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Topic: Drop-down jacks vs air bags (Read 686 times) previous topic - next topic

Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Most coaches use the drop-down jacks, while a few (like ours) use the airbags for leveling. AFAIK, only Foretravel, Newell, and some Country Coaches use the air bags, while pretty much everyone else uses the drop-down jacks. All three brands are towards the high end of coaches and are designed from the ground up to be motor homes. 'Birds and Prevosts are in that high-end category, but were originally intended to be busses, so it is understandable that they simply added the drop-down jacks to the conversion package. (Or do Prevosts use the airbags, too? I know that 'Birds use the jacks.)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? I know of two 'Bird owners who had problems with the weight of their coaches on the drop-down jacks damaging the asphalt they were parked on. That shouldn't be an issue with the airbags, as the weight is supported by the tires, which have a somewhat larger footprint than the jacks do (I think). Do the jacks make for a more stable coach while parked?

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #1 –
Crawling under the rig to place blocks under the jacks SUCKS. I'm traveling with an old American Dream right now and every time we park on grass the owner has to do that.

On the other hand, that guy hasn't ever had to worry about maintaining his leveling system... it just works for him. One pesky leak in our systems and it's a royal PITA.

Now that I have a leveling system that holds hair for weeks on end, I wouldn't trade it for the world. It took me somewhere between $3k - $4k to get my air system to where it is
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #2 –
The air bag "jacks" will always have the air bounce. The drop down solid jacks are solid and dont bounce as you walk around the bus.

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #3 –
I cant describe how much I like both the outside airbag handling and the capability of dropping to the ground to ease access is priceless IMO. Always get a good chuckle out of coaches raised way way up to level .
Scott

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #4 –
Quote from: dsd –
I cant describe how much I like both the outside airbag handling and the capability of dropping to the ground to ease access is priceless IMO. Always get a good chuckle out of coaches raised way way up to level .
Scott
Not to mention it's nice to be able to give yourself extra ground clearance with raise mode when you need it. My friends give me a lot of crap for how slammed my coach looks when I'm parked and they have no idea how much more clearance I can get underneath than SOB coaches.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #5 –
A few weeks ago, we were in a park next to a couple who had an almost new motorhome. He came over and visited one day and asked how I leveled without leveling jacks. I did my very best to explain the hwh leveling system and how it worked and he could not get it. He could not understand how it would maintain level after a number of days......but it does. I talked an inch off my tongue and all I got was a lost look......better luck next time.
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Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #6 –
Our coach has the swing down or drop down jacks as you call them.
I made a set of jack pads to keep the jacks from sinking in soft warm blacktop or gravel.
To position them under the jacks I drilled a hole slightly bigger than the awning rod in each corner. Now, with two awning rods (I found one left on a CG table and this was after a week of the site being empty---lucky me) I can maneuver my pads wherever I have to in order to position them under the jack. Obviously I do get the jacks down into the vertical position before lowering all the way to level
No crawling under the coach, or even getting on my knees. Besides, after all the years of playing ball my knees protest A LOT!!!!!!!
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #7 –
I have had booth. The jacks are great for doing maintenance, I didn't need a jack to pull the
wheels off and I can get more clearance to work on the coach with it blocked for safety. It will
level on steeper slopes when facing down hill. Down side, have to be careful in the winter as
they can get froze to the ground and they can push into the ground and make a mess.
The air bags system can be used where ever I drive and can raise the coach to drive over rough
ground. I would like to have both but having only one I will choose the air bag system.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #8 –
When I moved away from the drop down jacks with my '99 we lost the ability to really go anywhere and set up. As our life has changed it is not such an inconvenience anymore. We both love the ride of the '99 compared to the '81.
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: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #9 –
Thanks. I'm pretty much sold on the air bags, but I thought I'd ask just because I don't know what I don't know. Yes, having both would be a big advantage, but I suspect that there are few coaches out there that do. I say few because if something CAN be done someone WILL do it.

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #10 –
I had thought about putting jacks on my coach but gave up on that idea. I wanted jacks and
a Jake Brake and I got the Jake Brake.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #11 –
Our previous FT U225 had the swing down jacks. Our Current FTGV 295 have the air bags. They both worked great. If I could I would have both  ;D 
Former 2003 GV U295 (6230) (2015 - 2025)
Former 94 GV U225 (2013-2016)

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #12 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
Thanks. I'm pretty much sold on the air bags, but I thought I'd ask just because I don't know what I don't know. Yes, having both would be a big advantage, but I suspect that there are few coaches out there that do. I say few because if something CAN be done someone WILL do it.

My '96 Monaco Sig, had both 8 bags and jacks. My brother's '05 Monaco has both also. Seems that Monaco has decided to keep both. The main difference is the jacks are not HWH and there is one in the center front and two in the rear.
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: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #13 –
My Monaco had air bags but they didn't level and having one jack in the front saves the coach
from twisting.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #14 –
I had 2 rigs with hydraulic drop down jacks.

Several times on both rigs the jacks sunk in mud or soft soil and were stuck. Lot's of fun to lay on the ground with a pry bar to get them to retract.

Hyrdraulic jacks do have a more solid feel when on solid ground, no "bounce" as others move around inside.  I prefer the air bag leveling.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #15 –
Here is a question for all:
Are there more problems with the air bag feature than with the drop down jacks, or do we just see more posts re the air bag problems because there are fewer and fewer Foretravel coaches with jacks?

I read so many posts re air systems for the air bags, the slide seals, and the slide mechanisms (and the cost for repairs) that I am so glad that our coach has no slides and no air systems. It has been 100% reliable since we got it in 2011.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #16 –
Quote from: nitehawk –
Are there more problems with the air bag feature than with the drop down jacks, or do we just see more posts re the air bag problems because there are fewer and fewer Foretravel coaches with jacks?
I think you're seeing more posts about air problems because our coaches are all at the age where the rubber and plastic bits are aging out, causing leaks.
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Drop-down jacks vs air bags

Reply #17 –
I know the feeling! >:D  :))
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD