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Topic: Travel mode or dump the air (Read 969 times) previous topic - next topic

Travel mode or dump the air

Hi everyone,
I can't find any info. on how to store the coach for a time period of 2 weeks to 2 months.
Should I dump the air or leave the coach in the travel mode?
I assume it will eventually bled to air off anyway.  Just curious to the recommended method.

Thanks,
Jerry
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #1 –
How level is your storage location?
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: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #2 –
I park on dirt near our home. We don't have an completely level place to store the coach. I level the coach manually with the HWH system and leave it in "Manual" or "Travel" mode. The leveling system on our coach will hold level for weeks. The pressure in the brake system often leaks to 0 psi, but the level system holds air and the coach stays level.

If you have a sufficiently level spot to park, dumping the air would provide a fail safe method of keeping the coach level.

Your conditions and results may be different from ours.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #3 –
I think FT suggests that you dump it to prevent twisting the coach if one bag goes down
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: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #4 –
My storage slip is level, so I dump the suspension.  There are other threads in one of the other topics that further discuss the fact that there may be contact by the tires against the coach floor when air suspension is dumped.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #5 –
Green99 - Some ideas, what I have heard from MOT and FOT and on the Forum.

1.  Park fairly level, put in Travel Mode or dump.  This should prevent your auxiliary compressor from trying to keep it level which it would do if you stored it in Level mode.  Note though Peter's admonition, be fairly level as to not twist the coach.  Beyond that, more than you asked.....
2.  You want to try to avoid you auxiliary air compressor coming on and burning up as it probably would do if you developed a major air leak and that compressor just kept running to maintain air in all the systems.  It is not intended to do that.  Gary Omel warned me that pump is pretty expensive.
3.  In time the coach will settle, the air gone in a couple of days, as you note.  This may get you to resting on some tires.  FOT tells me that the coach is able to store in dump mode, resting on tires.  Some do this when parked too so they can get the step closer to the ground.  Keep tires well inflated, do not drive in that mode though some coaches will let you move them a little with the air dumped.  I think generally not good to do that.
4.  If you store on concrete, many will tell you to put something such as a plastic board between the tire and the concrete.  Prevents some potential detrimental chemical interaction between the tire and the concrete.  Took me a while to run down this really is good practice.
5.  Most would recommend that you protect the stored tires from exposure to direct sunlight.  UV rays can harm the tires over time
 
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #6 –
Everyone,
Thanks for the info.  As usual I didn't give quiet enough info.
The coach sits on a very level concrete pad.  Also, I had heard it is a good idea to put something between the tires and the concrete. 
Jerry
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #7 –
yes the compressor is fairly expensive - when mine failed (same cause, had a leak that I let go on too long......I found the manufacturer data on the pump and ordered direct - was about $350 and I had shipped overnight. Manufacturer can rebuild pump portion for about 1/2 the cost of a new unit as I reall
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #8 –
Jerry,

You don't say what year coach you have, but sounds like a bus style probably built 95 or later.  You can click on profile then modify profile and fill in the information some of which will be added after each post.  All the previous comments are good information.  How you store the coach may depend on whether you have shore power connected or not.  With out power everything needs to be off in order to keep the batteries from being drained.  Some people including myself even disconnect the engine start battery/s, as there is a small drain on them with everything off.  The house batteries on my coach seem to be OK  in storage with everything off so I leave them connected; yours may be different.  If your leveling system has no leaks, it is possible that the air bags can stay inflated for a long time, maybe a month or more.  Most coaches will have some very minor leaks that may be difficult to find.  Sometimes a slow leak can be internal, such as one of the solenoid valves and there are at least 12 or more of these depending on the number of axles.  The travel mode will only operate with the ignition key on.  For manual or auto leveling the master switch by the door must be on.  Pushing the level button one time arms the system for manual leveling.  Pushing it twice turns on auto level and if you leave it on, it checks every 30 min to see if the coach is still level, assuming it was able to level it the first time.  The little 12 vdc electric pump will come on if there is not enough air pressure for leveling.  About all it can do is keep the coach level and it will only run for 30 min in an attempt to level the coach.  If it times out the system must be turned off and back on for it to run again.  After leveling my coach either manually or auto, once it is level I turn it off.  If I had a small air leak though I would leave it on when using the coach, but not in storage.  I really think it is a bad idea to store the coach with shore power on as problems arise if shore power is lost.  Several people have experienced this;  batteries drain down, auto generators start, etc. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #9 –
Tim,

Who was the manufacturer of yours?

Quote

yes the compressor is fairly expensive - when mine failed (same cause, had a leak that I let go on too long......I found the manufacturer data on the pump and ordered direct - was about $350 and I had shipped overnight. Manufacturer can rebuild pump portion for about 1/2 the cost of a new unit as I reall

Tim Fiedler

[
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
yes the compressor is fairly expensive

At least in the more recent coaches (like our '03 and possibly earlier) it's the Thomas TA-4101-DC aka model 270025 http://www.gd-thomas.com/product.aspx?id=12784&tp=p

About $1250 from Grainger THOMAS Piston Air Compressor, 12 VDC, 2.2 CFM - Piston Air Compressor-Vacuum

about $900 from CFP Warehouse Thomas Compressor TA-4101-DC (12v DC)

You can sometimes find them new on eBay for $200-500 depending on the seller (there's one right now for $499.99 - $100 more than the last one the same seller had).  Watch out on this one as there have been some TA-4101 (not DC) pumps listed which were 120VAC, not 12 VDC.

Popular compressor for military vehicle applications (Humvee) and the offroad enthusiast community. 

Michelle
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: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #11 –
Sorry not at coach, in storage bay, was going to take in for overhaul to have spare
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Travel mode or dump the air

Reply #12 –
I also just replaced a workng DC compressor, new plastic sediment bowl (Old was loose and had few minor stress cracks) and added a new check valve in the system, time will tell the results, but so far looking good.
As for the old compressor, it worked fine, had a new one, so hooked it up, run much quieter ao left it in the system, the old one, I took apart for a good snoop, very simple, will relube it and reseal (RTV) and test, keep for spare along with many other spares I am gathering.
Oh what fun
Dave M