a plastic box to be
4x8x12 an exact size to fit all eight for an easy storage
but the BAD NEWS
today I measured the space it was 8 3/4
i am not sure if, may be the airbags were not inflated  or my coach has shorter air bags?

but to me the airbags looked like fully up
please advise if some coaches like mine with 8 airbags and leveling system has smaller air bags?
Edmond
Edmond
1998 Foretravel U295
Turlock Ca

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #27 –
Quote from: rvquestion –
i am not sure if, may be the airbags were not inflated  or my coach has shorter air bags?
I would guess that your coach does not have shorter air bags.  It is more likely the air bags were not fully inflated.  However, I could be wrong - see Reply #32 in this thread.

In the link below I describe my procedure for inserting my 12" long safety stands.  Works for me.  You might try it and see if you have any better luck.

Safety Stand Placement

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #28 –
You were probably only at "ride height" you must hold the "Raise" button until they are fully inflated. Air pressure will probably need to be at least 80 PSI if not more depending on how heavily the coach is loaded. You should have 12" between frame members at or near the shock mounts. I use 4 x 4 yellow pine, seen partially in the pic.
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #29 –
When I go to put in position the HF tow hitch extensions I have about 1.5" extra space until the bags deflate slightly. I need max air at about 120 and sometimes the raise feature requires a few extra attempts to get the air bags fully extended.
David & Emma Roche
Dino (Golden Doodle)
1999 U270 WTFE 36' Build # 5534
Xtreme "Lights, Stripes & Roof"
Motorcade# 18321
Dayton, Ohio
Towd: Jeep Grand Cherokee
Two Townie Electra Bikes

Life is made to enjoy, the Foretravel helps!

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #30 –
I used 2x2 .125 tubing cut to 113/4. What always works for me is to manually raise the coach until I see the rear air bag gauge come up and hold steady at about 100 pounds. Then I cut off the engine while holding the raise button. I can then easily place the safety blocks in place. Chock a wheel and go to work. When new to coach I ran around like a rabbit trying to place blocks before the coach settled down because I left engine running. The link in post 27 made my life much easier. I carry my yellow painted blocks in a small Home Depot black plastic box with yellow stackable lid. I also put my air chuck, inline air filter and drill accessories in the box with those heavy stands in the bottom. I have a stack of three boxes with the safety stand box at the bottom, cause it's heavy. They always go with the coach, never left at home.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #31 –
Quote from: rvquestion –
Today while i was trying to figure out my engine Issue, after i had it running  i realized the air bags aired up and lifted the coach
looked under the body to see where is the location to place the blocks
finding the spot , it appeared that the blocks i made will not fit
Oh No, on the forum i read to buy some hitch adaptor from harbor-freight  for 15 dollars each, but studying more members posting , i learned that the 12" blocks will be too hard to put in place and some time too hard to remove them
therefore I did not buy those which 8 of them would have cost 120.00 instead i ordered some to be cut to 11 3/4 size which they cost 167.00
then I painted them yellow still hanging to get completely dry, they ended up beautiful, I also am looking for a plastic box to be
4x8x12 an exact size to fit all eight for an easy storage
but the BAD NEWS
today I measured the space it was 8 3/4
i am not sure if, may be the airbags were not inflated  or my coach has shorter air bags?

but to me the airbags looked like fully up
please advise if some coaches like mine with 8 airbags and leveling system has smaller air bags?
Edmond
Can you post a picture?
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #32 –
We have a 97 u270 and I have worked on lots of Foretravel coaches over the years. I was in shock the first time I tried to raise our coach to put in my set of safety stands and they would not fit. The fellow we bought it from had taken it to a truck spring place and they didn't put in the same number of bag as it originally had. They are about 2 inches shorter. It gets to ride height, but wonder if it would be a smoother ride with the larger bags. Always something different it seems. Maybe they were cheaper and they probably had them in stock.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #33 –
The 12" HF extensions should definitely work. I just start the engine, wait for full pressure, then push the raise button. On my coach, once I push the raise button it keeps trying to raise the coach until I push the stop button. So I just wait until it gets high enough and slide the blocks in place. There is at least a 1/2" of clearance. Then I lower it a little so it sits on the blocks.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #34 –
Quote from: dbennett9 –
On my coach, once I push the raise button it keeps trying to raise the coach until I push the stop button.
Some coaches (like mine) have "momentary" raise and dump buttons - some have "latching" buttons.  I don't know when the change occurred.

Link below to the HWH Air Leveling System Text Book.  Highly recommended reading for all Foretravel owners.

On page 28 (MI40.028A) and page 29 (MI40.029A) the two different types of raise and dump buttons are described:

https://www.hwhcorp.com/ml20635.pdf
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"
 

Re: Safety blocks

Reply #35 –
Ok  finally i did build eight blocks
2"x2" square tubing with 1/4" wall
I made them 11 3/4 because I read on a posting that 12" ones ( from  Harbor Freight) sometimes are to hard to remove
I did paint them safely yellow
Then I was searching for some kind of box to be heavy duty and correct size to store them in the coach
End up finding this Makita box at home depot
Total cost for blocks was 166.00 plus 10.00 paint
And 60.00 box = 236.00
Some times the expense must be done
See attached
Edmond
1998 Foretravel U295
Turlock Ca