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lesson learned the hard way
Although a bit embarassing,thought I would post this so maybe another “newbie” wouldn’t make the same mistake.
Backed into my camping spot at Lake Dardanelle Ark. 70′ long and 20′ wide,perfectly level spot. Waterfront, 50 amp service with water and sewer. It can’t get any better than this I think. Since my wife is a short person I deceide I will lower the coach all the way down so she doesn’t need a step to get in and out. The next morning the wife goes out walking. When she returns she says there is something leaking out the rear of the coach. I tell her it is just the A/C condensate water as it it quite warm and humid. She wants to know why it is “pink”. Yikes! Further investigation revealed I had squated the coach down on top of the parking stop block,directly under the trans oil pan. Close inspection revealed a small crack on the corner radius of the pan. After cleaning up the mess I placed a drip pan under it to determine the rate of fluid loss. One quart per day. Since we were only 200 miles from home I deceided to refill the trans upon departure and fix it at home. Leak rate increased when the fluid got hot to one quart in four hours on the way home. I now have a well lubricated Jeep Cherokee!
This vintage bus came with three pan options, 6″,7″ & 8.5″ deep pans. According to Allison, the deeper pans are for better cooling. Mine is a 7″ and hangs several inches lower than the engine oil pan. I did not realize the bus would squat that low. Parking block was only 8″ high!
Although the pan is repairable I deceided on a new one since I found a new “surplus” one for $225 from TKT sales. (stocks lots of Allison trans parts) Allison dealer price was $450, Prevost price was $950 !
The good: I was planning on changing the trans fluid anyway……….
Michael
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6 Replies
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That’s
a great reminder for all Michael, I can happen to anyone. I’m always
paranoid about the rear overhang when parking or lowering the bus,
I’ll remember your misfortune, I hope.Glad
you got it home, could have been really bad. -
I never ever pull in or back in to any parking sight without walking it first including concrete slabs.
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Good tip Michael, thanks.
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That sounds like terrible overkill, Al. What exactly would you look for that you can’t see from your windshield while pulling through?
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I think Al is correct. It is not pulling through a site that can get you, but backing into one.
Even if you can see it clearly before backing in, you often don’t think about the little things that can become issues such as a picnic table on your blind side below the mirrors.
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I agree, but he did say he does it when he pulls-in too.
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