[Rosty]

Yes Greg, just go ahead and register and I’ll send you an invoice.

[Rosty]

After reading this series of posts I looked again at my coach and I think I may have Centramatics on the coach that I was not told about when we purchased.

There is this tubular ring that I can see behind the rim on the front and tag wheels. This is not visible on the drives but may have to crawl under to see.

Is this what they look like or am I seeing something else?

[Rosty]

The real answer to your concerns lies with the care a coach had. I have zero knowledge of Newell so although my remarks may apply it will be only coincidental.

Our conversions have an extensive pneumatic system that starts with the primary purpose of providing brakes. From there the pneumatics are used for the suspension which includes the Level Low feature. Depending on the converter the Level Low system can be a little more complex than the basic system provided by Prevost, but in my opinion the added complexity, such as automatic leveling doesn’t make the coach less reliable or a greater maintenance problem.

Add to the chassis complexity that includes belt tensioners to slide seals to even a tilt steering wheel mechanism and you end up with a coach that has a considerable number of fittings, valves and devices that are part of the pneumatic system.

Then on top of the chassis system, add in what the converter adds. Some are simple such as air horns, a driver seat and a floor slide. Others add pocket doors, dump valves, and bed lifts among other things. Some awnings, some toilets, and some camera doors can even use air.

But if the pneumatic system has been well maintained and has been dry its entire life almost all of the service issues that can drive an owner crazy just never happen. That is not to say you are 100% reliable and maintenance free. Coaches with air brakes and air suspensions have various components that age out and need replacement because their rubber components crack, leak or tear. Brake chambers, specifically brake diaphragms age out. So do air bags and leveling valves. All systems develop leaks over time especially if push in fittings are present in large numbers because their seals age and crack and leak.

The key to avoiding massive heartache is to insure the coach has never had a history of water or moisture in the pneumatic system. Once the system gets wet all bets are off because it creates problems with corrosion, failed valves, and an ongoing list of never anticipated problems such as valves suffering from hydraulic lock and just plain weird operating characteristics.

If you are looking for symplicity consider collecting anvils and give up on a desire to have an RV. If an RV is something you want however take the time to investigate the difference between a commercial coach that is a motorhome conversion and therefore has millions if not billions of miles of development experience behind it. Based on anecdotal evidence a conventional RV may be a simpler product, but they are built cheap and their longevity is reflected in that build quality. A bus conversion is expensive, complex, and only as reliable as its maintenance history will provide.