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Panels above Tag axle
I was checking the air bags and saw that the panel above the tag axle on both sides is hanging down and tore up. Any ideas on how you would repair this? Does anyone have any ideas as to how this happens?
We never raise the tags.
Donald
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8 Replies
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I don’t know how to repair them, but a failed tire could easily loosen or damage those panels. In fact a failed tire can do substantial mechanical and cosmetic damage to a coach.
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Jon, I agree there would be a lot of damage. Both pannels are pulled half off above the tags, and wore through from rubbing the tire. I can only guess that this was there before we purchased this coach, and never mentioned with its bumper to bumper inspection. It doesn’t seem reasonable that you would drive down the road with the tags up, unless there was a failuer in the air bags. We are quoted 10 hrs labor & $200. per pannel from the srevice center.
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If they are showing evidence of the panels being worn off or damaged from the tires rolling agains them the more likely explaination might be driving with a failed air bag and the coach all the way down as a result.
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Pretty sure that panel is a rubberized type of insulation panel. If the main coach sub-floor above is wood (which I think it is) it would be a no-brainer to take a few wood screws with fender washers to secure it and touch-up damaged areas with some of that expanding insulation the converters use in the wheel wells.
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
If your coach is anything like an H3, and I assume it is, above the wheel well panels you have shown over drive and tag axle is a rectangular space where pneumatic lines and valves are mounted, both sides, maybe 8 inches in height (guessing; my memory is perfect, just short). This area should be accessible by raising the fender well sides which I think in your case are hinged, and completely removable on H3s, and there should be no problem doing this unless a pin (3 for H3) or hinge(?) is bent. Once this is done perhaps you can take pictures and post again. You should be able to see everything above and the floor underside of the bedroom.
I don’t believe on either model the tag should be able to touch the panel you show. In our case the tag blew and bent the steel framing underside of the box area under the house flooring, and tore out a brake line. In our case we were able to square cut that line and reinsert it into the valve, by the side of the road. Later, in Fort Worth, this area was repaired.
Good luck.
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The tag and driver fender is raised and there is no space above the fender other than the stainless panel which may have to be removed to access the area from the outside of the coach. Above the rubberized tray is a steel plate, not plywood. Under the bed is solid plywood, no access hole. Have attached a couple more pictures. We pushed the panels back up as they were hanging much lower. You can see the amount of material that the tire has wore off, but no indication of rubbing on the metal plate.
We are trying to understand what grabbed the panels to pull them down in the first place. Would someone have put snow chains on the tags? The driver panels are in excellent condition. We really appreciate everybody’s thoughts. (June is typing so the spelling should be correct!)
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It is entirely possible as a tag tire was coming apart pieces still on the wheel were flopping around and wearing away at the panel.
Obviously very dangerous to continue to proceeed with a deflated tire that has failed because as it disassembles itself it can get caught up in the many vital components in that area, or worse, involve the coach in a fire.
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Still do not know how this happened, but figured out it was not something we did, but a previous owner…
However, good news! Took the coach to Marathon in San Antonio, FL and they came up with a great inexpensive fix! after cutting out the damaged panels, they sprayed a couple inches thick of “Froth-Pak” spray polyurethane foam (available online), which was rock hard in less than a minute. After that, they used a knife to smooth out the area and then sprayed IES Fast Drying Rubberized Undercoat over the whole area.
I will get a photo, but a picture does not give it justice. The area will be available for viewing at the upcoming Know your Prevost II in a couple of weeks!
June
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