Air Bags Dumped on the Interstate

[s.j.sharks]

While returning home from a Montana Huntin trip. When I left Elko, Nv. had trouble with air bags building enough to travel. When finally up and ready to go About 20 miles or so West on I80 all of a sudden I noticed the air gauges losing pressure. Soon gauges showed low enouth for red lites to come, soon alarm was sounding and I was trying to get off I80. Made it to a Pilot Truck stop in Carlin. Air bags flat and riding on frame. no steering to speak of. Very Scary. After many attempts to get air back up, finally got air up and have not had any problems since. All the way across Nv. and the up and over Donner Summit and on to home in California. What happened? I sure dont want it to happen again but seems to be performing as designed since failure. I had been in freezing temps for couple weeks. No problems with freezing etc. Can you help? Thanks in advance.. Don I should add I have a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star on Spartan . ISL 370 Cummins

[GaryKD]

Hi Don,
I do not want to minimize your scary event, but the clue here is you were in freezing temps for many days and when the coach got back to normal temps things went back to normal. My coach is not used to cold temps. Sure enough when I am in cold weather, strange stuff happens. All kinds of strange stuff.

Gut feel says you have moisture in the air system. Moisture and freezing weather will play havoc with your air pressure. Consider draining the air tanks and replace the air dryer cartridge. On my coach it is located on the passenger side engine compartment. My cartridge is a Meritor Wabco R950011 cartridge. If you do this, ensure you get every bit of air out of the tanks. Water will not exit the tank valve until all the air is removed. The water comes out last. In addition if there is any air in the system, you'll never get the cartridge off.

[RVDude]

gary gives good advice (pull the spitter cables and change your cartridge) but, FWIW, I regularly drive in and winter in sub-sub zero temps through slush, crud, and all and nary ever the slightest airbag (or anything else) problem. Same as truckers.. I do change my cartridge every 18-24 months (but I am seldom in high humidity for long) and pull the spitter cables maybe every 3-4 months (nothing ever comes out). Spartan has the Wabco cartridges at a great price. There are alternative cheaper brands...