Community Forums

JVJ · 12-22-2009, 05:01 PM

I need to clear a service dept door with a max height of 12'9". The brochure on the 2008 Pacifica say the exterior height is 12'4" plus add 8" for the sat dome, this comes to 13'. If I were to line up nice and straight at the door, then dump the air out of the suspension, can I drive it forward with no problems?
Second part of the question is, any idea as to how much clearance I would gain by doing the air dump?
Thanks in advance for your imput.

GaryKD · 12-22-2009, 05:14 PM

Hi JVJ,
On my coach the air ride raises the coach about 5 inches. Yes you can drive it in the garage bay before the air bags inflate. My concern is having someone else getting in the coach (when the work is completed) and driving it out after it has aired up. Maybe a sign on the steering wheel would be something to consider. I have an air brake lock that I would use in this situation.

Sammie · 12-22-2009, 05:19 PM

Where I park my Journey I had the same issue. I would stop just before the entrance and drop the air bags. Then I would restart the engine and drive forward fairly quickly and then shut down the engine. Just keep in mind that as soon as you start the engine, the air bags start to fill so don't dilly dally around. I did that for over a year and never had any problems. My wife finally convinced me to modify the carport so that as my mind changes with my age, I won't have any mishaps.

Good Luck
Sammie

Jim Stewart · 12-22-2009, 05:24 PM

I had a problem on a Newmar Mountianaire and it required a very level flat surface to perform the adjustment. The door was 4 inches shorter than my MH. I did did what you are going to try, I lined it up, pulled right up to where it was going to hit (serviceman on the roof), dumped the air (lowered it 6 inches), started the engine and pulled in rather quickly. They performed the service and I reversed the process to back out.

I was so excited and wound up when I left, I backed into a $1 Mil Prevost and took off the Rear View Mirror. After you do it, take a few minutes to lower the blood pressure before you leave!

JVJ · 12-22-2009, 05:33 PM

Believe it or not, I didn't realize that the coach would go into automatic air inflation of the suspension when started. On our past air suspension American Eagle coaches when you dumped the air the coach it stayed in the dumped position until you manualy set the switch to air up the chassis suspension.
Glad I'm not too old to keep learning new things, nor afraid to as questions.

WeatherTodd · 12-22-2009, 07:18 PM

cant you put a regulator inline of the compressor so youll have better control over the inflate process??

EngineerMike · 12-22-2009, 07:44 PM

On many coaches equipped w/an air dump feature, the valve is operated by a momentary switch, i.e. only dumps when you press the switch. So you would shut down, dump all air, then fire up w/your finger on the switch and roll forward (or rearward) w/finger on the switch. Shouldn't be an exercise in blood pressure.

If you don't have this kind of setup, or just want to make sure w/out the sweat, take a fitting apart where the air system won't send air to the bags. Shouldn't be hard to locate such a fitting; just dump the air before opening the fitting so nobody has the coach settle on them.

powerboatr · 12-23-2009, 12:03 PM

hmmm
i have driven many times into a small opening dumped

our coach has a manual valve that overides the auto fill.
maybe you could simply add a dump valve?

i drop close to 5" ,

rebelone · 12-23-2009, 02:00 PM

Some motorhomes when you put in gear and release air parking brake, air bags auto inflate. Check this out before you go into building.

EngineerMike · 12-23-2009, 02:36 PM

Another, and probably more safe method would be to add a valve between the ride height control or air dump valve (whichever is closer) and the air bag (4 each). Shut the valve after air dump and with engine off, open it after you leave the building. You can easily cut in a push-type o-ring seal valve that you can buy @ HD or Lowes.

sgtjoe · 12-23-2009, 07:19 PM

If you're taking it in for service, the easy solution would be to go somewhere else that has the clearance.

JVJ · 12-24-2009, 05:49 AM

I am getting the roof seals replaced (old pulled off and new sealent put back in place), as well as Max Air Vent Covers placed over the vents. We have a local dealership that has an excellent reputation, plus I like to keep my business local if I can. I will still have him do the work, but we will have to wait for the Holidays and the Dog-Gone Winter weather to pass through.
I do love Texas, but the weather this year has been just plain CRAZY. We had a wet Spring, a drought stricken Summer, a super soaker rainy early fall where we still have water sitting on the ground, because the ground is still too wet to allow the water to soak in.......and now winter weather with snow in the forecast, low temps in the low 20's for the next week. And to top it off, it was 76 degrees just yesterday.

hardy1000 · 12-24-2009, 06:09 AM

I wonder, after reading this post if we open the front and rear compressor air bleed valves if this would solve the problem. Anybody ever try this?

H. Miller · 12-24-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardy1000

I wonder, after reading this post if we open the front and rear compressor air bleed valves if this would solve the problem. Anybody ever try this?

What would you do for brakes? On second thought the MH wouldn't/couldn't roll as the spring brake (emergency) would be activated due to zero air pressure.