Community Forums

Ralph A · 12-07-2010, 07:44 PM

Has anyone installed HWH Active Air on their Freightliner chassis? I have a 2005 Itasca Horizon on the Evolution chassis and I'm considering installing HWH Active Air system. Would like to hear from someone who has some experience with the system.

Mike and Pat · 12-13-2010, 06:54 PM

I had it done the first week of November and have put 4000 miles on it and do not regret the expense. I have a 2004 Meridian and have always had a problem with the coach leaning on turns and exit ramps so much that it felt like you were going to be tossed from your seat (i would slow to at least 10 mph under the listed exit limit to not feel like it was going to roll). The ride was really hard and felt like it was bottoming out when you hit bridge expansion joints or large bumps. The "Walmart wobble" would almost throw everything out of the cabinets if you went across an uneven area entering or leaving a parking lot or a speed bump at an angle.
Now that I have had it done it has made the ride more comfortable and the "walmart wobble" has eased greatly. The exits and turns can be done at or above the posted speed with my wife not even realizing we have made the turn. The $7000 price tag may seem too much for some and it would have been for me if I had not already made the commitment to keep this rig for at least 10 more years. We have made too many upgrades to try and find a new one. Plus we full time and the ride and comfort is really important to us.
The guys at HWH were great. I made my appointment and showed up on at the Allison Trans shop in Davenport for my 7:30am appointment on Monday and was at the HWH factory by 9:30. After a trip to the next exit to have the coach weighed it was back to the factory and Mitch drove it and me up a berm and onto a ramp in a building apart from the regular service building. The ramp was about 5 feet high and that is where the RV and I spent the next 5 days. Everything is fabricated for my rig and Lon was great making sure everything was mounted properly and painted.
It was a great experience and to answer the main question. YES it was worth it. I now have automatic hydraulic leveling (i only had manual before) with a manual option, Air leveling for those overnight stops where i can't put my jacks down (walmart, truck stops), and on the fly ride height adjustments to match the ride to the road. This I think is the most important part. I can adjust the ride height to make rough roads softer and smoth roads even smoother. If you need more info let me know.

RickO · 12-13-2010, 08:58 PM

It sure sounds like a sweet system. If your budget doesn't support the $7000 price tag... we found that the Super Steer Motion Control Units really helped the wobble in our coach.

SuperSteer Motion Control Units

Good luck and post a report if you get the Active Air installed.

Rick

Ralph A · 12-14-2010, 07:14 AM

Mike and Pat, thanks for the very thorough comments about the HWH Active Air system. My Horizon has IFS so the "Walmart Wobble" is not a real problem but I don't like the tilt of the coach when driving on crowned back roads. Any experience with that condition? You said you stopped at the Allison Transmission shop first, was that part of the HWH upgrade? The ads talk about tying systems together; slides, generator and air compressor, did you do that? If so, do you still have independent control in case there's a problem with the central control?

I wouldn't even consider such an expensive upgrade from most companies but HWH has been one of the best RV suppliers we have used in the past 35 years of RVing. I figure if any outfit is going to supply a quality product AND back it up it'll be HWH.

Mike and Pat · 12-14-2010, 02:36 PM

The Active Air System automatically controls the lean when you make a turn or change lanes quickly but the ride height is done manually. If you are on a crowned road you just raise the outer bags and that evens you right out. I tried it again this weekend coming back from a trip and am still amazed at how well it works. I only have my leveling system and air bags tied into the new control box, you will need to talk to HWH themselves to see about adding the other items. I prefered to keep it simple and since my slideout controls are still close at hand while in the drivers set I didn't opt for that change.

This system has done everything that was promised and more. If you have other questions just ask. I really don't mind talking about great upgrades.

Mike and Pat · 12-14-2010, 02:38 PM

I didn't answer your question about the allison shop. That was part of the upgrade and it only takes about 30 minutes to have them upgrade your transmission. They just hook up their computer and when it has been completed you are off the HWH which is only 30 minutes away. HWH even makes the appointment for you.