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Old 05-23-2018, 07:57 PM   #1
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Air leveling but not stable......

Our coach has air leveling which works well. The only problem is that it really isn't what you would call stable. Basically any movement in the coach is minor but noticeable.

I don't really want to install hydraulic or electric stabilizers so......

Has anyone come up with something like jack stands or something similar which could be used to lower the coach on? Basically level the coach and then put something under to take the weight off and keep the airbags from moving.

Bad idea? Any thoughts?

Appreciate any ideas, thanks.
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Old 05-23-2018, 08:04 PM   #2
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Ours is the same. You just grin and get used to it after a while.
It is a good way to really know how strong the winds are!
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Old 05-23-2018, 08:16 PM   #3
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Never notice it in mine, but then boats don't bother me either.
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Old 05-23-2018, 09:04 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captjake1 View Post
Ours is the same. You just grin and get used to it after a while.
It is a good way to really know how strong the winds are!
I'll see how that goes over with the DW.......
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Old 05-23-2018, 10:15 PM   #5
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We have air & hyd. jacks. We prefer to use the air levelling
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Old 05-24-2018, 06:43 AM   #6
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Ok there are four ways to level
Plank
Air
Hydraulic
Electric jacks

Planks, your rig will rock because you are still on the springs (mine does, I don't notice it much when inside but on the roof cleaning.. BIG TIME)

Air: Is compressible, like springs. No difference.

Hydraulic Hoses can be a bit "Springy" allowing some rocking but way less way way way way less than air

Electric.. in theory should be "Sitting on a foundation" solid.

I"ve used jack stands and still had some rocking a and I lifted at least 4" before setting the stands

But with air I woudl expect rocking. Use hydraulics if you got 'em.
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Old 05-24-2018, 07:20 AM   #7
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On our '06 Dynasty, we use air most of the time, but hydraulic, some of the time. If the ground is solid and the jacks won't push down over time into the surface, we prefer the hydraulic. Otherwise, we prefer the air.

As for motion, we get it either way. But I say that on air, the coach wiggles. On the hydraulics, it jiggles. It's a matter of frequency. On air, most of the motion is due to the pneumatics. On the jacks, most of the motion is due to the fact that our coaches aren't rigid bodies, but really quite flexible structures. Add to that, for those of us with three-point jacks, that flexibility is definitely going to be a noticeable factor.

Captjake is pretty much right on. Part of the fun of "living" in an RV. Cheers all!
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Old 05-24-2018, 07:31 AM   #8
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It's interesting how different people have different preferences. Nobody is right or wrong. From owning boats most of our lives, we PREFER air leveling over jacks. I never notice coach moving in wind or when someone is walking about-but it does move. Actually kinda like it. Got the grandkids convinced too. If I had to pick a new coach with Air only leveling OR jacks only, no question I'd go with the air.
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Old 05-24-2018, 07:42 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_D View Post
Never notice it in mine, but then boats don't bother me either.

Same here
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Old 05-24-2018, 08:07 AM   #10
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One option with air levelling if your on a fairly level surface, is to drop it down all the way as low as it goes. Then the only movement is from the tires.
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Old 05-24-2018, 08:31 AM   #11
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We don't notice it anymore , haven't even thought about it in yrs .
Even visitors only seem to notice it when someone steps on or off
the outside steps .

Be careful dumping the air bags if you are on unlevel ground it can
twist / torque the coach leading to a cracked windshield and binding
doors .

Personally I wouldn't spend the money to install a hydraulic jack system .
We have had jacks before , they were not that much better plus they
get stuck in the mud which is a real pain in the behind .

Ray
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Old 05-24-2018, 10:57 AM   #12
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I've found if you dump the air down almost all the way and then level it is more stable. My Auto level did not work for a while and I got used to doing this manually.
Now I just press the dump arrow until the entry step is almost all the way down and then depress Auto level. This usually results in one or more air bags completely deflated so at least that one is rock stable. The more level the parking site, the more bags that are deflated and the more stable it is.
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Old 05-24-2018, 01:59 PM   #13
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When snowbirdind I put two 4X4 cut about 18” under the frame at the front and several 2x4s under the brace under the tranny. They come in contact when the coach is all the way down. I do not take them with me.

In researching airbags they have rubber bumpers inside that supports the load when you let all the air out...no need for supports if the site is level.
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Old 05-24-2018, 02:05 PM   #14
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Starting low helps a lot, as noted above. I get as low as I can before I air level. When I was parked for the winter, I bought two 6'x6' barn floor pads, cut them into 12" x12", and created a perfectly level platform and dumped all of the air...super solid, and a super big PITA to do every time.
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