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retiredtraveler's avatar
retiredtraveler
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013

Dumping Airbags

My wife and own a 1998 Holiday Rambler DP. We bought it this spring.
On one of our first trips we had to extend the front levelers all the way to get level. That is when I saw that magic button to dump air bags. Problem is that it did not work. We had a few other problems which the seller fixed correctly. I went back about the airbags and got the old "We looked at it and everything seems OK" Well, it still does not work!
So amongst you smart people can anyone tell me 1:How is it supposed to work?
2:Where in the MH do I find the components to make it work?
It seems like it should be a pretty simple thing. One solenoid somewhere. Either a bad switch or a bad solenoid. Am I wrong?
Thank you to all in advance.
Class A

26 Replies

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  • Mandalay_Parr's avatar
    Mandalay_Parr
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    My MH dumps the air bags rather quickly. Mine: put ignition switch in accessory position. Turn my HWH system ON and touch Dump. It will drop about 4-5 inches. My auto leveling system will also dump air before extending jacks.
  • prism's avatar
    prism
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    My experience in 2002 bus and Now 2008 bus by tiffin.1)If you deploy the jacks far enough out the air bags deflate without dumping them 2)when I do hit air bag dump switch its pretty swift and very noteable(instant) 3)when dumping air bags and then deploying jacks it does not empty the air tanks
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Oct 15, 2013
    Every MH can be different. On my 2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S, the (brake) air tanks do not drain when I release the suspension air bags. The brake air tanks will hold pressure for weeks. The air bags and brakes have to be different systems. If taking all of the air out of the suspension also drained all of the braking air, you'd have no air left to operate the parking brakes.

    As Racerguy noted, the air bag dump is rather slow. Sometimes when I sit in the driver's seat I'll line up the dash with something on the ground in front of the MH to see if it is actually lowering. It does, but it's slow. If you want to be sure, use a tape measure before and after.

    Bill
  • retiredtraveler's avatar
    retiredtraveler
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    Racerguy,

    I DID NOT know that!!!! I will try it in the morning.
    As always you guys rule. I hope someday when I am a veteran to the RV life I can help someone. We are newbies but have gotten tons of advise on these boards.
    Thanks to all.
  • racerguy's avatar
    racerguy
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2013
    Are you absolutely sure it doesn't work. The air dump switch is extremely slow.

    The person I bought my 07 Endeavor from said more or less the same thing but the switch works as designed.

    You need to get the air out of the tanks before the coach will start to lower.

    If you push the parking brake knob part way down you'll see the air pressure drop rapidly. Then push the air dump switch to release air from the bags.

    Maybe you already know all this and if so, NEVER MIND. ;)
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Oct 15, 2013
    It would be intersting if people replied with how far their MHs settle / go down when the air bags are dumped for leveling. I think mine go down 2" or maybe less. I'll have to measure it next time I do it.

    Bill

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