1996 Bounder Auto Park

JimInMich wrote:
I believe I have the same system on my 1987 Georgie Boy ( John Deer chassis ).
I though this was a neat feature, I didn't know it was a problematic item ( until now ).

Anyways, here is a link to a web page someone else mentioned earlier:
http://www.rvautopark.com

If so, it would be the very first chassis I've ever heard of with a Ford engine and tranny, that had AP.
This supposedly all came about with the GM 4L80E tranny and whereas GM didn't feel it strong enough to have a parking pawl in the heavier weight rigs.
Maybe our resident AP guru, the oldusedbear can chime in on this and educate us further.

I believe I have the same system on my 1987 Georgie Boy ( John Deer chassis ).
I though this was a neat feature, I didn't know it was a problematic item ( until now ).

Anyways, here is a link to a web page someone else mentioned earlier:
http://www.rvautopark.com

bjarnold wrote:
The front end is squatting a little so I will take a look at the air bags. It has been sitting so it's possible they may have deflated

Keep in mind that no air bag will raise the coach to proper ride height, if the coil springs are fatigued and even then, it's a waste of time and money to replace them every so often. You can't properly align it, without the proper ride height, either, so best to just replace the coils with the proper strength by weighing the front end loaded and installing Henderson Super Steers.

If you decide to buy this coach, we have a LOT of information on the autopark system - - all free.

rhaag11@charter.net

bjarnold wrote:
The front end is squatting a little so I will take a look at the air bags. It has been sitting so it's possible they may have deflated

. Check the ride height from the lower bumper stop to the upper A arm there should be about 1.5 ins with the bags fully inflated. With a 1996 MH you probably have the 454 230 hp tbi. With headers that MH will have better performance than most DP's. Check for exhaust manifold leaks 454's and 460's run hot and are prone to leaks, that is why a lot of folks put headers on to solve that problem.

Good catch by tropical36. 96 Was the first year for the port injected vortec. It was a vast improvement over its predecessor. At 290 HP, it would get down the road and up the hills. Just make sure that 96 coach is on a 96 chassis. It will say Vortec on the engine if it's a 96.

Richard

The front end is squatting a little so I will take a look at the air bags. It has been sitting so it's possible they may have deflated

bjarnold wrote:
My wife and I are looking at buying a 1996 B7.ounder 28' with the Chevrolet chassis. It has the Auto Park parking brake as well as a manual foot brake on the left side of the steering column. Are the Auto Park systems as bad as people say they are?. Should I look for a Ford chassis motorhome instead?

Are you sure about the AP, as it's hard to figure with a 28 foot coach and being that light (under 15K GVW) even having AP. I mean why would they go through the expense? Anyway, first check for a parking pawl in tranny and if it has such and if mine, I'd disable the AP. I said if mine and as always, your mileage could vary.
Just sold a coach with AP that we had for 9yrs and now 18yrs old.
Very good coach and although I did work on the AP some, I never spent much money doing so. However I did educate myself on the system and did all the work myself.
As for the suspension, I did replace the front coils, along with getting rid of those pesky air bags for good. Otherwise never did a thing other than new shocks and alignment and found that nothing else rides like a P32, short of a DP with air suspension. It does have about 23 grease fittings that I attended to as well, rather than trust others to.
Like the 7.4 Vortec better vs the 460 Ford in those years, also.
First V10 was in 99 and somewhat under powered. In later years it proved to be an excellent engine.

Other weak points on the P32 chassis are the steering bell crank and the air bags in the front coil springs. Bell crank and replacement front springs are available from Henderson Lineup.

Richard

The motor home has 35k miles so hopefully the suspension/steering should be OK for awhile. I see a lot of Bounders with 90+ miles for sale