Height question for 2003 Intrigue

[sanddan]

I know the running height for the 2003 Intrigue is 12'2" but my question is how low can you get it to clear a garage door? My understanding is with the air ride you can lower the coach when parked, can you use this feature to lower it when trying to clear a shop door that is lower than 12'? If so how much lower?

My current shop door is at 11' so I know it won't fit as is but I am looking at options such as lowering the floor to gain extra head room. Removing the concrete and digging out the floor seems like the cheapest solution but I'm not sure how much would have to be removed. Obviously, worst case would be lowering the floor by 16"-18" and less would be better.

The shop is pole barn construction so would be flexible to this kind of mod. It would also require a bump out at one end to accommodate the extra length but that is a very common addition, I know several people that have done it to their buildings.

[Smitty77]

Yes, you can lower the coach and it will remain their unless you go over I believe 10mph, then it goes to Travel position. How much? Our 04 Allure, I'd estimate a ~3" drop. But I've never measured it, and only had to lower ride height one time while cleaning a tree limb. Have raised it many times - but that does not help you.

Many on this board know much more about what these chassis can do. So hope someone can give you a definitive answer!

Best,
Smitty

[Roy1]

Your idea of digging down is the way i’d Go. On my coach I can drop it down a few inches but would have to hold the switch down or it goes back to ride height. Mine cleared by 1” till one day it wiped out an ac shroud. I then notched the header a couple of inches.

[kerryvan]

I would dig the floor, and would add a pit at one end to allow for service underneath.

[Smitty77]

The pit is a great feature, and it could double for a MIL's quarters too:_)!

(Tis the season to get in trouble...)

The pit for service is a great idea!

Best to all,
Smitty

[CarlAda]

LOL @ Smitty!

[dons2346]

The coach will lower approx 5". To keep it lowered, you must hold down the lower button when you put it into drive or it will go back to ride height. Same thing if you want to raise the coach and keep it raised.

[TR4]

I installed a switch between the fuse box and the HWH box. I dump the air, flip the switch, and move the coach into the garage (12 ft. header). It keeps the HWH from going to ride height.

Another option is to raise the header height, then install a new garage door. Or, you might be able to add a new section to the existing.

Digging out this much dirt might effect the way the garage was originally designed.

Bill

[sanddan]

Thanks for the input.

I talked to Premier about this and they said basically the same, you can lower about 4"-6". After thinking about this for awhile it came to me that I only need to raise the header for the roll up door as the inside is clear all the way to the roof. I did a quick layout and I can get the added room by bumping a wall out about 10' and adding a dormer type roof to the bump out. The change would be mostly framing and some new metal but would not require the existing floor to be changed. I will be talking to some pole barn builders to get an idea of the cost but I know the hardest part will be finding a builder that will do anything other than the typical basic rectangle barn.

[sanddan]

The concrete in the first 10' inside the current door is cracked due to the RV weight, right where the rear dually wheels are. Since I would be adding about 10' to the pad I can have the cracked section removed and the new concrete poured thicker this time.

An issue with lowering the floor for my shop would be dealing with the runoff water at that end of the building. It's already a problem and digging a big hole would just make that a bigger problem. The ground is clay so the water tends to just run until it settles in a low spot. No oil change pits for me here, it would be nice tho.