Interesting sensation

jillie · 12-09-2011, 05:35 PM

Something new just started happening and it's increasing in frequency, sometimes three times a day. No, no, not that.

We're parked and have been since Thanksgiving weekend. There's a thump sound from the driver side front of the coach and a dropping feeling, maybe an inch or so. It seems to be coming from the area of the leveler or air bag. Anyone have experience with this kind of thing?

Our last MH had hydraulic levelers and something like this happened. It needed some kind of fitting tightened. But these are the Atwood Levelegs.

GaryKD · 12-10-2011, 07:18 AM

Hi jillie,
If the coach is dropping, it wold end up out of level. So the first questions is, does the coach remain level?

Is the outside temperature changing quite a bit during a 24 hour period? If so, it might be expanding and contracting of the components that face the sun.

**"007"** · 12-10-2011, 07:53 AM

In this PDF there are resets for Air bags and the jack leveling system.
Could be one of the locations driver side need to be brought in sink with other jacks.

wa8yxm · 12-10-2011, 09:28 AM

If it is sitting, do you "Air down" the air bags? If not it could be them.

As for the "levelLegs" system.. Is it a non-hydraulic leveling system? If it is, not hydraulic (electric, manual or whatever) I can't think of why it might "Shorten" wile parked,,, Though I can see them sinking in a bit, but this should not cause "Thunks"

jillie · 12-10-2011, 02:05 PM

See if I can answer all the questions.

1. The coach still seems to be level.

2. Gulf coast of Florida so daytime temps are in the low to upper 70s, nighttime temps low to mid 50s. Driver's side gets the afternoon sun.

3. We air down when parking. This system automatically lets the air out of the bags before leveling.

4. It's an electric Attwood Levelegs system.

5. We're parked on a concrete pad so there's no sinking.

Maybe there's a way to let more air out of the bags than just that which the Attwood system does. The thunk does concern me. I'll read the pdf about syncing the jacks and bags.

I need to gather more information. See if it happens more on hotter days, maybe mark the jack to see if it's lowering.

GaryKD · 12-10-2011, 04:46 PM

Hi jillie,
Once the dump valve is opened, all the air leaves the bags. See if it happens more when the coach is getting warm or cooling down.

Will you attend the NKK Rally at the Tampa Super Show in mid-January?

jillie · 12-10-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi jillie,
Once the dump valve is opened, all the air leaves the bags. See if it happens more when the coach is getting warm or cooling down.

Will you attend the NKK Rally at the Tampa Super Show in mid-January?

I'll be wishing for more warm weather.

I'll make a note of time and temp when it happens again.

Don't think we'll make the rally. After we bought this new coach in Tampa last January, hubby is extra cautious about taking me to RV shows.

Anything I can tell him to change his mind?

GaryKD · 12-11-2011, 04:33 PM

Hi jillie,
The most important thing is you can camp, at the show, with all your Newmar friends. Factory techs will be on hand to fix minor problems. Next would be to attend the iRV2 social I host on Thursday January 12 at 4 PM in the NKK tent. Next would be to attend the NKK Sea Turtles social I host on Friday January 13 at 4 PM in the NKK tent.

This item one may not want to bring up to a spouse. I'm already making my like of things to buy that I can no longer live without. The wife no longer accompanies me to the after market buildings. However, this is my event, not hers. Your situation may be the opposite.

Lastly, I'd like to meet you.

jillie · 12-12-2011, 01:43 PM

Just got thump/bump number 1. 81 degrees and sunny.

ottffss · 12-12-2011, 08:23 PM

Make note if the "pad" on all four levelers is completely flat (all four sides of the pad) on the cement. Wait for the thump and go look again.... Perhaps one pair of pads (either frt/back or side/side) has lifted (as in tilted) ever so slightly off the cement?

jillie · 12-13-2011, 01:54 PM

Thump, bump #2. Again 81 degrees and sunny. Might be a pattern here.

ottffss · 12-13-2011, 02:01 PM

AND repeating again - were the jack pads ON the ground FLAT???? If we are trying to diagnose we need info, if you are just reporting a thrill ride then please say so...

Thermal expansion of the cement, location/type of cement and the expansion joints, and angle of jack installation can lift/tilt a pair of pads (frt or back) just slightly and then they "slip" back to flat causing what you are saying....

SO were the pads flat and do they stay flat throughout the changing temps??? You need to observe this several times over several days.

I have it regularly on my rig, the pads will tilt one side up about half inch and then thump when the slip and flatten back out. Happens with daily/multi-day temp swings in the 30-50 degree range between night/day max/min.

jillie · 12-13-2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottffss

AND repeating again - were the jack pads ON the ground FLAT???? If we are trying to diagnose we need info, if you are just reporting a thrill ride then please say so...

Thermal expansion of the cement, location/type of cement and the expansion joints, and angle of jack installation can lift/tilt a pair of pads (frt or back) just slightly and then they "slip" back to flat causing what you are saying....

SO were the pads flat and do they stay flat throughout the changing temps??? You need to observe this several times over several days.

I have it regularly on my rig, the pads will tilt one side up about half inch and then thump when the slip and flatten back out. Happens with daily/multi-day temp swings in the 30-50 degree range between night/day max/min.

No thrill ride. Just reporting what I've experienced in answer to GaryKD's comment ("Is the outside temperature changing quite a bit during a 24 hour period? If so, it might be expanding and contracting of the components that face the sun.").

Your post of 10:23 PM last night came in after I went to bed. Up and out early this morning, just got back around 3:30 PM, had to start preparing something for dinner, so I haven't had an opportunity to test your suggestion yet. Perhaps tomorrow I can observe. Will get back on observations - both temps and jacks.