[Archived]

Dick:

I almost had the opposite problem. Turned up a hill that had a steep incline. Front end went up OK but trailer hitch dug in and almost lost traction on the drive wheels. Thank goodness for level low, I raised the rear allowing the drives to gain traction and recovered from my near hang up.

Chuck

[Archived]

Chuck: Been there, done that! (too)

At our previous residence the driveway was a slight incline. Not a hill, but a slight, steady incline from the road back to the garage and shop. When we went on a trip, we typically pulled the coach to the incline of the driveway and hooked up the car with the coach running. When parked like that My wife would always say, “The back isn’t up to ride height yet.” But it was up as high as it would get in that location. I realize there are probably ride height valves in the back (I think), but I often wondered if the coach being on that incline caused the coach to “naturally” sit a little low in back.

Extrapolate that to various situations we find ourselves in with our coaches. Like transitioning from a street or road to a driveway where we have to pass through a gutter (almost ditch) along the street or road. I’m sure it often takes a while for air the suspension system to adjust to all the constantly changing positions of the coach … which might result at some point with an unwarranted collision between the coach and the road.

[Archived]

This conversation is a perfect example of what owners MUST know about their coach. Over time we get a sense of how much room we need to make a turn to avoid rolling over a curb or entering oncoming traffic. The same applies to transitions such as places to high center the coach or to end up with the coach front and rear bumpers on the ground and the wheels hanging.

I am not aware of any formal training or information regarding limitations so the bottom line is experience becomes the teacher. We always gain experience seconds after we wish we had it.

[Michael]

Jon:

Over time I think we all get a certificate from the school of hard knocks.

Chuck

[Archived]

I have a warehouse where I am going to put my Coach in the Summer. There is a approx three foot difference from the parking lot into the Warehouse. I am worried that I will bottom the Coach out when I back in and the rear wheels will go down the three foot ramp and the front wheels will remain in the parking lot. How do I figure out ahead of time the amount of incline I can deal with and not bottom the Coach out either in our out of the Warehouse. Just how high can I get the coach with the air bags.

[Tom]

I have a warehouse where I am going to put my Coach in the Summer. There is a approx three foot difference from the parking lot into the Warehouse. I am worried that I will bottom the Coach out when I back in and the rear wheels will go down the three foot ramp and the front wheels will remain in the parking lot. How do I figure out ahead of time the amount of incline I can deal with and not bottom the Coach out either in our out of the Warehouse. Just how high can I get the coach with the air bags.

[Jon]

Chuck I have a wall of those certificates, and they are signed by the wife saying I told you so.

[Fred F.]

Mike:

You made me spill my coffee I laughed so hard.

Chuck

[Bernie]

Mike, I have several of those certificates as well.

[Jon]

Great information!

Is it possible to inflate the air bags fully, (shifting the air lever out of drive mode) and drive the bus at a higher height?

[Bill]

You cannot safely drive at higher speeds than the normal ride height.

The geometry of alignment changes but for clearance issues, above or below driving at low or walking speeds is OK until you can go back to the normal height.

---

2005 XL Thompson Coach

Rarely tow anything behind us.

Sold: 1993 Liberty that we loved for 12 years.

[Bob]

Your bus should be 11 inches off the ground and if your lucky it may go 4 inches higher. The older the coach the less chance of 4 inches so I would say 3 inches.

Then you have your Webasto, generator and engine exhaust hanging down so you need to allow for the that.

Later

bv

[Greg]

Luc:

Temporarily at slow speed? yes. Driveshaft ujoint angles get high when not at normal ride height which is bad.

[Archived]

Jon, Bernie and Don Great information! I learn something every time I come to the site. Big Thanks!

[Jon]

Luc, You will find the ability to raise and lower the coach and have it in motion at slow speeds is an important feature.

What is important is to recognize in advance when the need occurs and to take advantage of that ability. Our coaches are often going to be at risk, not only for high centering, but when approaching or exiting locations with steep transitions such as a steep driveway that because of front or rear overhangs can cause the bus to come in contact with the ground.

You also have to be aware if you lift the tag axle such as to get traction or to shorten the turn radius that the rear is going to drop, making rear contact with the ground a potential risk. Ground contact is not limited to the coach, but can occur with some hitches that are low.

Experience is something we all get right after we need it and like almost everyone on here I have dragged the rear on a short steep driveway, flattened the steel generator radiator exhaust baffle or scraped the bottom of the engine cradle. Get to know your coach which may differ from others, depending on what the converter had hanging beneath the chassis or the type of hitch you use.

Learn how fast it goes up or down, learn how to ignore impatient drivers behind you while you wait to raise or lower the coach when needed, and to understand we all have climbed the learning curve.