Really how tall is a DS 4369 driving and aired down?

[Canuck53]

Hi,

We have an opportunity to use a RV garage but it is 13 feet high.

There is a small slope up to the door. I will measure mine to check for sure.

Can you drive straight back and forward...no turning to get in and out?

Thanks

[CaptainGizmo]

Confusing post...sounds almost like you’re asking someone else a question?

[StuartS]

Not sure I would drive it dumped.
What is the actual door opening? That ramp is going to add a few inches to the overhang in the back as your wheels hit the ramp. is the garage higher inside the door?
A 13' garage is too close for my comfort as the coach will air up when you start But if it is 13'3", it might work.

[Breezy2006]

Check the brochure, I recall it is 12’8” aired up and dumping the air gets you down to around 12’4”.

[deaton]

Forget the brochure. Get a tape and measure. But you will find that you are about 13-2. If PT is not likely this will work and moving the coach with deflated airbags is NOT a great idea.

Even if you don’t mess up the suspension, any turn of the wheel can damage your fenders.

All that said, if you really want to go this route, adding and HWH active air system (about $10,800) might give you the control you need to lower the coach enough to make this work.

You will need to enter totally straight and if there is any slope, this could impact your overhead clearance.

[Canuck53]

But once you start the coach can you lower the coach and drive straight for 50 ft?

[Tigerfan1]

Originally Posted by Canuck53

Hi,



We have an opportunity to use a RV garage but it is 13 feet high.



There is a small slope up to the door. I will measure mine to check for sure.



Can you drive straight back and forward...no turning to get in and out?



Thanks

I have a pole barn with a 13 foot door opening with a sectional door that hangs down about 8 inches lower than the 13 foot opening. I have to manually push the bottom of the door up to be above the door opening. After doing this, I have about 3 inches of clearance to get our 4369 in the barn without dumping the air bags. If I had it to do over again I would have built the barn with 14 doors.

[TheRod]

I bought a laser measuring instrument for a few bucks which enables me to easily determine heights of various overhead concerns, as well as measuring my coach. Spartan advised to continuously depress the dump switch until you have cleared the obstacle and driving slowly forward or slowly backing with bags down shouldn't be a problem and it wasn't, as I checked them. You'll need to determine the height of you highest points of your coach both aired up and dumped. With the drive having an angle, I'd be awfully careful and have a spotter on a tall ladder.

[Canuck53]

Originally Posted by TheRod

I bought a laser measuring instrument for a few bucks which enables me to easily determine heights of various overhead concerns, as well as measuring my coach. Spartan advised to continuously depress the dump switch until you have cleared the obstacle and driving slowly forward or slowly backing with bags down shouldn't be a problem and it wasn't, as I checked them. You'll need to determine the height of you highest points of your coach both aired up and dumped. With the drive having an angle, I'd be awfully careful and have a spotter on a tall ladder.

Thanks for the advice on how to do it to keep it low.

The spotter idea is right on.

This door is not of my choice. I too would have a 14 ft door. It is a home in Arizona that friends are renting for the winter that has a garage for us to stay and use.

I will measure and check the before leaving. The idea of a spotter on the a ladder right beside the opening. Need to check and measure the inside to make sure no hide traps.

Would you back in or drive in? Let comfort drive straighten the wheels and go slow.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by Canuck53

Thanks for the advice on how to do it to keep it low.

Would you back in or drive in? Let comfort drive straighten the wheels and go slow.

Doesn't matter, you will have to do the opposite to get out. Air dumped and steers straight does not hurt the suspension. If you have a fantastic fan cover on the rear bath, you will be over 13' for sure. The spotter is good advice.

[TheRod]

Originally Posted by Canuck53

Thanks for the advice on how to do it to keep it low.

The spotter idea is right on.

This door is not of my choice. I too would have a 14 ft door. It is a home in Arizona that friends are renting for the winter that has a garage for us to stay and use.

I will measure and check the before leaving. The idea of a spotter on the a ladder right beside the opening. Need to check and measure the inside to make sure no hide traps.

Would you back in or drive in? Let comfort drive straighten the wheels and go slow.

Personally, I feel 13ft or even 13'6" to close for my comfort. But, if you are going to check it out,
Back in only, a spotter can help you there as well. Getting out won't be as difficult or hazardous to your rig.

Such a close clearance is going to be dicey, esp. with the addition of grade (and how much) and the responsiveness of your rig to your accelerator pedal. With grade, you'll also have to consider the overhead environment well into the space, not just at the door.

To help visualize spatially, (and I hope this isn't too elementary), take a shoebox (your rig) and a straight edge which represents the top of the doorway and just clears the box. Now angle the box ~/= to the grade of the drive and try to push the box under the straight edge. If the clearance is too close it won't fit and this height continues into the space even if it clears the straight edge (doorway). Hope this helps!

[Tigerfan1]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Doesn't matter, you will have to do the opposite to get out. Air dumped and steers straight does not hurt the suspension. If you have a fantastic fan cover on the rear bath, you will be over 13' for sure. The spotter is good advice.

If you have a fantastic fan cover on the rear bath, you will be over 13' for sure. The spotter is good advice.[

Right on. I have to remove my fan cover to get in 13’ door.

[twogypsies]

Originally Posted by Canuck53

It is a home in Arizona that friends are renting for the winter that has a garage for us to stay and use.

.... and this is o.k. with the owner of the home? Would you be living in the motorhome in the garage?

Personally, I wouldn't try it with all the additions on top of motorhomes.

[Canuck53]

We are renting the whole house including the garage. Worst case we park it outside. Lots of good advice on measure, scout etc.