Jacks up or down?? dump air or not???

racer0624 · 03-26-2011, 07:39 PM

We sometimes don't use our coach for a month or so. I've heard that it's best to put the jacks down and take a little weight off the tires. I've also heard to just dump the air only so the jack cylinders aren't exposed to our salty atmosphere.( our coach is 2 blocks from the gulf). I'm ok with dumping the air on a 2 axle coach but on our 3 axle rig the drive axle ends up having over 20,000#'s on it. Is this ok or would it be better to just leave it aired up?

allynne · 03-26-2011, 09:37 PM

If your drive axle is over 20,000 lbs you are overloaded and illegal on interstates and most other roads.

Al sawyer
'05 MADP

FlyingDiver · 03-26-2011, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allynne

If your drive axle is over 20,000 lbs you are overloaded and illegal on interstates and most other roads.

Al sawyer
'05 MADP

He was referring to the extra weight on the main axle when he dumps the air shocks, not the normal driving condition.

joe

GaryKD · 03-27-2011, 09:39 AM

Hi racer0624,
Your question is an interesting one. Iron Man is in the same situation as you, If he does not post on this thread, consider sending him a PM. Gut feel says it matters not. There should be enough extra capacity in the drive axle to handle the excess static weight. If you decide to put the jacks down, I would not worry. Over 11 million RVs come to Florida each winter. Those with jacks sit in their winter spot for many months.

Perry White · 03-27-2011, 11:11 AM

Isn't it the same weight with it aired up as blown down? Mine is. If you just dumped the tag it would be more. I don't get the question. You should have 2-16,000lb jacks on the back. You can lift all the weight off the back end with the jacks alone

racer0624 · 03-27-2011, 01:20 PM

I must not have been clear to some in my explaination. On our K-2 chassis when all air is dumped the tag axle isn't supporting any weight. All the rear end weight goes on the drive axle. I'm not really worried about weight on the axle. I'm more concerned about leaving all that weight in one position on the 4 rear tires for sometimes a month. The pressure I carry in the rear tires is based on a 6- position weighing not the higher weight with the drive axle only.

**"007"** · 03-27-2011, 03:00 PM

I would say its up to you if its going to be a month you say.
Before you bought the coach the dealer I doubt had the jacks down for extended periods.
If it were I, I would extend the jacks and clean them before retracting.

**Route 66** · 03-27-2011, 03:18 PM

Dump air, jacks down.

As Gary notes, snowbirds do it all the time, as did I. No problems.

Perry White · 03-27-2011, 06:06 PM

Your sitting on the drive axle plus the tag. The drive is good for 20,000 lbs and the tag is good for another 10,000lbs. Mine sits all winter on the deflated air bags. No jacks. Mines a K2 When you dump the tag all is sitting on drive axle, but when you full dump it's spread over each one.