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Topic: extended parking with airbag suspension (Read 682 times) previous topic - next topic

extended parking with airbag suspension

If your coach has an airbag suspension and you park your coach for extended periods of time, which I'm sure most of you do, be aware that you can cut some blocks of wood to fit in beside your airbags so you can set your coach down on the blocks and turn your electric air compressor off. Not only will this save your electric air compressor from working itself to death, it'll prevent water from accumulating in the wet tank of your air brake system. Those of you who have a 120 volt AC compressor probably don't have a desiccant canister on your electric compressor, only on your engine compressor. This is because the 120 volt AC compressor fills the wet tank and you're supposed to drain the moisture from the wet tank periodically. Which brings me to my next point, drain the moisture from your wet tank and definitely don't allow water to accumulate in there cuz it'll rust out the bottom of your wet tank eventually causing it to rupture, perhaps in spectacular fashion, and leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere without cell phone reception on a holiday weekend... or on a long bridge... or in the middle of a tunnel... or in a bug infested swamp only inhabited by people with three teeth or less... or right in front of a week long outdoor folk music festival featuring singers who sound like a cat in heat... or, well someplace really terrible ;D

If you're buying a coach remember to drain the wet tank to see if the previous owner has let water accumulate in there. A lot of people are unaware they're supposed to drain moisture from the wet tank. If the previous owner didn't drain moisture plan on replacing the wet tank. Unfortunately I'm about to find out what this will cost. :(

A lot of coaches have the drain valve for the wet tank in the front bottom edge of the wheel well on the driver's side rear wheel. Feel around in there for a ball valve handle. Open up the valve and see if liquid water comes out, or any other foreign substance such as white desiccant powder or motor oil. It's normal for some water vapor to come out but if you get liquid water you need to drain it more often. When using the 120 volt AC compressor in humid climates you'll need to drain the wet tank a lot more often. If you drive your coach constantly and hardly ever use the electric compressor you won't find water in the wet tank unless your air dryer is malfunctioning.

This message was brought to you as a public service of RRadio. We now return you to your regularly scheduled topics about expensive novelty upgrades, already in progress. :P
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #1 –
Quote from: RRadio –
If the previous owner didn't drain moisture plan on replacing the wet tank. Unfortunately I'm about to find out what this will cost. :(

Don't leave us hanging...tell us "The rest of the story" as Paul Harvey used to say.  Did your tank blow up, or develop a less spectacular slow leak?  Inquiring minds want to know!
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: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #2 –
4x4 pine works well... I cut blocks just shy of ride height level and they sit fine on the frame.. Also makes the coach more stable for one to walk thru it while another sleeps.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #3 –
For what it's worth, my 120 volt AC compressor in the equipment bay does have a desiccant canister.  Also, I have occasionally opened the air system drain valves, and only dry air comes out.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #4 –
If you never hear from me again you should suspect a spectacular rupture may have occurred. ;D
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #5 –
 You mean we may never hear from you again Scott (is that a threat or promise??)
Nah, I love reading your posts as they are so human and filled with love and devotion that you have with your coach. They are never dull even when the reason for posting might be horrible ^.^d ^.^d
If you ever are allowed into Canada it would be nice to meet you, hum(scratching my head) would it???
Take care
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: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #6 –
I'm surrounded by Canadians here in Acadia national park on the coast of Maine.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #7 –
Are you sure thay are Canadians or are they from Quebec?? >:D >:D
I guess I am going to get in trouble again from someone?
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: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #8 –
Scott, you are too funny! :P
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #9 –
I've turned off the HWH level system when parking and haven't noticed a change in bag inflation after 2-3 weeks. I guess I'm lucky!
1998 U270 34'

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #10 –
Quote from: krush –
I've turned off the HWH level system when parking and haven't noticed a change in bag inflation after 2-3 weeks. I guess I'm lucky!

Same here - after some period of time, my air tanks will finally bleed off to zero (indicated), but the air bags seem to hold their pressure (and height) indefinitely.  ^.^d
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: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #11 –
When we're parked here at home the right front corner is the highest, nearly at full extension, while the left rear is resting on the tires. The RF seems to drop over time, so once I thought I'd put the safety stands in so that the coach wouldn't sag. When came time to move the next time, though, I couldn't get that RF safety stand out. I tried raising the coach with the HWH system, but it wouldn't go. Finally I got a jack out, put it next to the safety stand, and raised the coach up maybe 1/8" - just enough to take the pressure off of the safety stand. I lowered the safety stand about 1/2" and the lowered the jack. The I could remove the jack, raise the coach with the HWH system, and remove the safety stand. Since then I don't make the safety stands tight. I leave them with with about 1/2" of free space, so that I can use the HWH system to raise the coach.

So far the only place where we've been parked for more than a week is here at home, and I do have to re-level once in a while. It will be interesting to see what happens when we are parked on a more level surface for a month or so.

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #12 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
When we're parked here at home the right front corner is the highest, nearly at full extension, while the left rear is resting on the tires.

Just an idea, but why not put a board or two under that tire to make it more even. Less stress on everything this way.

When parked, I have a slight slope and put one 2x10 under each tire.

Also, I turn off fridge, so level doesn't matter as much.
1998 U270 34'

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Tom Lang –
For what it's worth, my 120 volt AC compressor in the equipment bay does have a desiccant canister.  Also, I have occasionally opened the air system drain valves, and only dry air comes out.
Is the 120 volt AC compressor in the equipment bay the auxiliary air compressor or do you also have a 12 volt auxiliary air compressor. I believe my coach only has a 12 volt auxiliary air compressor in the equipment bay.
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: extended parking with airbag suspension

Reply #14 –
Quote from: LTG –
Is the 120 volt AC compressor in the equipment bay the auxiliary air compressor or do you also have a 12 volt auxiliary air compressor. I believe my coach only has a 12 volt auxiliary air compressor in the equipment bay.


Oops.  I meant to say 12  volt dc compressor.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer