SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

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SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

August 28, 2015, 10:06:00 pm

I am getting ready to install the Air Force One system on the coach and toad. Does anyone have any pictures of their install on the coach? It would be nice to have some idea's as to where to mount the tank under the coach. Thanks for any info.

Regards, Mark

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #1 – August 28, 2015, 10:36:29 pm

I have mine in the engine compartment right under the light on the drivers side.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #2 – August 28, 2015, 11:37:10 pm

Mark, that's where I have mine mounted also. Here's a picture of it, just to the right of the hyd. oil tank on the ledge.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #3 – August 29, 2015, 03:24:32 am

Ditto, That is where MOT mounted my SMI stuff also, love the setup.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #4 – August 29, 2015, 08:11:38 pm

I mounted mine on the engine support frame just above the chassis batteries. Easiest place for me to get to, and accessable without being in the way of anything. Love Air Force One!

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #5 – August 29, 2015, 08:33:34 pm

Thanks everyone for the info and pictures. I would love to know where MOT tapped into the supply and metered air. I have a few idea's from watching video's. I know some get the metered air from the brake can but I will have to research the supply air location.

Mark

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #6 – August 29, 2015, 11:54:35 pm

Mark, did not yours come with an installation booklet?

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #7 – August 30, 2015, 02:13:33 am

Mark,
I had the AF1 install done at Quartzite 2 years ago... thought I would save myself some time. The crew who installed were inept, arrogant, and incompetent. They hooked up the AF1 air supply to the spring brake air supply which is unmetered and at the full air system pressure. Flat spotted four near new tires. So I had to redo the install. I got with the AF1 inventor/chief engineer and confirmed that the installation was incorrectly done (not that I had any doubt!). Here are a couple of pictures of the brake canister air fittings. Difficult to get a picture of both nipples at the same time. The picture showing the brass "T" is where the installer located the AF1 air supply. The other picture is where he should have put it and where I relocated it to after confirming with the AF1 inventor/Engineer. These are the pictures I texted to him to verify my diagnosis. I subsequently was able to get the install company to pay for the tires (mostly), but not for my aggravation... So much for some who proclaim themselves professional... gives the good ones a bad name.
Don

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #8 – August 30, 2015, 12:41:41 pm

Thanks Don for the pictures. Are the ports labeled on the can? I haven't got under the coach yet to investigate. Do you know where the best place to tap the supply air from is? Thanks.

Mark

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #9 – August 30, 2015, 12:42:57 pm

Quote from: rbark – August 29, 2015, 11:54:35 pm

Mark, did not yours come with an installation booklet?

Yes it did but it mainly shows the top 4 chassis configurations. Not sure where the locations are on the Foretravel.

Mark

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #10 – August 30, 2015, 02:40:54 pm

Yes, they are labeled, but hard to see because of the road debris and the angle. If you look closely at the pictures (keeping in mind that both pictures are of the same air can, just close ups of different parts of it), you can see the labels. the one with the brass "T" says "Type 30 spring brake", and the one with the straight connection says "type 24L service brake". Keep in mind that the picture with the brass "T" is the wrong place to get the air supply for the AF1. The brass "T" is shown on the WRONG port as installed at Quartzsite. I moved the "T" to the other port labeled service brake after consulting with the AF1 honcho. These are the pictures I used to get the installer (along with the comments of the AF1 guy) to get the installer to pony up for the tires. I hope that is clear.
To amplify, the air cans in the back contain the parking brake (spring brake) and thus have the two ports. The ones for the front brakes just have one port, which is metered air from the treadle valve via the tanks. Tag axles also just have one port on the air can. I believe that this is what confused the professional installer. He looked at Jeff and Carol's coach (a tag axle coach) to see where to get the air supply for the AF1. Apparently, he didn't let the fact that our non-tag axle coach had two air connections from going forward or asking questions. Instead, he just went Enie, Meanie, Miny, Moe and picked one... the wrong one. He had me start the coach and press the brakes and pronounced all is good. I hooked up the toad next to the road off on the dirt, not knowing any better, we didn't check that the wheels were rolling as part of the pre-flight. I started out and realized within 25' or so of hitting the pavement that the toad wasn't happy and got off immediately. Too late for a whole set of four near new (less than a 1000 miles). So to answer your question, install the "T" on the service brake port. You will probable have to spray the area around the port with some WD-40 or such and wipe with a rag to be able to read it.

Quote from: MAZ – August 30, 2015, 12:41:41 pm

Thanks Don for the pictures. Are the ports labeled on the can? I haven't got under the coach yet to investigate. Do you know where the best place to tap the supply air from is? Thanks.
Mark

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #11 – August 30, 2015, 10:22:35 pm

Thanks for the info Don. I will post more here when I get into it so I can share my sperience with it.

Mark

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #12 – August 31, 2015, 07:27:36 am

Quote from: MAZ – August 29, 2015, 08:33:34 pm

Thanks everyone for the info and pictures. I would love to know where MOT tapped into the supply and metered air. I have a few idea's from watching video's. I know some get the metered air from the brake can but I will have to research the supply air location.

Please provide complete details after you have a successful installation. That information would be useful for future reference!

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #13 – August 31, 2015, 11:41:44 am

Don said it very well- add a rolling wheel check to your pre flight check list when you hook up. You will catch things such as AF1 hooked up to wrong air line, parking brake on, toad in gear, etc....... Easy to check and avoid costly mistakes........

Have fun and cya down the road

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #14 – August 31, 2015, 11:53:35 am

We use the M&G brake system for our towed Subaru. It has worked very well and is a relatively simple system. My understanding is that SMI and M&G systems both work very well using similar operating principles.

The Subaru came to us (from Kent Speers) with the M&G actuator installed. We stopped at the M&G shop in Athens, TX, where they installed the tap into the brake can on the coach in about 30 minutes. The installer helped us test the system before we left his shop.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #15 – August 31, 2015, 12:11:05 pm

I actually prefer the M&G system to the AF1, but they won't fit in many applications where the extra length added to the master brake cylinder would keep the hood from clearing... as in our Honda Fit with its extremely sloped front end.
Don

Quote from: J. D. Stevens – August 31, 2015, 11:53:35 am

We use the M&G brake system for our towed Subaru. It has worked very well and is a relatively simple system. My understanding is that SMI and M&G systems both work very well using similar operating principles.

The Subaru came to us (from Kent Speers) with the M&G actuator installed. We stopped at the M&G shop in Athens, TX, where they installed the tap into the brake can on the coach in about 30 minutes. The installer helped us test the system before we left his shop.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #16 – August 31, 2015, 01:33:14 pm

Don, Total agreement on the M&G, same reason I donot use it, would need to cut up the inner fender of my 04 F150 killing any resell value, installed the AF1 and its just fine.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #17 – August 31, 2015, 07:42:17 pm

I had the same issue with my Grand Cherokee too.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #18 – August 31, 2015, 07:55:04 pm

I had the same installation mistake made by FOT and went through the same correction procedure that you did. AF1 was great to work with and sent me a correct hook-up photo. I had sent them a photo of the incorrect install and they placed a large red arrow to the correct valve. The procedure was simple after I learned how the brake system worked.

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #19 – September 03, 2015, 12:41:48 am

I mounted the tank and relay under the rear part of the chassis on the driver's side. The needed air connections were right over where I mounted them. I have a write-up of the installation with a couple of the photos showing the coach mounting, on my website at:

Tow Brakes & Towbar

The system has been working great for over 5 years now and is on its second car.

Dick Mason

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #20 – September 05, 2015, 09:53:22 pm

I finished my coach end install. I still need to do some minor airline routing when I get some more line. Just a few feet short. I installed the ping tank where several others here installed theirs. I have not hooked up the Jeep to test it though. Getting new tires Tuesday so maybe I can test it out then. I found a perfect location for the controller on the Jeep. It fit like a glove. SMI likes the location as well. Here are a few pictures.

Mark

Re: SMI Air Force One Ping tank install on Coach

Reply #21 – September 08, 2015, 01:45:45 pm

Got 6 new tires for my Birthday.....Yippie. I also had a chance to test the Braking system yesterday. It worked great. I especially like that I didn't have to tap into the brake pedal switch. They made a new reed switch that attaches to the actuator instead of the brake switch wiring. Very easy setup. And tapping into the air line was very easy to do. I think I am going to really enjoy this system.

Mark

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