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Topic: Steep Drive Ways (Read 691 times) previous topic - next topic

Steep Drive Ways

A while back I pulled into a parking lot that was just a bit steep and I drug the front end a bit and again when I pulled out another drive.  :o

My question is that if I see one that may be questionable can I hit the raise on the HWH to pick it up.

Will it go back to travel mode by itself?

Thanks
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #1 –
It has been a while since we had our coach, but that is what we did all the time with steep entrances and exits as well as high railroad tracks.  We held the button in to raise the coach and when we let go, it went back to travel mode.  Now our coach was a U320, so not sure all worked that way.  It should tell you in your HWH book.
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #2 –
Thanks juicesqueezer, I will have to remember to look at my book, I keep them in the coach and it is stored 40 miles away.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #3 –
On my '99 the second I release the brakes the air dumps to ride height. I have found that backing out my driveway I can leave the parking brake on and power out with the coach raised. Coming in it drops faster than I can get up the apron. I have seen posts where other members were able to move with coach raised.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #4 –
On some coach year models, the "RAISE" button is momentary - only works while you hold it down.  On others, it is a "latching" switch.  I don't know which years had the latching switch.  Pretty easy to do a simple test to determine which you have.  Paragraphs below come from the HWH Leveling System Textbook, Page 19-20:

When a momentary "RAISE" button is pushed, a +12 volt signal is sent to all raise solenoid valves in the system. The red AIR LEVEL light will come on steady. The red RAISE light will flash. Air will be added to all the air bags, raising the vehicle. When the "RAISE" button is released, the raise solenoid valves will close. The indicator lights will go out. If the ignition is off, the vehicle will stay in the position it was when the button was released. If the ignition is on, the system will return to the TRAVEL mode and the vehicle will return to travel height. If the touch panel was on when the "RAISE" button was pushed, the touch panel will turn off when the button is released.

When a latching "RAISE" button is pushed, a +12 volt signal is sent to all the raise solenoid valves. The AIR LEVEL light will come on steady. The red RAISE light will flash. Air will be added to all the air bags raising the vehicle. The vehicle will raise as far as it can go. The touch panel and system will stay in the RAISE mode when the button is released and the vehicle will remain in a completely raised position. The panel will stay in the RAISE mode until the "OFF" button is pushed or until the vehicle speed exceeds the speed switch setting (normally 15 mph).  The system will not return to the TRAVEL mode and the vehicle will not return to travel height until the "OFF" button is pushed or the vehicle exceeds the speed switch setting.

https://www.hwhcorp.com/ml20635.pdf

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: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #5 –
My 97 has the momentary switch and our 03 has the latching switch.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #6 –
Thanks Chuck, I will check it out  ^.^d
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #7 –
Quote from: rbark –
My 97 has the momentary switch and our 03 has the latching switch.
Thanks rbark, mine must be the momentary.  when I was putting the spacers in the frame I would raise it all the way and jump out and get one in place but before I can put another in it would drop so i would run back and raise it and do the next one.  Heck I got tired just putting the spacers in "LOL"
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #8 –
Steve,

Getting back to your original question, even if your coach has the momentary switch, you can still use the "RAISE" function to jack the coach up when driving up or down steep inclines, over "high-center" railroad tracks, etc.  You just have to manually hold the button down to keep the coach raised.  The only restriction is that you must proceed slowly (5 mph or less) while the coach is jacked up (or lowered, as the case may be).  Raising the coach to max height puts the drive shaft at a extreme angle, and can stress the U-joints.  So, it's not something you would want to do all the time, but once in a while won't hurt anything.  Just use good judgement.  Another excerpt from the same manual I linked above:

The "DUMP" and "RAISE" buttons are provided to allow the operator to raise or lower the vehicle while the vehicle is moving short distances to avoid an obstacle, such as lowering the vehicle to get into a building.

CAUTION:    The vehicle should not be moved at speeds in excess of 5 m.p.h. unless the vehicle is at the proper ride height. It is the operator's responsibility to check that the vehicle is at the proper ride height for traveling.
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: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #9 –
I tried that on mine, when I released the brakes it still went down. They must have made a change in the '99
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Steep Drive Ways

Reply #10 –
Moving coach with rear raised too high can damage output drive seal in Allison transmission due to high drive shaft angle. Would be pretty cautious on that approach.
At least that was what I was told

Tim Fiedler
Gen-Pro.biz
630 240-9139
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)