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fstruys · 10-17-2021, 01:08 PM

I have a project that I have been considering since shortly after my 2017 purchase of a 2007 Allure, specifically, right after I changed fluids & filters. I was very surprised to find that when I set out to replace the cartridge on the air dryer, it is mounted directly in front of the differential.

My previous RV, a 1997 Monaco Windsor, had the air dryer mounted on the inside of the right-hand-side frame rail, to the right side of the Allison, just rearward of the rear wheel well. It was easy to get at & service, so what was CC thinking? On my Allure, I just pulled the entire assembly out & replaced the complete air dryer unit. Oh boy, I could hardly wait for the next desiccant cartridge replacement!

Anyway, I am planning to relocate the entire air dryer assembly to the left of the 2 fuel filters that are mounted on the steel cross member just inside of the rear fiberglass cap & just below the engine access door opening. Moving both fuel filters/water separator slightly to the right will give me plenty of room & make future replacement of the cartridge much, much, much easier.

Has anyone else moved their air dryer? Any suggestions or concerns I should be aware of?

Thanks, Felix

2007 CC Allure Sunset Bay 37'

gnvrvin · 10-17-2021, 01:50 PM

Great Idea going to follow this one

Greg

Alpine36 · 10-17-2021, 02:59 PM

We did it all the time when building our line trucks for the electric utility.
Mainly because of clearance issues with the body install, outriggers etc, certainly not for ease of service. Will the labor spent to move it ever pencil out in labor saved the few times it will require service?
Suppose only you can answer that question, but located ahead of the diff in no mans land seems like an odd location for an airdryer.

96 Wideglide · 10-17-2021, 03:02 PM

Supposed to be a constant downhill slope from the compressor output, to the dryer input.

fstruys · 10-17-2021, 06:24 PM

As it is currently mounted, it appears to be slightly uphill from the compressor. If I move it to the engine compartment, I believe that it will be slightly lower, but I will get an accurate height measurement from my shop floor to the current location, to the compressor output fitting & to the new location.

I have changed just the cartridge this past summer so that's twice that I've been under the differential in 4 years. If I do the labor myself & the hoses are fairly inexpensive, probably well under $100, I will be very happy the next time I replace the cartridge!

Thanks, Felix

2007 CC Allure 37' Sunset Bay

fstruys · 04-02-2022, 12:21 PM

Phew, finally! I completed my air dryer relocation project and it cost less than $100 in materials. I decided that crawling under the RV, even with two 25 ton jack stands, two 25 ton bottle jacks and two stacks of 4" thick blocks of 12" x 24" oak, given to me years ago by a member of one of Burlington Northern's derailment teams, never made me feel comfortable!

I still can't imagine why Country Coach would mount the air dryer in front of the differential? Anyway, here is a photo of it's new location. I moved the two fuel filters/ water separator slightly to the right making room for the air dryer. It might be a stretch to say that I can hardly wait 'til it's time to service the dryer!

I also completed another "wish list" project that I have envisioned since buying my Allure. With my previous RV, a 1997 Monaco Windsor without slides, I could add water to the fresh water tank by opening the PS-side, utility bay door and pouring water from my 6-gallon Rubbermaid jugs into the gravity-fill water tank inlet.

On my Allure, because of the slides, the utility bay door only opens about 90 degrees, making the gravity-fill water tank fill port pretty much useless. So, by adding a 3-port L-type ball valve and a little re-plumbing, I can place my 6-gallon water jugs on the ground near the open utility bay door insert a short hose and use the existing water pump to suck the water out of the jug & into the water tank! A side project involved my adding temperature control to my water sprayer to rinse the the sand of my grand kids' feet with warm water. They HATED the cold water rinse after playing on the beach!

Twenty-five years ago, holding up and pouring four 6-gallon water jugs into my Monaco wasn't that big a deal. Now that I'm lazier (and older), this makes dry camping so much easier!

Felix & Becky, 2007 Allure Sunset Bay 37', #31448
Vancouver, WA

twinboat · 04-02-2022, 01:27 PM

The chassis builder follows the air dryers instructions to keep it away from heat over about 165 degrees and also running the compressor discharge line downhill to prevent water traps that may freeze.