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Old 09-01-2015, 10:01 AM   #1
MPH
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Do you let the air out of the suspension bags before leveling?

The previous owner of my coach never dumped the air and never used the HWH levelers. Go figure.... I think he mostly just drove to casinos and took a bunch of friends with him. (Party bus!)

Are there any risks in keeping the bags inflated while parked, if you don't use the levelers?

What kind of maintenance needs to be done on the air bags? I'm not able to do work on my coach, so would have to pay someone to do any air bag maintenance.

Thanks!

Mel
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Old 09-01-2015, 10:36 AM   #2
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airbags

to answer 1 question yes you dump the air bags before you level helps get the steps closer to the ground and provides more motion to gt level i have manual levelers i go side to side first to help prevent twisting the frame then front to rear. as for not using the levelers i dont think it will harm anything but i dont like the rocking when someone walks from one place to another Mike
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Old 09-01-2015, 10:56 AM   #3
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When at the Newmar factory last week I asked the techs there this exact question.
They replied I don't have any choice,they automatically dump anytime I use the leveling jacks.

Bob
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Old 09-01-2015, 11:23 AM   #4
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I have air leveling and never dump because the dog goes nuts
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Old 09-01-2015, 05:46 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by the trainguy View Post
When at the Newmar factory last week I asked the techs there this exact question.
They replied I don't have any choice,they automatically dump anytime I use the leveling jacks.
Bob
That's exactly what I experienced. When I hit the auto-level button, the air bags dumped automatically.
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Old 09-01-2015, 05:47 PM   #6
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My coach starts dumping air as soon as I start leveling but we like to get the coach as close as possible to the ground so we manually dump the air. If possible we make sure the parking is as level as possible but if it is not we try to park with the front on the high side, this way when we dump air the front will be closer to the ground.
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Old 09-01-2015, 06:41 PM   #7
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When at the Newmar factory last week I asked the techs there this exact question.
They replied I don't have any choice,they automatically dump anytime I use the leveling jacks.

Bob
The 10 bag Roadmaster chassis does it a little differently. When the coach speed drops below 10 MPH the active ride leveling system transfers control from the ride height valves to the Valid console for leveling while parked. It starts by determining the lowest corner and adjust the coach to that height for level. If I want to lower or raise the coach it will remain level and raise or lower all four corner. If I lower the coach as much as possible that in effect dumps the air. Lowering my coach reduces the distance the jacks have to travel.
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Old 09-01-2015, 07:42 PM   #8
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My Mandalay Valencia gave me the option to dump or not dump. I usually kept the air bags full when setting jacks, just to keep air flow around/under the coach.


I have no better reason for doing it. Obviously, the step height was never an issue.
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Old 09-01-2015, 08:18 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by MPH View Post
The previous owner of my coach never dumped the air and never used the HWH levelers. Go figure.... I think he mostly just drove to casinos and took a bunch of friends with him. (Party bus!)

Are there any risks in keeping the bags inflated while parked, if you don't use the levelers?

What kind of maintenance needs to be done on the air bags? I'm not able to do work on my coach, so would have to pay someone to do any air bag maintenance.

Thanks!

Mel
Mel,
First off, what does your owners manual say as a procedure? Second, may I ask what model of leveling system you have? You see, if it's HWH, they make a few different models/systems.

Depending on which system you have, it (the owners manual or, operations manual for the HWH system you have) will spell it out for you. And, there's reasons for dumping the air. And the main reason I ask about which system you have is because, in the Ops manual for ours, it specifically states to SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, and turn the key to ACC to begin leveling operations.

The main reason for engine shut down during leveling ops is, if the engine is running, and you try dump the bags and begin leveling, the RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS will interfere with leveling ops because they think they need to compensate for improper relationships between the frame and axles. And, dumping the air, allows for the coach to lower itself to the lowest point possible so the jacks will have less to travel/extend, and therefore raise the coach to the point that it's level. It makes sense. If you start at high profile, then try and level, you're that much higher at the end or, when level.






As for maintenance on air bags, there is none. They are pretty self maintaining.


So, this is why you need to know just which system you have so you can follow proper procedure for that particular system. Good luck.
Scott
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Old 09-02-2015, 04:25 AM   #10
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Mel,
First off, what does your owners manual say as a procedure? Second, may I ask what model of leveling system you have? You see, if it's HWH, they make a few different models/systems.

Depending on which system you have, it (the owners manual or, operations manual for the HWH system you have) will spell it out for you. And, there's reasons for dumping the air. And the main reason I ask about which system you have is because, in the Ops manual for ours, it specifically states to SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, and turn the key to ACC to begin leveling operations.

The main reason for engine shut down during leveling ops is, if the engine is running, and you try dump the bags and begin leveling, the RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS will interfere with leveling ops because they think they need to compensate for improper relationships between the frame and axles. And, dumping the air, allows for the coach to lower itself to the lowest point possible so the jacks will have less to travel/extend, and therefore raise the coach to the point that it's level. It makes sense. If you start at high profile, then try and level, you're that much higher at the end or, when level.

As for maintenance on air bags, there is none. They are pretty self maintaining.

So, this is why you need to know just which system you have so you can follow proper procedure for that particular system. Good luck.
Scott
Very helpful, Scott. (And thanks to everyone who responded.)

I have the HWH leveling but not sure which model/system. I get our coach back from Freightliner today and will check the manuals. Last time we were out, I cut off the engine, left the key in Accessory position, dumped the air, then lowered jacks to level. Worked fine. I'm just going to look through the manual(s) and make sure that's the correct procedure. Seems right.

Mel
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Old 09-02-2015, 06:41 AM   #11
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That's exactly what I experienced. When I hit the auto-level button, the air bags dumped automatically.
I actually prefer to dump the air (without engaging the auto leveling) feature and then see what kind if any additional leveling is required. The auto level on our coach seems to want to raise the coach awfully high when it doesn't seem necessary.
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Old 09-02-2015, 01:22 PM   #12
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Yes. Per our owner's manual and dealer instruction.


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Old 09-02-2015, 01:29 PM   #13
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Our rig only has air leveling using just the air bags so they're inflated or deflated as needed to level.
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Old 09-02-2015, 01:36 PM   #14
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......but if it is not we try to park with the front on the high side, this way when we dump air the front will be closer to the ground.

Just be careful with this process, jac. If you start out nose-high, you may wind up level with the rear wheels off the ground. Not a good thing.
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