Brob wrote:
I like the idea of the black walnut; I recall the story of it being from your grandfather. Having the sentimental value in addition is great.
I built some cabinets for my home a few years back and I had baskets for drawers. The baskets had a wooden rim at the top and I affixed drawer slides to them. Made a really nice cabinet. I later built an outdoor bathroom and moved that cabinet to the outdoor bathroom; it's still in service today.
You mentioned a noticeable difference with the air bags; what was your observation? The airbags on my rig are currently inoperable; mine is a 36' coach on a P30 chassis with a MorRyde tag axle. It handles pretty well without the airbags, I'm wondering what new bags will do.
When we first bought the motor home, I was dumber than a box of rocks, concerning all things "motor home" wise. Lol.
Anyhow, while driving down the road, when a semi would come along side of us to pass us, about the time his front end would get to the rear of our coach, the front end of the coach would start heading towards the left. (I was in the driving lane, the semi was obviously in the passing lane).
It was significant enough that I had to make an adjustment with the steering wheel, and not just a tiny bit of adjustment.
About the time the front of the semi got to the center of the coach, then the front of the coach would start to head toward the right side of the road. More steering adjustment needed to try and keep 'er going straight.
Once the rear of the semi trailer got past the front of the coach, now the front end of the coach would start to (for lack of a better term, 'dive'), towards the left again.
It was all based on the air movement from the semi, and after realizing what was going on, it was easy to know about when the coach was going to dive one way or another.
One day while I was checking air in the rear tires, I noticed, at the front of the wheel well, a little air valve. Say what? Where does that go?
Crawling under the coach, following the air line, I discovered the rear air bags. Well! Let's add some air and see what happens. I put about 60 lbs in there, and it made a difference in handling when a semi would pass us. Not cured, but a definite difference.
Mr rocket science here never noticed that the front end also had air "valves" as well.
Eventually, I did notice, followed the air lines, and realized the air bags were inside the front springs. Ok, then.
After a little research, I put 40 lbs in the front pair, 60 in the rear, and it's time to go for a test spin on the nearby interstate.
All I could say is WOW!!!!! Almost zero movement of the coach when a semi would pass us. It was like driving a completely different coach.
Now, a semi comes along side of the coach, and little to no steering adjustment needed to keep 'er straight.
With the rear bags inflated to 60 - 70 lbs and the front at 40, keeps the rear of the coach up in the air just a little, but it handles like a dream.
That's been our experience with this coach. I've seen other P30's going down the highway, watched them when a semi passed them, and I instantly knew what they were going through. All over their lane, trying to keep it straight.
If yours doesn't do that, you are blessed.
I haven't verified it, but I've heard that the P30 came from the factory with air bags installed, and was part of the suspension package, and was necessary to handle properly.
Like I said, I haven't verified that, but it sure works that way with ours.
