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Question about parking and storage
I’m in a habit of dumping the air from my suspension system when I park. Mainly, because I like having a lower entry height for the door, but also because it eliminates any leaning (my coach doesn’t currently lean) and heck….I like the way it looks! I’ve heard from some that it’s bad on the suspension to do this.
I love to park on sites that are dead flat. That allows me to drop the suspension all the way to the stops. If the site isn’t level, I lower it as far as I can with either the front or the rear of the coach on the stops and the other end trimmed to make the coach level.
Is this actually bad for your coach or the suspension?
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7 Replies
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Marshall:
I too have heard it’s bad on the IFS of our coaches, but lowering the coach also limits air space under your coach for the Cruiseair’s to breath/work. I can not tell from your signature picture but looks like you do not have roof airs so the cruise air issue would apply to you.
Chuck
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I have a warehouse section the is 60 feet long 16 feet high the only issue is it is down 5 inches lower than the parking lot. There is a little ramp about 10 inches long to enter the building if I drive in or back in do I risk bottoming out the center of the coach on the pavement. I am concerned about clearance. Michael
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2007 Marathon H’s inherently have four rooftop a/c units
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
So what could be harmful to the Independent Front Suspension? I suppose you could make an argument it’s hard on the bushings, but if that’s all, then I’ll just change them more frequently. Anymore, I tend to think about things as the manufacturer designed/built them……If it is harmful, them why does Prevost allow it? Even seated coaches kneel, and they are driven much harder than my coach……
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
The explanation I was given (true or false is unknown) but it makes since to me was, the normal position for your arms are down by your side (IFS at normal ride height), you can raise your arms over your head (ride height lowered) for awhile but that’s not were they are meant to stay long term. It’s hard on the ball joints of the IFS long term.
I am open to opposing thoughts/opinions. Explanation made since to me and I know the previous owner of my coach stored it in the down position and I had to have the IFS rebuilt. Major failure was the upper A arms.
Chuck
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Does anyone realize how much of a pounding our suspensions get just from being driven?
I have 32 years of abusing mine, with 22 of them extreme,
First, to get into my garage I have an extensive process of exercising the entire suspension, full range.
Starting at the bottom of the driveway I leave the rear at ride height, but fully raise the front to prevent high centering. When I get the rear at the garage door I lower it all the way down. Then I back until the nose is about 15 feet out, and fully lower the front.
The bus remains fully lowered backing the rest of the way in and until we unload it. Then when unloading is done I raise it completely, front and rear and support it on stands and get all but the axle weight off the tires, plus have additional height to be able to get beneath it and work on it.
To leave on a trip the procedure is reversed.
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Was under the coach today replacing a leaking front air suspension fitting. Had to dump the front air bags before removing the fitting. Looked up at the upper A arm and a picture is worth a thousand words (see attached pictures).
In normal ride height A arm/bushing sits at a 90 deg angle to the mounting pin/bar. As you can see from the attached pictures the arm/bushing on the upper A arm is twisted when the suspension is in the down position. Close up shows back side of bushing tearing a little.
I knew I always stored my coach in the normal ride height position because the general consensus was to do so. Now I know why.
Chuck
P.S. The A arms are only 1 1/2 years old.
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