Tilted Alpine

sdcyclist · 05-02-2011, 10:29 AM

Hi All,

I need some advice regarding my 2006 FDDS. After searching all the ride height threads, I could not find an answer to my issue. With all ready to roll and up to pressure, my Alpine coach is 3/4 inch lower at the driver side front than the passenger side. My 4-corner weights across the front axle are nearly equal at 5800lb. I crawled under the coach and noticed that the left air bag was fully extended and the right one was very low. I can't figure out what the issue is. When parked at a RV park with suspension down and leveling jacks down, the rig is still 3/4 inch lower on the driver side. It is a mystery to me. Another symptom is that the driver side front tire was showing excessive wear so I replaced both recently. Any ideas? Thanks

sdcyclist

gewilli · 05-02-2011, 10:59 AM

SDCyclist, I had my frieghtliner chassis RV re leveled by a shop as mine was listing. And they said it does affect alignment considerably. My coach was less than a year old, so I suspect it was out from the factory. Mine has two rear and one front to adjust air bags, and some have them on all four corners. A good diesel repair shop like frieghtliner or motortrucks should be able to correct your list and align the front end. Good luck.

JLMunsil · 05-02-2011, 11:04 AM

If you are measuring from the exterior panels it could be different from side to side even if the chassis is level. It's better to check the chassis rails under the coach to determine if they are level side to side. Measure from the ground to each rail. If they are not level within +/- 1/4" then check the rear to be sure it is level. If the rear is ok then check the ride height to determine the side that is not correct. Do all these checks with the air system ready for travel. If you do adjust the ride height it will affect the caster somewhat.

EngineerMike · 05-03-2011, 07:09 PM

Here is a Ride Height link off the ACA Tech Library that may help.

Not sure from your description about the differential at both inflated & deflated, or about the details of description (DS low, but left bag fully extended? those are the same side but opposite observations as I read them).
If it was different when inflated only, could be a rock or other road debris nicked one ride height adjuster and bent it.

If its different when air is purged, then the only thing I can think would be bent frame. Other than politics, have you had any recent experiences that would get you bent out of shape?

OldForester · 05-03-2011, 09:32 PM

One other thought from left field -- you might have two issues -- one being your level is not set where it should be in the HWH level adjuster, which is part of the circuit board in front of the HWH reservoir, and is not hard to adjust, and 2)your air dump valve on the side that's low is releasing air when it should not be, or the dump valve on the other side is not releasing air as it should.

When you shut the coach down and dump air, can you hear air dumping from both front air valves? And when your are running, can you hear air releasing from the dump valve side that's low? Our 2006 has dump valves on each air bag, and yours should have them as well.

sdcyclist · 05-04-2011, 08:50 AM

Thank you all for the information. I will be back in San Diego this weekend to do some checking per your posts.

Milo
(sdcyclist)

dgerstel · 05-04-2011, 05:39 PM

sdcyclist,

Did you find this link?
Ride Height Wouldn't Adjust.

takepride · 05-04-2011, 10:42 PM

Unless the ground you are parked on is perfectly level, and your HWH leveling achieves an exact level (which it cannot), your measurements after leveling with jacks would be invalid.

When leveling your coach, what and where do you measure the level? Floor? Table? Swinging doors? Refrigerator? They are not perfectly level to each other. How can you determine what "level" actually is? After I put down my jacks, I use the swinging door and the dining table, which seem to be level to each other. My HWH never leaves it exactly at that spot, so I have to adjust. And, if it does achieve that level, it won't do it twice.

The best you can do for ride height is measure it when configured for travel, jacks stored, allow it plenty of time to achieve it's set ride height measurement and be sure to be parked on perfectly level ground. (I hear there is some in Kansas.)

DrDaveCA · 05-05-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takepride

Unless the ground you are parked on is perfectly level, and your HWH leveling achieves an exact level (which it cannot), your measurements after leveling with jacks would be invalid.

When leveling your coach, what and where do you measure the level? Floor? Table? Swinging doors? Refrigerator? They are not perfectly level to each other. How can you determine what "level" actually is? After I put down my jacks, I use the swinging door and the dining table, which seem to be level to each other. My HWH never leaves it exactly at that spot, so I have to adjust. And, if it does achieve that level, it won't do it twice.

The best you can do for ride height is measure it when configured for travel, jacks stored, allow it plenty of time to achieve it's set ride height measurement and be sure to be parked on perfectly level ground. (I hear there is some in Kansas.)

I have been looking for that level ground in Kansas I think it was sucked up by a tornado and deposited in Missouri

. I think I'll check out Branson....

I use the bathroom and shower doors as a reference. If they don't move on their own it is good enough for me.

gjstacy · 05-08-2011, 10:13 PM

I'm with you, DrDaveCA...I always open the bathroom door after we level, and if it won't stay open just a bit, I do a manual adjustment. It usually only requires a quick tweak.

OldForester · 05-09-2011, 12:24 PM

I'm with your guys that check the bathroom door to make sure it doesn't swing after leveling, and stays open just a bit. I also use a 36" carpenters level on the floor at the front of the galley, next to the dining room table, across the center of coach, in both directions to check the HWH level, and it's always down a tiny bit on the driver's side. This cause the bathroom door to slowly swing open. When I push the left side up a touch on the HWH panel, the level bubble centers and the bathroom door stays open just a bit. I know if I played with the level on the HWH panel by the hydraulic reservoir I could get this a little closer, but this process just sets the coach at a nice level and always gives me a cross-check.