Air Ride

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Air Ride

September 06, 2014, 09:29:32 am

Hey Folks,

Been looking at the various FT models and trying to determine if an "all air-ride" is only available on the ih-45 models, or is it available on other FT models, like the U-320 or Phenix? If so, when did they start to put this in the FT.

Specifically, on 2012 ih-45, they state it not only has "HWH computerized air-leveling system," which all FTs seems to have, but it also has "HWH-Active Air System," which I believe helps adjusts the balance of the coach while driving, passing a semi, cross-winds, etc.

Appreciate any information on this topic.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #1 – September 06, 2014, 10:01:13 am

I'm not the expert, but I believe that all Foretravels built on the Foretravel chassis are equipped with air suspension. My 1990 U280 Grand Villa Unihome is air suspension for instance. My 96' U320 is also air suspension.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #2 – September 06, 2014, 10:58:42 am

Some GV models in the early 90s on FT chassis have the Torsilastic Suspension, mainly 225 and 240, up to 95
JohnH

Re: Air Ride

Reply #3 – September 06, 2014, 11:12:44 am

Quote from: jake62 – September 06, 2014, 09:29:32 am

Hey Folks,

Been looking at the various FT models and trying to determine if an "all air-ride" is only available on the ih-45 models, or is it available on other FT models, like the U-320 or Phenix? If so, when did they start to put this in the FT.

Specifically, on 2012 ih-45, they state it not only has "HWH computerized air-leveling system," which all FTs seems to have, but it also has "HWH-Active Air System," which I believe helps adjusts the balance of the coach while driving, passing a semi, cross-winds, etc.

Appreciate any information on this topic.

The electronic automatic ride height adjustment shown on hwh's website is probably not as needed with the std unihomes and unicoaches most would have.

Little if any, sway in the U series coaches.

SOB's with their narrow width air suspension systems and top heavy designs have more body roll and wind sway.

Obviously hwh is trying to help the floorplan and slide out sellers.

Not quick enough acting in my previous experience to do much. Will help but not a cure.

Spread airbags was the fix in the U series

Re: Air Ride

Reply #4 – September 06, 2014, 11:18:06 am

Barry and Darlene Brideau's Personal Website

Hey Tim, Barrys site has detailed descriptions, explanations and photos

Many hours of reserach will help you understand the systems too.

Most answers here are good, but the Facts are from the Foretravel printed documents, and from your questions it seems your seeking a fact analysis. Good hunting, seems like coaches are moving again and the supply is limited to just a lityle over 6000 choices

Re: Air Ride

Reply #5 – September 06, 2014, 11:23:19 am

Jake.

Welcome aboard. Â Lots of fun Foretravel stuff on Barry Brideau's "beam alarm" web site. - check it out here

FORETRAVEL Motorhomes service and Repair Information

Easier to find a FT with airbag suspension than without - A few were built in late eighties on commercial chassis (Oshkosh) that weren't riding on airbags, and using airbags to level.

My 1999 U-270 and now my 2000 U-320 4010 (SIngle slide ) have suspension and leveling via an 8 airbag HWH system. Â One of the really nice features of a Foretravel is they way they all ride and drive due to FT custom chassis in conjunction with the 8 airbag suspension. Â When you get to campsite, hit a button twice, lean back and watch the coach level itself.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #6 – September 06, 2014, 11:51:46 am

Tim, off topic but why do you start a sentence with a capital A most of the time?

Richard B

Re: Air Ride

Reply #7 – September 06, 2014, 12:29:41 pm

Quote from: rbark – September 06, 2014, 11:51:46 am

Tim, off topic but why do you start a sentence with a capital A most of the time?

It's an artifact created by his e-mail client when he uses e-mail rather than the forum itself to post.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #8 – September 06, 2014, 01:05:06 pm

Michelle, is it like @hashtag?

Re: Air Ride

Reply #9 – September 06, 2014, 01:28:34 pm

I don't. Â Not sure if your browser is adding, or mine, or the server. Â No capital a's in this post for instance.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #10 – September 06, 2014, 01:31:57 pm

Thanks for the information and I did check out Barry's info re suspension and chassis and the torsilastic suspension. Very helpful.

However, I'm still confused since FT distinctly advertises the "active air-system" on the ih-45, along with the HWH-Air leveling, which comes on all FTs. But I only see the "active air-system" advertised on the ih-45 and not on other FT models. I read about the active air-systems in Newells or Prevost, so I'm just trying to determine if any other FT models have this system vs. the air-leveling system. I don't see it advertised, for example, with the Phenix or on any of the used U-320 models. Maybe it wasn't necessary because it's a different chassis/frame, but I'll continue to read thru Barry's information on chassis as well. I know DPs all have air-bags or an air-ride, but I think there is a distinct difference between a DP with air-bags and one that has an active air-ride. But, I admit, I'm not an expert here and just trying to figure this out.

Thanks for your patience!

Re: Air Ride

Reply #11 – September 06, 2014, 01:33:48 pm

Tim,

On my Mac, I see you have capital "A" with an "^" over the A. Must be something off your iPad or other hardware/software you're using.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #12 – September 06, 2014, 01:53:07 pm

Tim & Cindy,

To your specific question, no "active air" is a recient feature and the older coaches did not have it. The IH has it as well as the new rehlm. The out board air bags on the older coaches, which were ahead of there time provide far superior stability when produced and worked with physics.

From my understanding active air "senses" a tilt in body vs frame, and sends air pressure to compensate. (Weak points, sensors, valves, pump)

The "H" frame that Foretravel designed sits the wheel in the middle with 2 airbags on the outside and 2 on the inside. As the frame/body is pushed on a curve the force is equalized by compressing the stable ride height in the airbag, where the pressure of the bag counteracts the "physics" of centrifical force.

There are "experts" here that may question my logic or understanding and that is why this Forum is so valuable!

Re: Air Ride

Reply #13 – September 06, 2014, 01:54:26 pm

Quote from: jake62 – September 06, 2014, 01:31:57 pm

Thanks for the information and I did check out Barry's info re suspension and chassis and the torsilastic suspension. Very helpful.

However, I'm still confused since FT distinctly advertises the "active air-system" on the ih-45, along with the HWH-Air leveling, which comes on all FTs. But I only see the "active air-system" advertised on the ih-45 and not on other FT models. I know DPs all have air-bags or an air-ride, but I think there is a distinct difference between a DP with air-bags and one that has an active air-ride. But, I admit, I'm not an expert here and just trying to figure this out.

HWH Active Air Suspension Control Systems

Re: Air Ride

Reply #14 – September 06, 2014, 02:03:52 pm

This is not a complete answer, but here is a quote from Lyle Reed on the HWH Active Ride discussion forum;

Quote

February 14th, 2008
Posted by: Lyle Reed, President - Foretravel Motorcoach

The best keeps getting better. Foretravel is proud to work with HWH and their Active Air System to provide owners with the best ride possible. I installed this system on my personal motorcoach and couldn't be more pleased with it's real-time performance. Foretravel and HWH have been strategic partners for over 33 years, and it's because of their innovation that our relationship continues to grow stronger. When you look for a Foretravel, look for Active Air.

Here is a link to their comment page:

Quote

http://www.hwhcorp.com/activeaircomment.html

My take on it, and could be wrong, is that the active air is similar to the system that Foretravel has used for years and the system is retrofitable to full Air Ride systems. I believe the main difference is quicker real time reaction to road conditions, and possible road crown compensation. That said, air ride as equipped on all of the Unicoaches, does an excellent job of keeping the coach flat on curvy mountain roads by adding air to the outboard side and releasing it from the inboard side. You can hear the release part of it (exhaust air from the inboard side) if you open a window on mountain roads and you can observe the release and replenishment cycle of the Air Tanks on the gauges as you work through these corkscrew mountain roads, much more noticeable than on straight roads.
Don

Quote from: jake62 – September 06, 2014, 01:31:57 pm

...However, I'm still confused since FT distinctly advertises the "active air-system" on the ih-45, along with the HWH-Air leveling, which comes on all FTs. But I only see the "active air-system" advertised on the ih-45 and not on other FT models. I read about the active air-systems in Newells or Prevost, so I'm just trying to determine if any other FT models have this system vs. the air-leveling system. I don't see it advertised, for example, with the Phenix or on any of the used U-320 models. Maybe it wasn't necessary because it's a different chassis/frame, but I'll continue to read thru Barry's information on chassis as well. I know DPs all have air-bags or an air-ride, but I think there is a distinct difference between a DP with air-bags and one that has an active air-ride. But, I admit, I'm not an expert here and just trying to figure this out.

Thanks for your patience!

Re: Air Ride

Reply #15 – September 06, 2014, 03:22:33 pm

Tim (great name BTW)

tale a look at this video from HWH (it is on their "active air" web page - and note the age of the RV shown in the video - My u-320 has HWH air suspension, which is driven from the same keypad as the leveling function. Â I suspect the name "Active air" came later at HWH, but my 1999 U-270 and 2000 U-320 have roll control via the HWH system, which is one of the factors in how nice a FT drives.

also, on the HWH web site - this testimonial from Lyle Reed, president of FT at this link

http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml42398c.pdf

In it, Lyle is giving a testimonial for "Active Air" and the coach pictured is not an IH.

I suspect at some point when the electronics (CPU and display) ware upgraded HWH coined the term "active air". Â But I do believe that there is "roll compensation" Â (which also gives you crosswind compensation) on both the 1999 I used to own and the 2000 I have now.

A call to James Triana at FT would get you the right answer. Â If I can ask, is there a specific interest in "Active Air" or are you just looking for the best handling coach that you can buy?

Have you driven an early 2000's FT? Â Even the older ones will open your eyes with their torque, Â ride, handling and stopping power.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #16 – September 06, 2014, 03:23:20 pm

MacBook Pro on safari....., apple Bluetooth keyboard

Re: Air Ride

Reply #17 – September 06, 2014, 03:30:52 pm

I believe active air is a faster version of the roll control we all have. It is supposed to compensate for the lack of outboard front air bags on IFS coaches and make them handle as well as solid able coaches.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #18 – September 06, 2014, 03:37:52 pm

Interesting... That is the exact quote from the comment section that I quoted in my post above. Note the date of that comment. 2008, 4 years before the IH45 was announced. Also on the comment page are remarks from people who have installed the system on earlier SOB coaches, adding air leveling in the process to coaches that didn't have it before the retrofit.
Don

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – September 06, 2014, 03:22:33 pm

...also, on the HWH web site - this testimonial from Lyle Reed, president of FT at this link

http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml42398c.pdf

In it, Lyle is giving a testimonial for "Active Air" and the coach pictured is not an IH.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #19 – September 06, 2014, 04:01:47 pm

oops..... here is link to HWH video referenced in earlier post.

http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml35458.wmv

Re: Air Ride

Reply #20 – September 06, 2014, 04:36:40 pm

Thanks for all the replies, information, and video. It definitely helps me to understand the differences in the systems and what the active air-system does. Yes, I need to drive a FT to see the difference, especially since I plan to spend up to $200K and the ih-45/Realm are not in the budget. But, I won't be in Naco until late '15, so I have about a year to complete my research. Yes, no doubt more time than I need, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait!

Re: Air Ride

Reply #21 – September 06, 2014, 04:43:54 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – September 06, 2014, 03:30:52 pm

It is supposed to compensate for the lack of outboard front air bags on IFS coaches and make them handle as well as solid axle coaches.

That's what I recall as well. See here Degree of Wheel Cut? - U225 or U240

Quote from: sam7 – February 27, 2011, 06:34:57 pm

"Active Air System" that is to significantly duplicate the ride and handling of a solid front axle. So says Foretravel.

And here Questions on FT coaches

Quote from: Jim Busby – November 03, 2010, 08:14:40 pm

We have a 2009 Phenix and we bought it without the active air as foretravel was still testing it. we drove it for several miles on secondary roads and decided we wanted this installed.This was the best move on our part as the handling improved greatly. the best part is on secondary roads to prevent constantly having to fight the wheel. it is great, try one ifs without and see.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #22 – September 06, 2014, 04:51:12 pm

Hmmm.... interesting and seems like something worth considering, of course, depending on the cost to install it.

Re: Air Ride

Reply #23 – September 06, 2014, 05:00:12 pm

Quote from: jake62 – September 06, 2014, 04:51:12 pm

Hmmm.... interesting and seems like something worth considering, of course, depending on the cost to install it.

Seems like there wouldn't be much bang for the buck on a solid front axle coach... (FOT quoted one person $8K back in 2008 Active Air and tag modifications ; price would be higher now)

Re: Air Ride

Reply #24 – September 06, 2014, 06:59:36 pm

Tim,

Post your city and state and maybe one of us is nearby - happy to show my coach if I am within 100 Miles on one of my journey's

And I have an old, run of the mill U-320.....

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