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Topic: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic) (Read 912 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from 1997 U320 in Daytona ...

Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Quote from: John Haygarth –
My feelings exactly Bob, you aint gonna find another even if it needs a bit of work.
If you have to borrow money from Bank on line of credit as the interest will be minor compared to the savings on price.
But check bulkheads too.
The Canadian $ is bad right now so a $25k sale is $31500 then taxes and fuel to get it home, slowly climbing up there.
JohnH

Thanks John.  Raise the air suspension  to full up.  Then turn the motor and HWH panel off.

Borrow a blanket and crawl around under the entire coach.  If no one touches anything it will not drop. 

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Thanks John.  Raise the air suspension  to full up.  Then turn the motor and HWH panel off.

Borrow a blanket and crawl around under the entire coach.  If no one touches anything it will not drop. 

That is not true.  I was in the bay at MOT and my HWH failed it was off and the engine was off and it lowered to ride height.  Block it up before you ever go under. 

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Caflashbob  -  4 days ago
Thanks John.  Raise the air suspension  to full up.  Then turn the motor and HWH panel off.

Borrow a blanket and crawl around under the entire coach.  If no one touches anything it will not drop. 

This has got to be some of the the worse and deadliest information ever. Never ever crawl under any coach without blocking it up.

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #3 –
I generally don't get under the coach without blocks in place, but I do find it interesting that of all of the professional shops that I have had work done at (FOT, Xtreme, Colton Truck Terminal, Bernd Ramspeck's), work under the coach without safety stands. I assume that they do when replacing air springs etc., but at FOT, there was a kiosk of sorts with safety stands in it and none of the techs availed themselves of them. When Rance at Xtreme was getting under the coach, I even offered to get out my stands while he was hooking up the steps. I think the almighty dollar and the need to be fast has suppressed good judgement in this industry. I sometimes have the impulse to just crawl under and "git-er-dun", but although I might like to be buried in our coach, I don't want to be buried by it...  :o
Don
Quote from: Mike Brez –
Quote from: Caflashbob  -  4 days ago
Thanks John.  Raise the air suspension  to full up.  Then turn the motor and HWH panel off.

Borrow a blanket and crawl around under the entire coach.  If no one touches anything it will not drop. 

This has got to be some of the the worse and deadliest information ever. Never ever crawl under any coach without blocking it up.

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Mike Brez –
This has got to be some of the the worse and deadliest information ever. Never ever crawl under any coach without blocking it up.

Agreed.  You don't get a do-over if something happens.  That's why the Forum has a sticky topic on this Working Safely around your Foretravel

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #5 –
This was a internet friend of mine from another site. Had a Prevost bus and was just getting ready to leave with his wife when he crawled under the bus real quick to check something out and the bus came down on him. iRV2 member "Jim Scoggins" - iRV2 Forums

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #6 –
He was a good man. I still think of him often.

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #7 –
Not to belittle the excellent safety advice given here, but there is one way you can safely work under the coach without stands in place.  And I'm not talking about using a "Pit", which few of us are lucky enough to own.  Dump air and lower the coach all the way down to the stops!  Then, IF you can still get underneath and reach the area of interest, you can proceed without worry.  I know this won't work for everyone, or in every case, but I have done a lot of work this way in the engine compartment and under the front of the coach.  On the GVs at least, there is a lot of room in those areas, and many potential service and/or repair items are quite accessible.

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #8 –
Quote from: cajk –
Not to belittle the excellent safety advice given here, but there is one way you can safely work under the coach without stands in place.  Dump air and lower the coach all the way down to the stops!  Then, IF you can still get underneath and reach the area of interest, you can proceed without worry.
I have done this often when working in the front and in the engine compartment. Lots of room in those areas, I am usually sitting on the ground while working under there. When I worked on the front bulkhead however I used the safety stands.

Roland

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #9 –
Quote from: cajk –
Not to belittle the excellent safety advice given here, but there is one way you can safely work under the coach without stands in place.  And I'm not talking about using a "Pit", which few of us are lucky enough to own.  Dump air and lower the coach all the way down to the stops!  Then, IF you can still get underneath and reach the area of interest, you can proceed without worry.  I know this won't work for everyone, or in every case, but I have done a lot of work this way in the engine compartment and under the front of the coach.  On the GVs at least, there is a lot of room in those areas, and many potential service and/or repair items are quite accessible.
Also be aware that if you are under the front of the coach and a front tire blows (I have seen it happen while vehicle was just sitting there) out you have a good chance of getting squashed. Less likely in the rear. If you are down on the frame and in the front you should also block the axle. The tires add 8-9 inches of height when inflated.
Good luck,

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #10 –
Good point, Rick.  When I use my "down on the stops" method, I am still very careful where I position my fragile body parts.  Like, I would never place anything of value directly under the front axle.  Blocking the axle sounds like a good idea!

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #11 –
I knew Jim and he was a good man and it was sad when he passed. 

I guess, I have seen murphy to many times so I block up the chassis. I have not really blocked up the axles in the rear as I have a tag and four drive tires. I might do that on the front though next time. I need all the inches there are.  Oh when I do crawl under the back, I do try to do it with a hill and I chock the tires and then even if it drops, it is not that far and I have a lot more room to work.  I have a great hill with an overhang but when I move, I will lose that.

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #12 –
It sure is easy to stick a couple of blocks between the rails. I would no more skip that step than I would skip putting my .45 on "safe" before holstering it.

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #13 –
In all my years in charge of fleet and equipment maintenance the absolute rule is NEVER get under something that is not blocked.  Air and hydraulics can fail.  It's rare, I have seen it happen but injury was prevented by blocking the item.  In one case a brand new semi-dump body came down during per-acceptance inspection because the supplier fitted the wrong hose, that ruptured, in the hoist system.  A split rim (good riddance to them) blew off in the shop, the tire explosively decompressed and the truck settled down.  An air suspension bag blew on a trailer, and in one instance a mechanic, who thought he knew what he was doing, disconnected an air line supplying air to a raised assembly.

I could go on.  It's just not worth the risk.

Keith

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #14 –
John S adds another key part to working under your coach.  Put wheel chocks on to prevent your coach from moving either way. A couple minutes of prudent behavior could save your life.

Roger

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #15 –
Always block, you never know what might fail.

Re: Blocking or not when working under coach (split from another topic)

Reply #16 –
I have seen my HWH go "loopy" too many times to ever get under the coach without block up.  It's cheap and easy to make blocks from square tube, so why not?  I also made some drive up ramps from 2X12 lumber stacked together and screwed together with 6" length difference on each layer.  Makes a strong excellent drive on ramp.  The coach will climb it for both front axle or drive axle work.  Always chock the wheels!