Air bag maximum and dump operations?

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Air bag maximum and dump operations?

March 09, 2020, 01:52:38 pm

I'm going to learn the airbag system this week. When you want to raise it to max height, do you just hold the raise button in until what? Also on dumping, hold in until stops lowering? Engine on or off? Just don't want to damage anything!

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #1 – March 09, 2020, 01:57:35 pm

Correct on both accounts. When raising, pick a spot outside your front window, watch coach rise up, when no more movement upwards your coach is fully raised. I believe on your year coach you need to shutting switch off after raising or it will go back down. Keep in mind the front will come up faster than the rear. Eng on will work faster but ign on, eng off will work also, just slower as you're only using the 12VDC compressor

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #2 – March 09, 2020, 02:54:14 pm

Another way to check if your bags are extended all the way, is to look at the air gauges and when they stop dropping and pressures are back up, that is all you get.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #3 – March 09, 2020, 04:21:34 pm

There are mechanical stops going up and going down, so you can't hurt anything by raising or lowering the coach "too far".

We had a discussion on this subject (and the use of safety stands) a while back:

Safety Stand Placement

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #4 – March 09, 2020, 04:42:59 pm

I do as craneman wrote and then I turn the key off and as long as I leave the key of my rig will stay at the top, at least for 24 hours. I haven't check it any longer.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #5 – March 09, 2020, 05:46:21 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – March 09, 2020, 04:21:34 pm

We had a discussion on this subject (and the use of safety stands) a while back:

Safety Stand Placement

^A VERY important reminder! ^

Do not go under a coach without proper safety precautions - folks have been killed.

Working Safely around your Foretravel

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #6 – March 09, 2020, 08:27:56 pm

Thanks. I'll get some 11 inch tubes cut for safety

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #7 – March 09, 2020, 09:04:38 pm

Quote from: dans96u295ft – March 09, 2020, 08:27:56 pm

Thanks. I'll get some 11 inch tubes cut for safety

Or you can get ready made from Harbor Freight, in their hitch area, I have eight.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #8 – March 09, 2020, 09:50:47 pm

Went out and gave it a try. Works fine. I was impressed how high it goes. Awesome system and no friggin jacks to fail. The pick an object and watch it really helped raise it to maximum.
Thanks everyone for the help.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #9 – March 09, 2020, 09:52:13 pm

Quote from: Jack L – March 09, 2020, 09:04:38 pm

Or you can get ready made from Harbor Freight, in their hitch area, I have eight.

http://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=12%22%20standard%20reveiver%20tube

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #10 – March 09, 2020, 09:57:15 pm

I have a Harbor down the street and a 20% coupon. Do you think 4 should do it ? Thanks much.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #11 – March 09, 2020, 09:59:18 pm

4 can be used to "keep the coach off you". Place behind the front wheels and in front of the rear= toward center of coach.

But you will need one inboard of each air bag if you are doing any work on it, as 4 put a strain on the structure.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #12 – March 09, 2020, 10:33:29 pm

And your 20% off coupon will be on just one of the 8.
Damn fine print.....

Easy to harvest more coupons.....various magazines, inserts, friends, etc

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #13 – March 10, 2020, 12:20:31 am

Are there any posts of the exact placement? So Wolfe your saying 8 total?

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #14 – March 10, 2020, 06:21:27 am

Will be more stable with 8,you don't want any flex.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #15 – March 10, 2020, 08:35:58 am

I have 8 of the extensions from Harbor Freight and I highly recommend using 8.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #16 – March 10, 2020, 08:41:59 am

Quote from: dans96u295ft – March 10, 2020, 12:20:31 am

Are there any posts of the exact placement?

Why don't you try reading Reply #3 and Reply #5 above.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #17 – March 10, 2020, 09:35:43 am

Ok I'm still new.
But after I shut down the engine usually after a day or so the coach eases on down to a certain height and stays there.
Then when we are ready to go somewhere of course as it resumes to the normal pressure it raises up.
So at the point where it's been setting for a few days is it ok to get underneith as long as you can fit.
I did this a few weeks ago when we replaced our floor and I got the passenger Captain's chair out.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #18 – March 10, 2020, 09:40:00 am

Quote from: 18360 – March 10, 2020, 09:35:43 am

So at the point where it's been setting for a few days is it ok to get underneith as long as you can fit.

No!

You never know when the coach may relevel, or if you might inadvertently bump something that causes an air leak.

Unless you are on a level surface with wheels chocked and have dumped the air from the leveling all the way down to the stops, it is not wise to work under the coach without safety stands and wheel chocks.

If the wheels are chocked so the coach can't roll and all the air is dumped and you still fit in that small space, you can then consider it.

Not to say that people don't do it, but it is not wise given what could happen (and has happened).

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #19 – March 10, 2020, 10:01:59 am

Thanks.
I just went on line and there are quite a few wheel chocks to choose from.
The PO didn't pass those on to me.
Any ideas for our size tires.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #20 – March 10, 2020, 10:03:33 am

Quote from: 18360 – March 10, 2020, 10:01:59 am

Thanks.
I just went on line and there are quite a few wheel chocks to choose from.
The PO didn't pass those on to me.
Any ideas for our size tires.

Not sure what you are asking-- describe what "wheel chocks" you are looking for.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #21 – March 10, 2020, 10:13:16 am

Quote from: 18360 – March 10, 2020, 09:35:43 am

...after I shut down the engine usually after a day or so the coach eases on down to a certain height and stays there.

Rick,
After your coach has "settled" walk around and look at each tire. If the top of the tire is touching (or almost touching) the top of the wheel well, then it is probably down as far as it can go (all air is exhausted from the bags). But just to be safe, go inside, turn on the HWH panel, and push the DUMP button. If the coach doesn't drop any more then it is truly bottomed out.

At that point, if you can still squeeze under the coach, then go for it.

By the way, trying to get under the rear of the coach when it is in the condition above (down on the stops) is a good experiment. If you ever have a serious air system failure that requires emergency roadside replacement of your air dryer, the coach might end up down on the stops. Could you get under there to work on the dryer? Might be a good thing to know. Ask Don (Don & Tys) about this scenario.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #22 – March 10, 2020, 10:14:41 am

I think what your saying is anything that keeps the coach from rolling is ok.
I will just take a trip to our local RV store and pick some up.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #23 – March 10, 2020, 10:18:04 am

Thanks for this useful info.

Re: Air bag maximum and dump operations?

Reply #24 – March 10, 2020, 10:18:45 am

Quote from: 18360 – March 10, 2020, 10:14:41 am

I think what your saying is anything that keeps the coach from rolling is ok.
I will just take a trip to our local RV store and pick some up.

Also, most truck stops, and some rubber and hose shops sell the larger chocks for trucks.

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