Leveler Use for a Novice

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Leveler Use for a Novice

June 11, 2011, 01:32:33 am

Brand new to this forum and this motorhome, a 2005 U270 with ISL Cummins. No trips yet, just trying to find things. Motorhomes of Texas seller, us moved into this Foretravel from 8 months with a class C. Simple question....but search did not lead me to answers. I read the level system will raise the coach, level it, dump air, and even let you tilt one side up per the the instructions. My question: do you know when storing the coach for a month or so, should the system be left "on" (I guess that is a correct view of what is going on if left in the "level" position), or do I dump all the air out? I have the coach connected to electricity in a covered shed, A/C set 80 deg. There is also some noise, seems like a fan, running in the inverter; should that be running all the time? This move to this Foretravel was a big event, only our second any kind of RV, and fueled in part by a MOT provided ride in one and the strong comments in various forums about FT quality. SO, sorry to be so long winded, but gives you a sense of our lack of knowledge. MOT will help if I ask, but seeking other avenues. Thanks. Mike

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #1 – June 11, 2011, 03:33:35 am

Welcome, Mike. I started with a pre-loved FT pretty much where you are, learned a few things, and thought I might make some small contribution to your learning curve.

Your coach wants to be level, on the road in Travel Mode and when parked. When parking, first level the coach - and leave the system ON so that it can keep the coach level. Once you have leveled it, whether to then dump any air from bags appears to be a personal preference. Just be sure that dumping does not compromise the levelness of your coach. My own preference is not to dump air. Don't know of any data to validate my choice. Just have a hunch that leveling from a travel-height position, and then maintaining level from that point, actually puts leveling system under less stress when parked, and makes returning to travel-height less taxing.

Maintaining level when parked is one of the functions of an auxiliary compressor, powered by house batteries, and mounted in one of your bays. This compressor can run down house batteries over time, so it's good to keep them charged. This is one of the functions of my Prosine 2.0 inverter, and requires a connection to shore power. Is this the same as you have? With mine, the onboard fan will go on periodically to help keep it cool when working. The Prosine generates its own heat when it's working, and the more it works, and the hotter the temperature outdoors (and in the bay), the more the fan runs. On hot days I have opened bay doors a bit and/or used supplemental fans to keep air moving, and/or turned the Prosine off during hot days in favor of letting it do its work during relatively cooler nights. Running "a lot" is not to say "always" running, however. Is yours running all of the time? If so, I would be concerned - might be weak batteries or something else causing the problem. I'm sure you will get plenty of help from others here in figuring out and understanding what might be going on - and what to do about it.

Welcome. Best Wishes. Bob

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #2 – June 11, 2011, 09:12:26 am

Mike.... We have a 2003 U295 which is probably pretty similar to yours. When I put our coach in storage I try to turn everything off, including the leveling system. This is not easy to do. Turning off the battery switch near the entrance door does not turn off the leveling system. I finally had to disconnect the house batteries to put it to "sleep," so to speak. I have left it that way for a month at a time. When I return, I just connect all the batteries, turn on the main battery switch and start it up. It will level up as needed.

I do the above because one of the solenoids on the air system stuck open once while the coach was unattended. The air pump, which runs off the coach batteries, ran and ran until the batteries were dead. I didn't want that to happen again. These coaches are very complex machines and things do occasionally fail. Better to be around when they do.

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #3 – June 11, 2011, 09:24:47 am

Mike, welcome to Foreforums. I too was totally a novice. A Foretravel was my first motorhome of any kind and I bought if off of a lot so I got no training whatsoever. This forum has been my Foretravel Encyclopedia. There is no question too dumb. Many of us started just like you so just keep asking.

I'm new to airbag suspension myself so I'm no expert. My feeling is that having the air bags in a neutral state, not stretched from air pressure or squashed from the load of the coach is best for storage. I level the coach and then turn off the system. Of course I don't have any air leaks so it pretty much stays as I left it. You said you leave yours plugged into outside electric so you should be able to leave the system on if you wish without endangering your house batteries.

I would turn off the inverter when storing the coach but leave the charger on. I'm sure others more knowledgeable will chime in with more accurate information. Most of us also install a TrikleCharger or similar device to keep the starting batteries charged while in storage. The Prosine does not charge the starting batteries unless the boost switch is left on, only the house batteries are normally charged by the Prosine.

If there is something you don't know, just ask.

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #4 – June 11, 2011, 10:00:47 am

I second everything Kent said, especially the part about asking questions.

I also have power available to my coach when in storage so I keep it as Kent suggested. The reason he said to turn off the inverter portion of the Prosine is because if the shore power goes off for any length of time, the inverter will keep 110volt power to all kinds of parasitic draws (microwave oven, entertainment systems, etc.) and more quickly run down the house batteries.

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #5 – June 11, 2011, 01:07:00 pm

If your rig is stored on a level surface you should be ok turning off the level system. However according to Gary Omel if the surface is not level in storage and you leave the system off you run the chance of putting the chassis in a bind and popping the windshield. My slab has a tilt to it for water shed. I keep mine on all the time just to make sure it stays level. I never hear it do any adjustments though.

Regards, Mark

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #6 – June 11, 2011, 03:17:39 pm

Mike,

I store my FT where there is no electric power, so I keep everything turned off. There is still a little drain on both the chassis and house batteries from stuff like the clock, radio/CD player, transmission electronics, etc. but no problem for a month or two like that, and the batteries stay almost fully charged, if they are good batteries to start with. I usually put my safety blocks in place at the rear wheels and lower the rear until the weight is on the blocks. I usually don't put them in at the front as I know the front air bags will stay inflated for a long time, and no twisting stress is put on the frame. I mainly do that so that I don't have to start the engine and raise the coach if I want to check something at the rear. If it is at the front, I would install the safety blocks first. If you don't know about the safety blocks or don't have them, do not go under the motorhome as you could be killed if the airbags deflate while you are underneath. It has happened. Safety blocks are usually a piece of steel about 11.75 inches long; could be a piece of 2 or 2.5 inch pipe, or square steel tube which is better as it will not roll when stored. The ends must be cut square at 90 degrees. These blocks are placed between the frame members near the air bags. Raise the coach as high as it will go with the leveling system, then set them in place at the wheel wells, no need to go under the coach for that. If you don't know about Barry Brideau's website here it is: Foretravel Motorhome technical help and information links His site will have answers for many of your questions. Welcome.

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #7 – June 11, 2011, 08:53:55 pm

I put the U295 into storage yesterday after getting back from MOT. Put power on as ususal. Today I went over to start working on getting the storage arranged and notice the following:
The inverter was on or the fans were on and it never went off. The inside indicated it was on standby.
Also the HWH is off but the compressor kept coming on about every two hours and ran for about 7 to 10 minutes. I am not use to anything being on. My U270 everything was off. What have I done now?
I got the manual out and plan to look it over tonight. Can I turn the inverter completely off, so nothing runs? What gives with the compressor?? Tks to anyone who can help. Dan Stansel

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #8 – June 11, 2011, 09:02:43 pm

Thanks to all for your help. I found a plate that says this coach is a 2005 U270 3620 PBLW. A label say it is a Prosine 2.0 inverter. Today Keith Davis, Service, of Motorhomes of Texas came out on his own time to teach me some items....draining water from air systems monthly, what to do and not with the inverter/charger system but I need to revisit what you said and him, and how to manage the level system when parked, the girard awning. He warned me to get some covers for some heat vents or I would have dirt dobbers before long. He showed me where to find the engine ENS and it is an ISL03 400 hp. I am now trying Cummins to get the peak torgue rpm for this engine. Keith confirmed what Cummins said, no diesel additive except for algae if need that. I found today that the fresh water hose connection leaks, so gotta figure that. Keith showed me that there is electric and propane heat for the water, and the ceiling vents have lots of speed and auto features! He showed me a jillion fuses, how to by-pass engine shutdown for 30 seconds, and MORE. Wow. Too much. If I had not had you folks, I could not have even known the questions to ask on level and inverter. THANKS. And thanks to Mr. Barry Beam for his several emails and welcome. Now to get the water fixed. Mike

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #9 – June 11, 2011, 09:11:43 pm

Quote from: Dan J. Stansel – June 11, 2011, 08:53:55 pm

I put the U295 into storage yesterday after getting back from MOT. Put power on as ususal. Today I went over to start working on getting the storage arranged and notice the following:
The inverter was on or the fans were on and it never went off. The inside indicated it was on standby.
Also the HWH is off but the compressor kept coming on about every two hours and ran for about 7 to 10 minutes. I am not use to anything being on. My U270 everything was off. What have I done now?
I got the manual out and plan to look it over tonight. Can I turn the inverter completely off, so nothing runs? What gives with the compressor?? Tks to anyone who can help. Dan Stansel

Dan,

The previous owner of our coach added an OFF/ON toggle switch to the HWH compressor. So I am going to guess that he had the same situation as you have. When we are leveled and the compressor turns itself off, we then move the toggle switch into the OFF position so that the compressor does not come back on. We have not found any problems to doing this. I can't answer any of your other questions.

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #10 – June 11, 2011, 09:16:42 pm

Mike, darn near every older fresh water filler bib I have seen leaks unless the hose is very, very tight. I used a quick disconnect with Teflon tape and tightened it with pliers. That seems to work pretty good. The other even better idea is to install a hose reel. That works great and makes filling the tank much easier but it is expensive.

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #11 – June 11, 2011, 09:30:36 pm

Quote from: Dan J. Stansel – June 11, 2011, 08:53:55 pm

Also the HWH is off but the compressor kept coming on about every two hours and ran for about 7 to 10 minutes. I am not use to anything being on.
What gives with the compressor?? Tks to anyone who can help.

Dan,

The compressor running every few hours (even with the level system off) likely means a very small leak. Nothing to panic about. That compressor services the leveling and the slide bladder system. First thing to check (with soapy water) are the quarter-turn valves in the HWH bay for the slide bladders. They're notorious for leaking and many of us have replaced them with 1/4" ball valves from Lowes or Home Depot (available in the air compressor section).

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If that isn't the problem, it could be an o-ring in a manifold. Again, NBD (no big deal), check the slide ones and (if you have blocks and chocks) the leveling ones.

You might also check with MOT or James Triana at FT about whether your new coach has or needs a check valve added to the aux compressor plumbing, if none of the above appear to be a problem. I think there is a service note/bulletin about this; we had the issue of the pump running frequently a few years ago and had to add some parts to our plumbing. It was only related to select 2003 coaches, one of which was ours. It's been a few years, so I don't have all the details handy.

Michelle

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #12 – June 15, 2011, 11:55:03 am

Quote

You might also check with MOT or James Triana at FT about whether your new coach has or needs a check valve added to the aux compressor plumbing, if none of the above appear to be a problem. I think there is a service note/bulletin about this; we had the issue of the pump running frequently a few years ago and had to add some parts to our plumbing. It was only related to select 2003 coaches, one of which was ours. It's been a few years, so I don't have all the details handy.

I'd be interested to know this as it may apply to our coach. Thanks

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #13 – June 21, 2011, 06:59:09 am

Welcome Mike, I store my coach plugged in, Level system on, inverter off. With that said I store my coach 20' from the back door at home, so if there happended to be a problem I would know about it. If I were to store it elsewere, and it was a level space I would dump the air and shut everything off, except the charger if you have power. As op's have said these coaches are equipped with a lot of automatic systems, that can and do fail some times. So if you are not around you coach frequently the more you can shut off the less potential you have for problems going unnoticed. As to the inverter on or off the only time I turn mine on is if we are not running the generator or plugged in and need 120V power, other wise it's sitting there on not doing anything. Also remember if you store your coach for long periods, you need to if possable exercise everything once a mo, including a short ride, keeps every thing happy. We used to keep the A/C on in ours while stored, but for the last couple of years we just open the roof vent , and crack a couple of windows, and have not noticed any problems, and a lower electric bill.

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Leveler Use for a Novice

June 11, 2011, 01:32:33 am

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #1 – June 11, 2011, 03:33:35 am

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #2 – June 11, 2011, 09:12:26 am

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #3 – June 11, 2011, 09:24:47 am

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #4 – June 11, 2011, 10:00:47 am

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #5 – June 11, 2011, 01:07:00 pm

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #6 – June 11, 2011, 03:17:39 pm

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #7 – June 11, 2011, 08:53:55 pm

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #8 – June 11, 2011, 09:02:43 pm

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #9 – June 11, 2011, 09:11:43 pm

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #10 – June 11, 2011, 09:16:42 pm

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #11 – June 11, 2011, 09:30:36 pm

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #12 – June 15, 2011, 11:55:03 am

Re: Leveler Use for a Novice

Reply #13 – June 21, 2011, 06:59:09 am

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