Community Forums

frogpond · 09-22-2021, 08:31 AM

This past week I ran into some friends who have a 2016 45OPP. They do not use the hydraulic jacks at all when setting up. Instead they just use the air bags to level and support the rig. Is there any downside to doing it this way? Seems much simpler! Thanks to all!

Ranger Smith · 09-22-2021, 09:19 AM

I did not think you could let the air out of one air bag or another to level a coach. Our Tiffin has an auto leveler which dumps the air bags and levels it. Is this something new??

RodneyLadd · 09-22-2021, 09:31 AM

We use air level all the time in our 2020 45OPP for a overnight stop. If staying multiple days then we use the jacks.

SargeW · 09-22-2021, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogpond

This past week I ran into some friends who have a 2016 45OPP. They do not use the hydraulic jacks at all when setting up. Instead they just use the air bags to level and support the rig. Is there any downside to doing it this way? Seems much simpler! Thanks to all!

I like using air leveling when we are only going to be at a location for a day or two. The only downside to using air instead of hydraulic for me is that with jacks the rig is a bit more stable when running the washer/dryer, or in a windy location. Jacks also take more pressure off of the tires while parked and give the sidewalls a break.

The downside of using jacks is that the system is designed to raise the low side first, and it will go past level and make that side higher. Then the low side raises to go just past the first side level. Then the system will adjust by lowering the each side just a bit. Then the system will raise the front or rear jacks together to achieve level in that direction. If the site is fairly level that is not an issue. If there is a significant slope in any direction you may need to block under the jacks so the system doesn't "slope out".

With air leveling the system will adjust all the bags at the same time and the coach will usually be lower to the ground.

MRUSA14 · 09-22-2021, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger Smith

I did not think you could let the air out of one air bag or another to level a coach. Our Tiffin has an auto leveler which dumps the air bags and levels it. Is this something new??

Air Levelling is a separate levelling system that uses the airbags to level the coach. Some coaches have either air or hydraulic levelling, some have both. Sometimes Air levelling is standard and sometimes it is an option, but usually only available in upper end of the line DP's. If you haven't heard of it, it is likely not installed on your coach.

thegats1 · 09-23-2021, 04:57 AM

We have air leveling only on our 2019 Red 340. Like is said above, the higher end DP's have both as I understand it. It does work really well, but like with hydraulic systems, if the site is sloped too much I have to drive one of the sides or front or rear tires up on my rubber pavers I bought from Home Depot to allow the air bags not to hit their limits when leveling. Like SargeW says, when the washer and dryer are going, everyone knows it. The coach shakes quite a bit (not awful, but annoying). The Red 340 is considered an entry level DP, so I just live with it. We often do the laundry at the facilities provided in places we stay anyway since it can be knocked out quicker.