Front end problems on ride home.

[darin338]

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.

[aadam56]

I think you did well for 900.00. The shop has to make something. The springs by themselves should work fine, and its true airbags are a week point in the system that will inevitably go out before the springs do. As another post indicated, Alignment is very important. I would also include good shocks. Old worn shocks will over work your new springs causing them to fatigue early.

On a long tail rv with one back axle, Air bags are good for adjusting positive or negative camber when you change the weight ratio from front to back with a heavy tongue boat or cargo trailer, also adjusting side to side for suspension wear or luggage etc. You cannot let them run too low on air or they will be ruined. I do have a psi monitoring system because I raise the back when I go on dirt roads and cross creeks. With a loaded 16 ft cargo trailer I lower to 30 psi in the front. With the toad I run 60 in the front. (no tongue wt.)
If you decide to add airbags later, Stim, an earlier post said he installed through the bottom A arm without disassembly. My older rig only only has a small hole for the air inlet. I agree with the others about the springs you got, I only had 2 choices from Napa and I got the heavier duty ones, probably not as good as those.

Hope you don’t have too many more surprises like that again… But you probably will, That’s part of the adventure ?
Ps Where but rv.net can you get 4 pages of opinions on a repair question??? Isn’t it great?

[Chopperbob]

You Need to weigh the front first. The Trek
Was 5180 with just the driver on board.
We got the ss260 springs. Couldnt be
Happier. Of course its only 14800 gvw.
Bob

[tropical36]

darin338 wrote:

wny_pat wrote:

aadam56 wrote:
Its a p-30 chassi. front end. airbags are inside the coils. that's how mine are. Ive done it one time on my rv.

If he gets the Henderson SuperSteer Coil springs, he doesn't need the air bags ever again. And it will even handle better without the air bags.

That's wfat I'm getting. $900 installed. Seems a bit steep, but this will seal the deal for years to come.

That is a bit steep, since you can have the coil springs at your front door for $350 and the labor cost at any truck shop shouldn't be that much. Maybe with a couple hundred more for alignment, which you'll need also and hopefully it's included for that price. There should be sheet included with the new coils for the alignment specs. as well.

[darin338]

wny_pat wrote:

aadam56 wrote:
Its a p-30 chassi. front end. airbags are inside the coils. that's how mine are. Ive done it one time on my rv.

If he gets the Henderson SuperSteer Coil springs, he doesn't need the air bags ever again. And it will even handle better without the air bags.

That's wfat I'm getting. $900 installed. Seems a bit steep, but this will seal the deal for years to come.

[wny_pat1]

aadam56 wrote:
Its a p-30 chassi. front end. airbags are inside the coils. that's how mine are. Ive done it one time on my rv.

If he gets the Henderson SuperSteer Coil springs, he doesn't need the air bags ever again. And it will even handle better without the air bags.

[Gjac]

What is your ride height now? You should have about 1 3/4 ins between the lower rubber bumper and the upper A arm. If not try jacking the MH all the way up then inflate your airbags if you still don't get the ride height after you lower the jacks then go with the Henderson super springs. Worn ball joints or other worn front end parts will cause a bad ride also.

[Stim]

I replaced the worn out air bags on the front of my 1989 Southwind P chassis and the ride was fantastic! I only needed 45psi all the way around.
The bags go in through a hole in the lower A Frame, no need to remove the coils to replace.
Changing the coil springs is overkill, it is a truck chassis designed to carry a lot of weight for many miles!
The brakes should be Hydroboost and if they are working properly you should be able to lock them up if it does not have anti lock brakes.

[aadam56]

Its a p-30 chassi. front end. airbags are inside the coils. that's how mine are. Ive done it one time on my rv.

[tropical36]

aadam56 wrote:
Hi,
You just need new heavy duty coils springs AND airbags, a set of shocks. labor should be the same since they have to dis assemble the same things to change the airbags. you don't need a monitoring system. just fill them up to about 60 lbs. and check them when you check your tires like one of the other post said.

The brakes feel like mechanical brakes but with the right power steering fluid and brake fluid they will stop.just have them check them to be safe.
Good Luck and have fun 🙂

Why are you recommending air bags along with proper and weight selected coil springs and you certainly wouldn't disassemble the coils if you were to just change the airbags? Don't know how many you've done or have seen installed, but I just don't see where you're coming from with these recommendations for the OP, who should be pretty confused as it is by now. Just wondering if you read each and every post before commenting?

[aadam56]

Hi,
You just need new heavy duty coils springs AND airbags, a set of shocks. labor should be the same since they have to dis assemble the same things to change the airbags. you don't need a monitoring system. just fill them up to about 60 lbs. and check them when you check your tires like one of the other post said.

The brakes feel like mechanical brakes but with the right power steering fluid and brake fluid they will stop.just have them check them to be safe.
Good Luck and have fun 🙂

[Chopperbob]

I just recently installed the super steer springs
On our safari trek. Rides normal now. Coach is level
And handles more like a suv now. Great Upgrade.
I hate airbags.
Bob

[Executive45]

Thanks..and good luck/!!...Dennis

[darin338]

Executive wrote:

2gypsies wrote:
What happened to the 2004 National Dolphin you purchased on Oct 9 that you talked about in another post? Ten days later you purchased this 2000 Newmar? ...just wondering?

darin338 wrote:
Purchased a 2005 National Dolphin picking it up in a week. I have to drive it 910 miles home and would like to have roadside coverage. My wife and I plan to full time in 6-12 months from now. I want coverage for most everything! 🙂 I've looked over Goodsam and coach.net. Coach.net seems to over the most coverages, but I want to hear from other hear.

Also, should we just add the RV to our existing auto policy or is there something out there better? I want my investment covered. Also, what about content type coverages. And last but not least, would an extended warranty be adviseable?

Any other tips anyone can offer is greatly appreciated.

darin338 wrote:
I just purchased a 2004 National RV Dolphin, loaded with everything for $32,000 only 22000 miles, like new in and out. My wife and I RV'd fully time about fifteen years ago for six months. The game has changed since then I know. We are going at this permanently this time. We plan to work and live in each location 3-6 months and move on. We want to stay in anything from luxury RV resorts, to local camp grounds.

So my question is, did we make a bad purchase? And how many RV resorts have adopted the ten year rule? Our rig looks virtually new, but rules are rules. Do some parks make exceptions to this rule?

Any other advise anyone can offer, well, throw it our way.

Thanks!

He also indicated he purchased a 2005 Dolphin a few days after that...? and he hasn't returned either....Smells like a TROLL...!!!! just sayin...Dennis

If you took the time to read, you'd see I've answered that question three times now. And have responded to this thread many times. So for the forth time, I arrived to pickup the 2004 Dolphin I purchased off eBay and it was not as described. I did not complete the purchase. And on my drive back from Florida to NC, we found the Dutch Star. No troll here!

[Executive45]

2gypsies wrote:
What happened to the 2004 National Dolphin you purchased on Oct 9 that you talked about in another post? Ten days later you purchased this 2000 Newmar? ...just wondering?

darin338 wrote:
Purchased a 2005 National Dolphin picking it up in a week. I have to drive it 910 miles home and would like to have roadside coverage. My wife and I plan to full time in 6-12 months from now. I want coverage for most everything! 🙂 I've looked over Goodsam and coach.net. Coach.net seems to over the most coverages, but I want to hear from other hear.

Also, should we just add the RV to our existing auto policy or is there something out there better? I want my investment covered. Also, what about content type coverages. And last but not least, would an extended warranty be adviseable?

Any other tips anyone can offer is greatly appreciated.

darin338 wrote:
I just purchased a 2004 National RV Dolphin, loaded with everything for $32,000 only 22000 miles, like new in and out. My wife and I RV'd fully time about fifteen years ago for six months. The game has changed since then I know. We are going at this permanently this time. We plan to work and live in each location 3-6 months and move on. We want to stay in anything from luxury RV resorts, to local camp grounds.

So my question is, did we make a bad purchase? And how many RV resorts have adopted the ten year rule? Our rig looks virtually new, but rules are rules. Do some parks make exceptions to this rule?

Any other advise anyone can offer, well, throw it our way.

Thanks!

He also indicated he purchased a 2005 Dolphin a few days after that...? and he hasn't returned either....Smells like a TROLL...!!!! just sayin...Dennis