Forum Discussion

sycamore92's avatar
sycamore92
Explorer
Apr 30, 2018

Skid wheels

We have a 2018 Newmar, Ventana which is 40’ in length. The problem is we drag when
Pulling into our driveway which has a slight slope.
Looking for skid wheels and where to purchase them.
There are 2 “U” shaped skid protectors that are gouging out the street and driveway.
Thanks.
  • mdanielson55 wrote:
    being 40ft coaches don't they have air bags?


    Just because they have airbags doesn't mean they have the kind of air bag leveling system you have...hence the post by DSDP DON above. Many of us only have the road feature...we don't have a manual air bag leveling system like one would use to level the coach once parked and somehow I don't think it would work too well to run the rear jacks down to bring the back up in this situation! :B
  • being 40ft coaches don't they have air bags? I stop put my levelers switch from road to manual and raise the rear and go and when I clear I put it back in road and it levels back out.
  • I own a 2014 Newmar Dutch Star 40' coach. I have the same issue. I added a solenoid to the rear air valves that lifts the coach 3" with a momentary switch. Source Engineering, a vendor on here makes a kit, originally for Monaco motor homes, to do this. Their kit provides two solenoids to temporarily lift the rear of the coach. On your coach and mine, the Freightliner chassis only uses one solenoid.

    Basically, the solenoid bypasses your ride height valves, (the valves that cause your coach airbags to fill and deflate) and temporarily fills them, while the switch is held down. If I recall, the kit was about $200.00. It can be installed by someone with moderate DIY skills.

    Since the system on a Freightliner chassis only uses one valve on the rear bags, the addition of the valve as I have described, also lifts your tag axle too.
  • https://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/towing-hitches-jacks-chassis/jacks-levelers/skid-wheels/hitch-mount-4-rigid-skid-wheel_94-8774

    I have a pair similar to this. Mine are all steel and very heavy duty. Bought them a long time ago. The ones at the link say they are all steel, but it sure looks like some kind of other material on the wheel.
  • I built my TT drag wheels from parts purchased a number of places. Time will tell how they work.
  • I have a friend that has a large HM and he had to put wheels on his to go up his driveway. The mistake he made was buying casters that were cast aluminum. They shattered the first time he hit the driveway. Second set were a little larger but still aluminum...busted those too. So, the answer is to use wheels that are made of steel. There are many to pick from online. Check Etrailer.com