Can't let air out

[bukzin]

When the jacks are out (coach raised) is there a safety switch which keeps my rig from releasing air from its 8 bags?


If my assumption is correct why was it designed this way?


What am I missing?

[stik]

I would have thought you would dump the air bags BEFORE you extend the jacks. That is the way most systems I have seen/owned work.

[sdennislee]

On My Safari you dump the airbags then extend the jacks. Be sure to air them back up before retracting the jacks or driving.

I should also mention that the air dump requires the ignition switch to be in wither on (engine not running) or in the accessory position.

[YC1]

Yep, my 2c too. Ignition switch must be in the run position with the engine off. Also, pump your brakes until the pressure is gone for a quicker release.

[walt2137]

Originally Posted by bukzin

When the jacks are out (coach raised) is there a safety switch which keeps my rig from releasing air from its 8 bags?


If my assumption is correct why was it designed this way?


What am I missing?

When you jack the coach without blowing the air down the leveling valves should blend the air out as the arm causes the leveling valve to go to the relief position. Not everyone depletes the air in the bags I have never unless the spot was to unlevel to level the coach without doing it, we don't have a problem going in and out with the air bags inflated.

[greatlakes]

The biggest risk by not dumping your air is bending a leveling jack. Thought being (and I can only see this being possible if your jacks can raise your wheels off the ground) you put your jacks down start to raise the RV beyond normal ride height lifting wheels off the ground and allowing the RV to roll/shift which can bend the jacks.
So by starting with the air released you start to level at a lower level and more likely to get level without lifting wheels off the ground.

[walt2137]

Rob I have never had that problem when we had the Dip and never heard of anyone else with that problem if on farly level spot, you can bend one if not careful on a extreme unlevel spot with or without the air blown down.

[bukzin]

OK, sorted out how to dump my air (key on and more time holding the button)

Parked at an unlevel KOA this afternoon and had a heck of a time with it all.

First I dumped ALL the air then hit the auto level button (mine is a '06 with
three jacks)
Coach would not get anywhere near level. One read jack all the way extended
the other rear down but not touching ground. Front lifted coach a little.

At this point I was VERY out of level. So much so that the bay doors would not
close. Guess the frame was twisted? No good.

Next I retracted all three jacks and re-filled all eight air bags. Then selected
auto level and coach is much better and bay door would close.


What did I do wrong? What (if anything) was done right?

[nodine]

Originally Posted by bukzin

OK, sorted out how to dump my air (key on and more time holding the button)

Parked at an unlevel KOA this afternoon and had a heck of a time with it all.

First I dumped ALL the air then hit the auto level button (mine is a '06 with
three jacks)
Coach would not get anywhere near level. One read jack all the way extended
the other rear down but not touching ground. Front lifted coach a little.

At this point I was VERY out of level. So much so that the bay doors would not
close. Guess the frame was twisted? No good.

Next I retracted all three jacks and re-filled all eight air bags. Then selected
auto level and coach is much better and bay door would close.


What did I do wrong? What (if anything) was done right?

bukzin,

If you still have air in the tank the bags can bleed back up. When we get parked I always dump all the air to less than 10 lbs in the tank. Do this by either pumping the brakes or pushing part way down on the parking brake. While you are doing this keep the air dump switch depressed. I like to let all the air out of the bags and wait until I feel them hit the stop. Now I turn on the auto level still keeping the air dump switch depressed.

Different strokes for different folks. That is how I like to do it. Others don't dump the air as mentioned above. We live in the mountains of Tennessee and often encounter sites that are not very level. We like to keep the steps close to the ground and this method works most of the time. We started doing this after encountering a few sites that we did not have enough jack travel to level the coach.

Bob

[YC1]

My auto level seems to raise me a couple of inches more than it needs to so I most often use it in the manual mode.

[nodine]

Originally Posted by YC1

My auto level seems to raise me a couple of inches more than it needs to so I most often use it in the manual mode.

I have noticed the same thing. I think the system is programmed to, if possibile, raise the front single jack just enough to allow the coach to piviot on that jack when the rears are extended at different lenghts. This helps reduce twist on the frame.

Bob

[bukzin]

It seems to me that if the jacks do not extend too far the coach
may be more stable.

If all of my tires are still in firm contact with the ground
(along with my 3 jacks) there would be less movement
when we walk about the motorhome.

Thoughts?

[nodine]

Originally Posted by bukzin

It seems to me that if the jacks do not extend too far the coach
may be more stable.

If all of my tires are still in firm contact with the ground
(along with my 3 jacks) there would be less movement
when we walk about the motorhome.

Thoughts?

Absolutely. That is one of the reason I always dump all the air and lower the coach to the stops. Your jacks will extend less to level the coach and you will have more jack travel to attempt level when camping on a spot that requires one end of the coach to elevate significantly.

Bob

[YC1]

When on level ground I often leave the air in and manually level. Even though there may be a bit more motion, access to the compartments under the slides is a lot easier.