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Topic: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home (Read 872 times) previous topic - next topic

Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

One of our members on here, kindly emailed me about the cement blocks under our coach in the "My Current Situation" post. Here is how I replied:

I questioned the blocks, I even was looking at them, and studying them while under the coach. I did keep the bottle jack under it while working on it as backup (not shown in picture). My buddy was to come over, and bring big wood blocks the next day, but I wanted to get started. I have used cement blocks for years when doing axle flips on travel trailers etc. But not a Foretravel.

Anyway, we had the wheels back on, letting one side down, but it was a bit off center, and hung up with the jack bottomed out on the other side. As I was looking at what to do, the block all of a sudden exploded, and the coach came to the ground. The tire was only a 1/2" off the ground, and the coach was raised all the way up on the bags. It could have been bad, as it was right in my face. I promise you, I have been counting my blessings since then.

I will say, the one block was holding all the weight when it blew up. I will never use them again.
The rear is on heavy laminated wood blocks, with 2 bottle jacks as backup.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving
Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #1 –
Too close..
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #2 –
Never forget safety blocks for air bags in case of sudden air loss.  I use some Harbor Freight extensions.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-hitch-extender-69882.html

Safety blocks
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Jack Lewis –
Never forget safety blocks for air bags in case of sudden air loss.  I use some Harbor Freight extensions.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-hitch-extender-69882.html

Safety blocks

Thanks, have those. Always use them.
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Dub –
Too close..

Amen
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #5 –
If it can happen to a Foretravel tech.!

Moved safety supports to 1 position.

Thank you for sharing.
1999 U270 40 #5518
USN. USPS.

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #6 –
Concrete blocks, made with cement and aggregate, as has been demonstrated fail catastrophically.  NO warning, no creaking just Pop! goes the support.

Here is my current project, the toad, one of 3,500 produced and maybe 350 surviving, the 1968 Siata Spring.

Belt and suspenders where ever possible. at 1,350 pounds it's still enough weight to crush me, so it's all a matter of scale.

Blocks under the wheels, wood on the jack stand to not only spread the load but prevent sliding by steel on steel.

1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Texhub –
If it can happen to a Foretravel tech.!

Moved safety supports to 1 position.

Thank you for sharing.

Yup, when I was a new baby tech at FT, no one told me anything about HWH systems. Had not gone to school at HWH yet. (no training, no nothing). So I was instructed by Keith Woodruff (service manager) to replace the raise valve on the front 6 pack, then shown a picture on a diagram where it was at, that's all.

So I raised the coach up (about all I knew the HWH system did, besides leveling) and crawled underneath. Got myself all up in the open area in the front of a 1997 U295 (I would have been 54 yrs old), and started to removal of the air valve.

All of  a sudden I hear POW! Out come's the valve,and down comes the coach. Fortunately, I got out from under in time. I learned the most important lesson I needed know about HWH leveling systems, right there, right now. Then one of the other techs showed me the aluminum locking blocks.

Chris
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #8 –
Toolmaker, pardon my ignorance, but do you have a full picture of the Siata Spring. The name isn't ringing any bells. :o

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Old Toolmaker –

Blocks under the wheels, wood on the jack stand to not only spread the load by prevent sliding by steel on steel.


Exactly the reason I disagree with common usage of 2" square tubing to block coach  with.  Clear 4X6 fir blocks are easier to place with a far more stable footprint both before and after loading.  At 7K psi, each block is capable of supporting approx 168,000 lbs. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Supporting Coach...Kids, Don't Do This At Home

Reply #10 –
Quote from: ohsonew –
Toolmaker, pardon my ignorance, but do you have a full picture of the Siata Spring. The name isn't ringing any bells. :o

Larry

To keep this on topic, those pipe stands you use to hold the chassis up while working on the air suspension?  Steel not iron.  Black iron pipe is also a bad idea.  Not as bad as concrete but along the same lines regarding failure.  Also weld plates on the end to spread the load on the tubing, and here's the killer: affix a pieces of thin wood to the plates to keep them from sliding.  Belt and suspenders.  Always belt and suspenders.  I've never been hurt rigging heavy machinery.  I have been considered unreasonable when looking our for the safety of others on my team.  I'm good with that.

Sure!
As of yesterday evening the fuel tank is full of gasoline and seems to be holding.  After many high level discussions at the executive level I lost my desire to have a new one built.  Around here, depending on what the purchase is being considers one of us will hear $400-$600 and think "Cool!"  The other will be "Oh no you don't!" I have an Icom 720a, Lynn has a Yaesu FT100D
And the driveline is back in place.  It had to be removed to, "see above."

We had been looking at Mercedes Benz products, I was looking for an elderly diesel, say a 190, Lynn was looking for one of the 6-cylinder gasoline engines.  Duke, the dog wanted windows.  Then Lynn found this Siata Spring.  And he knew it was perfect for me.

Siata began business in 1922 and closed its door in 1970(?)  It was always a manufacturer of aftermarket performance parts, along the way building a few beautiful automobiles.  For some reason, their market research said there was a market for a small roadster that evoked the nostalgia of 1950 British sports cars, id est, the MG TC, TD, TF.

Siata made 3,500 Siata Springs, and if you assume a 10% survival rate there are about 350 left.  Built on the Fiat 850 platform, service parts are relatively easy to come by through specialist suppliers.  I can have a fuel tank built for not much money if necessary but we'll wait and see if the work the radiator shop did holds.  My only other concern are the headlights. 

I thought, I had planned, to use the autumn weather to mold up a new door for our U225 fuel compartment, and if I can pull that off follow up with new doors for the whole passenger side.  We'll see.  I had the Siata ready to drive before I added fuel to the fuel tank, and the top and side curtains will go to a specialist. I have the original side curtains and hardware!
1992 Foretravel Grand Villa
U225 SBID Build No. 4134
1986 Rockwood Driftwood
1968 S.I.A.T.A. Spring
1962 Studebaker Lark
1986 Honda VF700C
1983 Honda VF750C
Charlie, the Dog was broken out of jail 24 Oct 2023
N1RPN
AA1OH (H)e who must be obeyed.