Community Forums

Safetysteve5 · 06-12-2022, 09:54 AM

It is my understanding, and it makes sense to me, that lifting the tires off the ground with the leveling system is not good for the air bags and/or the shocks. #1 what are your thoughts on this? #2 has anyone installed straps or chains that would allow you to lift the wheels off the ground and the straps or chains would support the weight of the axle & wheels? If so, what did you install and describe your project please. Thanks

Ray,IN · 06-12-2022, 02:00 PM

Generally speaking; Chassis mfgrs. that use an independent front suspension allow the front to be lifted off the ground, those that use a solid front axle do not allow the front to be lifted off the ground due to the weight involved.
My A-frames limit the length of travel, not the air springs. This does not harm the shocks, or at least hasn't yet, and my shocks are now 7 years old.

Most folks with solid axles place enough wood blocks under the tires that the entire front axle weight is not put on the shocks.

RetGunner · 06-16-2022, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safetysteve5

It is my understanding, and it makes sense to me, that lifting the tires off the ground with the leveling system is not good for the air bags and/or the shocks. #1 what are your thoughts on this? #2 has anyone installed straps or chains that would allow you to lift the wheels off the ground and the straps or chains would support the weight of the axle & wheels? If so, what did you install and describe your project please. Thanks

I would also be interested to see if anyone has done this since I have separated rear air bag beads 3 times now. Not fun crawling under it after camping to re seat the beads. I try not to over extend but it still happens.

Ray,IN · 06-17-2022, 07:33 PM

OK all bets are off. Raising the rear wheels off the ground is unacceptable. That is the only parking/emergency brake there is on a MH; locking the rear wheels.
Your only solution is to stop raising the rear wheels off the ground, or back onto ramps that keep the rear wheels in contact with a support to hold the weight.

FWIW, I've never heard of an air spring pulling apart from the end base, and being repairable.

turbine52 · 06-17-2022, 07:42 PM

They have companies ( Henderson's Line Up) that make shock limiting straps. I have broken shocks before installing the limiting straps.

Isaac-1 · 06-17-2022, 07:46 PM

The thing I don't understand about all this is how do they ever expect you to change a tire?

Safetysteve5 · 07-06-2022, 08:02 AM

If you lift your wheels off the ground with your leveling system then the entire weight of your rig is focused on 4 points of solid contact with the ground. I don't think your rig is going anyplace even with your rear wheels with parking brake engaged off the ground.

To change a tire you jack the wheel/tire off the ground from under the axle which compresses these components rather than stretching them out if you lift with your leveling jacks. When I replaced my tires recently the tire technician wanted me to raise each wheel off the ground using the leveling jacks. I refused and he had to crawl under the coach to position a jack under the axle as is proper technique.

Always a good idea to know how to do these jobs even if you don't intend to do them yourself so that you can "supervise" road service techs that may know better but want to do the job "the easy way" which may not be best for your equipment