Air Leveling?

[cashboy]

I just bought a 2002 monaco dynasty and it dosn't have legs for leveling,it uses the air bags to level. Is this a good thing or not? thanks cashboy.........

[RickO]

and congrats on your new rig! That's some great coach you've got now.

I believe that air leveling is something which is usually present only on high end coaches and the Dynasty is certainly in that category. I've never owned a coach with air leveling but do know that hydrolic jacks are a common source of complaints and i haven't heard a peep out of those with air leveling so I think it's a good thing.

Enjoy and be safe.

Rick

[Camping4fun]

Welcome to iRV2, RickO is right you got the best leveling system.

[Mike Canter]

I have air leveling in my current coach and had jacks in my previous coach. The air leveling is the easiest to use and the best. Jacks sink in the dirt. Two ways to do the leveling...one is to dump the air out of all the bags so the coach settles all the way down then hit the auto level button or just hit the auto level button. If you lower the coach first it moves less in high winds. You can try both and see which one you like best. It is faster to level with the engine running so you get more air. When you go to travel mode have the engine warming up and give it a few minutes to get in that mode. You can hit the RAISE button and drive over big dips or bumps so you don't drag the trailer hitch. Just hold the raise button down and let it come up then keep holding it until you are over it. You can also lower it to get under a tree branch but DO NOT turn the steering wheel while down because the tires will hit the body. Also make sure when you auto level that the front tires are straight. If the ground is real uneven then I send my wife out to push the rear mud flap that hangs on chains forward so it will not come down on it and bend it or damage the muffler.

[DRosedale]

Welcome to the forum. Some us can only wish for air leveling. It is the best thing since pockets on t-shirts.

Congrats on the new rig. Many happy and safe miles.

[caymann]

There has been situations where i actually wished i had hydraulic jacks.
But that has been only once so far.

Air leveling doesn't do so well if you are in a fairly unlevel lot.
In that case you either change your spot or wish for the hydraulic jacks

Basically, hydraulic jacks have more play (range) and hence works better
in a very uneven lot.

Also having jacks, makes it easier to get under the MH and do maintenance work
No extra jacks to lug around...it's built right into the MH

[RickO]

Originally Posted by caymann

Also having jacks, makes it easier to get under the MH and do maintenance work
No extra jacks to lug around...it's built right into the MH

Do you trust them with your life?

Rick

[SteveLevin]

I've always wondered (for my post-lottery win lifestyle) how air leveling actually works. I mean, I understand that it puts different amounts of air in the different bags and you get a level coach, but does it actually have a way to then get the airbags themselves very firm so the coach doesn't move around?

Steve

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by RickO

Do you trust them with your life?

Rick

I've had HWH levelers on three different motorhomes so far. NONE has EVER gone down when I didn't want it to and I leave the front end suspended for months at a time.
HWH says it's OK to have the front tires off the ground.
Spartan says it's OK to have the front tires off the ground.
Reyco Granning says it's OK to have the front tires off the ground.

Do I crawl under a known "pinch point"? NO, but I will lift the rig enough to change shocks or a tire if need be.

[Mike Canter]

SteveLevin, remember you have all those shock absorbers keeping the coach stable (unless you have Monroes). I hardly ever feel the coach move. One time in West Texas heat we were getting hit by 30-40 mph thermal winds and one could barely feel a big gust.

Something that does happen is that the HWH system does stay active when parked so it is monitoring the position of the coach and if two adults move from one end to the other it will compensate after a short period of time. The only time that you know that it is compensating is if you are sitting outside drinking beer you will hear a hiss as it adjusts. The HWH system includes and auxiliary air compressor so if the air tanks get below 110 psi it will turn on the little air compressor if the compensation requires lifting a corner or side. They are very quiet compressors.

[Downsizer]

We have the Air Bag system as well.... best invention ever!! They work and don't jam or get stuck or ruin blacktop either....

[SteveLevin]

Originally Posted by Mike Canter

SteveLevin, remember you have all those shock absorbers keeping the coach stable (unless you have Monroes). I hardly ever feel the coach move. One time in West Texas heat we were getting hit by 30-40 mph thermal winds and one could barely feel a big gust.

Obviously my experience with nice diesels is limited to stepping in them at RV shows I'll have to try and pay more attention next time. My primary point of comparison is my old gasser which (even though it has airbags to supplement the springs) definitely rocks a bit even when folks are moving around (my wife complains if I don't put the hydraulic jacks down even if we are otherwise level).

Steve

[Zbugsii]

Air leveling is great, but as stated previously, if the slope is excessive, then the air bags can only do as best they can.

I recently had a problem with my air leveling... one of the solenoids was leaking a bit of air... so the system had to keep adjusting. I found and replaced the defective solenoid and am back in business.

Also, I mentioned this once before in a post, but will again here. When fueling up, I purposely tip my coach to one side so that the fuel tank breaths better and I can fill up quicker and easier. This works great and get a lot of looks from everybody as they think I have a serious problem with the coach being cocked over so much.... great fun.

[turn1fan]

Originally Posted by Zbugsii

Air leveling is great, but as stated previously, if the slope is excessive, then the air bags can only do as best they can.

I recently had a problem with my air leveling... one of the solenoids was leaking a bit of air... so the system had to keep adjusting. I found and replaced the defective solenoid and am back in business.

Also, I mentioned this once before in a post, but will again here. When fueling up, I purposely tip my coach to one side so that the fuel tank breaths better and I can fill up quicker and easier. This works great and get a lot of looks from everybody as they think I have a serious problem with the coach being cocked over so much.... great fun.

Which way do you tip, fill side up or down?