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Topic: All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska (Read 660 times) previous topic - next topic

All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska


We made it home in our new to us 1995 U280, however the roads are terrible from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory to Glenallen, Alaska.  At one point between Tok and Glenallen I hit a frost heave I did not see and lost all 4 of the front airbags.  I was able to limp home at 35mph feeling every bump in the road along the way and now have it at the shop.  Does anyone have experience with this as the mechanic said the airbags are not popped, but they won't fill with air.  He has a call in to the technical place but I am interested to know if this is common and what the normal repair entails...  We are hoping to get to the Kenai this weekend for some fishing. 

FYI I drove the entire 2800 miles myself with my 85 year old mother and had a wonderful drive until we got to Whitehorse.  We saw tons of wildlife. 

The other question I have is: Does anyone know how to find out the combo to the safe in a used rig?
Thanks, Lisa 
Lisa
1995 U280 40'
"the Beast"

Re: All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska

Reply #1 –
on the safe item. Have you looked thru the manuals box for a small brown envelope. That is what the safe info came in and you may have bypassed it. Also look in the upper cabinet above passenger.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska

Reply #2 –
Call in to FT technical support.  They can look up the safe combination.  You can talk to them about your air leveling system at the same time.  The tech will just have to troubleshoot the system to find what is plugged.  Has the air dryer been serviced regularly?
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska

Reply #3 –
Lisa, If your tech has not done so yet have him check the front ride height control, it may be broken off or jammed.
Gary B

Re: All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska

Reply #4 –
All four at once sounds like either an air solenoid or ride height control as Gary said. At least I would start there.  Call FT for the safe, you will have to give them your build number.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska

Reply #5 –
I believe you'll find your air bag problem to be a ride-height valve under the floor board up front.  The control arm may be bent or it may have blown an o-ring internally (whatever goes on in these valves when they quit functioning).  This has happened twice to us, once in the front when we hit a huge pothole near St Louis; and we lost both valves in the back when they ground down the pavement for resurfacing right up to a steel bridge approach.  (About a 6" abrupt change in the road surface caused us to lose both rear air ride valves.)  Our front replacement came from Freightliner; the rear replacements came from a Peterbilt dealer and have since found out they are available at most truck part stores.  It takes very little modification, if any, to install the new valve.

Sounds like you had a great vacation--I am sorry it was spoiled by this problem.  We know what you mean by saying the rest of the trip you felt every bump--we've been there!

Geno
 

Re: All 4 front airbags deflated on my trip to Alaska

Reply #6 –
Coach uses one ride height valve mounted center between front wheels to raise or lower all 4 bags at one time to keep the coach level from front to back. The valve lets air out to lower and adds air to raise front. The air supply to raise comes from the front brake tank and goes through an inexpensive pressure regulator that has an adjustable knob and an air gauge. Ride height valve can be easily manually rotated to see if it is working or the problem is no air to the valve.

If you have air bag leveling when you are parked, there is a HWH manifold with 6 solenoids to control leveling and to disable the ride height valve which is only used when driving. The top two solenoids are closed when ignition is off and open when ignition is on.  When the top two solenoids are open they allow the ride height valve to control the 4 front bags.

Sorry you had to drive so far with the front air bags deflated.