Front end problems on ride home.

tropical36 wrote:

darin338 wrote:
Ah you all gotta love us newbies. Full of ignorant questions. :) and I've got another! Maybe a few more.

Just purchased our 2000 Newmar dutch star on a p30 chassis with a gmc 7.4.

The owner indicated the front airbags might be in need of replacing but he said it should be fine for our journey home some 540 miles away. WRONG! I did notice the front end seemed to be sitting a little low, but was assured it'd be ok.

I got out on the highway and about 30 miles down the road we went over a bridge with the big hump/ hump in the road. The front end tires must have hit the wheel well as it sounded like the world was ending and I could feel it in my seat. Something was either grinding or coming apart up under there. I pulled off and got out and now the front end looked to be sitting down so low that about 1/3 or more of the front tires were covering the front tires. Luckily there was a camping world about five miles away with a full service center.

Camping world can replace the airbags and will check things over under there. Not sure if they can fix major stuff up in the front end or not, we will see.

The other question is the brakes, they're mechanical and while they work to stop the coach, this does not seem normal. Do 2000 rv's still come with mechanical brakes?

The only other known issue at this time is the thermostat gauge is stuck about 150 and seems to be broke. Asked them to check this out as well. Hope the previous owner didn't fixate it there to avoid me seeing it overheat. Seemed to run fine otherwise.

Don't waste your time and money with the air bags and have camping world install the proper per front end weight....HENDERSON SUPER STEER...coils
Don't know what you mean by mechanical brakes as they went out with the Model A Ford. What you have are hydraulic brakes with power assist that is being supplied by the same pump as your power steering is. May not be as easy on the pedal as your vacuum assist car, but still pretty effective, as long as you don't tailgate or even drive anywhere close to anyone in front of you.