Air Ride suspension

[tnmotonana]

We recently purchased an 06 Coachmen Leprachaun with air ride suspension. Would like advise on how much air to put in if we are not pulling anything and also if we are pulling a Kawasaki UTV? We don't have an owners manual so are lost as to the correct pounds to use. It is a 31' if that helps?
This is our first motorhome so any advice would be greatly appreciated

[butchfuzion]

The Air Lifts on my F350 truck will not go below 5 pounds. I do have the onboard compressor though so that might make a difference.

[Mich_F]

tnmotonana wrote:
Thanks all for the input. Sounds like it may be something we just have to fool with to get to our liking. Also this C does not have leveling jacks. Pro-Cons?????

That's about it. As others have pointed out, you most likely don't have air ride suspension, but more likely have either Firestone Ride Rite or Air Lift air helper springs. The most important thing is to keep at least the minimum pressure in the bags, or they will destroy themselves. Air Lift has a 5# psi minimum pressure and I think Firestone is the same, or maybe 10# psi. As for what you're towing, it probably wouldn't make much of a difference in the air bags' psi.
I've never had leveling jacks on any of my Class Cs, and have got along quite well without them. I hardly ever even use blocks for leveling. I've always been able to move a little, this way or that, to get "level enough". Perhaps I've just been lucky all these years in where I've camped, the sites have always been fairly level. Other people wouldn't even leave home without leveling jacks. :B

[tatest]

Most C's in the Leprechaun's price class will not have come with leveling jacks because the added cost of the jacks would mean a buyer would choose a different RV to get a few hundred dollars lower price. Jacks will be found more often on premium-price model lines.

You will find the same thing on A gassers targeted to the lowest price points, along with other cost cutting equipment omissions.

[tnmotonana]

Thanks all for the input. Sounds like it may be something we just have to fool with to get to our liking. Also this C does not have leveling jacks. Pro-Cons?????

[tatest]

Supplemental air springs? Mine are not necessarily the same brand, and my 30-foot RV weighs anything from about 12,800 "empty" to the full 14,000 pounds it can be, if I am carrying five guests and their 3-4 weeks worth of luggage. Thus there is not a single inflation pressure that is right, it depends on the load, that is the whole point of having some of the springing adjustable.

I might inflate anywhere between 40 psi and 85 psi, with usually 10-15 psi difference side to side because both slideouts, the genset, and most of the waste tank capacity are on one side, and 3/4 of my storage space is on the other side. I use height measurements as my inflation guide. First, I want to be level side to side, second I want to be slightly high in the rear compared to the front of the box. I've worked out what these should be for me, trial and error, over 30,000 miles of use, almost 10 years now.

Too much pressure, the ride starts to get hard. Too little, no big deal, because your leaf springs are designed to carry the full GVWR of the chassis. There is, however, a minimum pressure to keep from pinching the rubber and damaging the air springs.

[tarnold]

I run 65lbs in my 10,380 lbs Chinook.

[DrewE]

Assuming Ride-right helper air bags or similar: I find somewhere in the vicinity of 40 psi seems to be about right for my '98 Coachmen of roughly the same length. I think 20 psi was the minimum permissible and 90 or 100 psi the maximum. You can get a bit of an idea by watching how the ride height of the vehicle changes as you put air in or take air out.

I just replaced the valve core in one of the fillers for one of my air bags the other day, as chance would have it. The old one wasn't sealing properly (though the screw-on valve cap did prevent air loss effectively, so it was more of a nuisance than an emergency). Of course, replacing valve cores is nearly as hard as replacing light bulbs, and maybe less expensive.

[j-d]

This isn't a full Air Ride system, right? By that I mean the original leaf spring suspension is still there, supplemented by air bags...? That's what the above replies seem to be based on.

There ARE a few RV's that have had the original suspension surgically removed and replaced with air suspension. If so the answers could be a lot different.

[klutchdust]

Having air systems on my C and my pickup with a heavy gooseneck I have learned that it depends on how much weight is on the vehicle. On my pickup I start with no pressure, load the trailer then using a level return the bed to level position. When not hauling
weight i just keep 10 lbs in the bags. Always keep at least 5 pounds in the bags. The C I have been experimenting and 35 pounds
seems to be a smooth ride, as mentioned too much air and it gets bouncy or rough. Hauling a heavy trailer I put 60 in my C and that was good. If your trailer causes the tail end to drop just bring it up level, try that.

[Explorer1016]

It really depends on you and how heavy your rig is over the rear axle. Most systems have minimum pressures so you do not damage the air bags (if that is the type system you have) I am running about 35 psi in my system but have been experimenting with pressures. I have had as much as 45 psi, which made my rig ride rougher than we liked and then down to 30 psi. i am sure someone on here has a specific answer for you (never seems to fail. Many experts on here) Just do a little experimenting as long as you do not go lower than the minimums or over the maximums. I installed Air Lift on my RV with a minimum psi and a max. My mins are either 10 or 20psi and max is 100 psi. I never run the mins or max so that number isn't critical to me. If you know the manufacturer of your system, look them up on the web and get the operator manual for your specific system.