Question When it’s up, how do you know?

[RandyB]

Stop it. We’re discussing the coach air suspension.
According to Newmar procedure, the full wall slide is to be extended and retracted while “on the bags”. Meaning with the air suspension fully up. Then dump the air for leveling.
It’s fairly easy to know when the bags are down. The hissing stops and you can see/feel the suspension bottom out.
Reversing the procedure for retracting the slide is not so evident. The engine must be started to drive the compressor that inflates the bags which “airs up” the suspension. Running the engine early in the morning is annoying to the neighbors. The engine should be run at a minimum, but like the title, when it’s up, how do you know? How do you know when the chassis is fully inflated and the engine can be stopped? What is your tell on up is up?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

On our coach, you can hear the pop-off valve release a short burst of air when the air bags are full.

TJ

 

[RandyB]

On our coach, you can hear the pop-off valve release a short burst of air when the air bags are full.

TJ

The pop-off valve release is indicative that the air pressure maximum has been reached. So is it save to assume that if the dash gauges reach the max pressure, the bags are fully inflated?

 

[stang37]

I call it aired up when I hear the discharge from the compressor/air tanks and see both air gauges are at or near 150#. I have the engine at high idle when airing up and once I heard the discharge from the compressor/air tanks I disengage the high idle and let the engine slow and run for about 20 seconds before shutting down. So far I have never had the not airing up issue.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

The pop-off valve release is indicative that the air pressure maximum has been reached. So is it save to assume that if the dash gauges reach the max pressure, the bags are fully inflated?

That's been our experience.

TJ

 

[CaptainGizmo]

I agree with TJ. That’s how I gauge “aired up”.

 

[Neal]

The ultimate goal of Newmar is not to move slides while on levelers as they can twist “the box”. They use the concept of a box in a box. The FWS is a box inside the coach shell as the outer box.

They want you running slides while on the air bags. They can be deflated or inflated it really doesn’t matter and honestly to avoid all twist deflated would probably be best but they want you at ride height for now so that means aired up.

 

[J&JD]

I agree with TJ. That’s how I gauge “aired up”.

Same here. And, if you are fortunate enough to have HWH Active Air, the control screen will tell you when you are at ride height.

 

[DKRITTER]

I start the coach and go outside and do something so I don't have to listen to the alarm. It's easy to hear the popoff once it's up to pressure, then I go in and close the slides.

 

[CaptainGizmo]

I start the coach and go outside and do something so I don't have to listen to the alarm. It's easy to hear the popoff once it's up to pressure, then I go in and close the slides.

TIP: Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY (left), then AUTO STORE your jacks!!!

Wait until the process is complete? THEN start your engine.

This way, you won’t have the alarm!

 

[Neal]

I have an alarm that goes off when my air pressure is below 65 PSI @CaptainGizmo - doesn't yours do this? I think that's the alarm mentioned above until a certain air pressure is achieved. There are also jacks down alarms and seat not rotated to driver's position alarms.

 

[DKRITTER]

TIP: Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY (left), then AUTO STORE your jacks!!!

Wait until the process is complete? THEN start your engine.

This way, you won’t have the alarm!

I'll try this Saturday when we move to Lubbock, I thought it was for the air pressure too.

 

[Old-RV'er]

Hmmm, believe low air is at 60PSI, regardless, the following sequence is required by Newmar.

Coach is at "ride height "note, this will change depending on how level the site you are in is. I run down air once in spot, by stepping on brakes several times, and then let coach pump system back up to "compressor pop off noise", but my air gauges are almost pegged out at the highest pressure available. I check the pedestal power with an external Surge Guard Unit, if staying longer than couple of nights, I chain up the SG to the pedestal, and then plug coach into that. Once got shore power, tested good, and hooked to coach, I extend the slides. Back inside for the leveling operation. Note, assuming Dutch Star and above do not have Equalizer System (don't like it), and your leveling systems are better.

I stop the engine, turn key to ACC and power up the equalizer panel, I start Auto Level, then push button again to just stop auto level, but this allows all the bags to lose air in them. I turn off jack panel, and turn on again, then I level the coach manually because the EQ system will lower the jacks and try to level the coach prior to the airbags being empty. This will leave the front of the coach much higher than is necessary for the BH to gain entry because it's so high off the ground. By allowing all the air to be let out, and then leveling manually, I can ensure that the front is as low as possible and still level. NOTE: It seems to me, that after a few hours, the level of the coach changes, most likely due to the fluid in the system cooling down and contracting possibly, so I check level again, and 9 times out of 10, I have to futz with the level again to make sure it's correct. I have very good internal spatial orientation awareness, and so I can see or feel if the coach is out of level and when I do I check the bubble level and it confirms I am correct. Newmar checked the EQ system last service (June 1sat 2020), they said it' is working fine. Using the auto level feature is almost worthless, as stated above, it seems to hunt for level at least 3-10 times before I get the "beep for level" and when I check it, usually it's at least 1/2 bubble off of level, so I just do it manually. The equilizer system is not as good as HWH, they make the best leveling system bar none, but life is what it is. If I wanted HWH, I would own New Aire. Not unless win big lottery.

TO leave: I unlevel coach and start engine almost at the same time. I allow Oil Pressure to stabilize and start fast idle to get coach to Ride Height faster. Once RH achieved, I put in the slides, (assuming all interior things stowed, etc.). I stop fast idle, wait 10 seconds or so to let engine level out and shut down. I then go outside, dump tanks/flush tanks, stow hoses, cords, etc. I make final walk around to check compartment doors/locked. Then we slowly leave spot, to toad hook up area (if necessary) and leave. I do not put any heavy loads on engine until it shows at least the 1st peg of temperature has been achieved on gauge. Then take it easy for 5 miles of so on highway to make sure its warmed up good.

 

[sheridany]

start fast idle

How do you enable this?

 

[Neal]

How do you enable this?

Press the button to engage cruise control then press set/resume. Press cancel/disengage cruise control to return to normal idle.