airbags??

[goots]

We have a 2014 Sunseeker 3010DS, does anyone have problems with the airbags leaking, the coach also came with BigFoot jacks?? and after using the jacks we need to pump the airbags back up, I put 90psi so the bottom of the jacks clear driveway and bumps on the road. Help please thx

[ATVer]

I have the same setup. Jack use shouldn't have any impact. Mine seem to loose some air over a long time, several months. Also they should have been installed separately so you must have two leaks if both are using air. Sounds like a trip to the dealer for warranty work unless you want to first check them out yourself.

You can put some dish detergent and water into a spray bottle. Spray the bags and lines and look for bubbles. There is not much volume in the system so a very small leak can have a big impact thus it may take a while to see any bubbles form.

[johnlantz]

Did you raise the back axle off of the ground? There is a note in the manual about never using the bigfoot to lift the axle off of the ground if you have air shocks.

[ejkkj]

I have a 2500TS, I believe same airbags. I have to put air in them for every trip. On a week long trip they will be down maybe 10 pounds but while in driveway over several weeks they will be down 30 pounds. I put 60 pounds in mine. If I forget and not add air, I can tell difference. Hope this helps.

[MotocrossCamper]

I would check for leaks. There is no reason why you should have to add air after a week. I have bags on mine and we use the RV with an enclosed trailer almost every week and I probably don't add 20 psi through out the whole season.

[DXSMac]

I have a 3170 with the air bags. I guess I'm not really paying attention to them. Should I? Last time I went to my dealer (I get free oil changes!) the dealer put air in them to 65 psi. I haven't checked since. My first time with these darn things, and I've owned Sunseekers before and don't think these things are necessary. Sunseekers usually drive pretty smoothly. (Compared to the Fleetwood Jamboree I had one time that drove like a tank....)

[MotocrossCamper]

I think the air bags are a great addition. But with that said we use ours almost every weekend and more often then not its in windy conditions. They make a huge improvement how it handles.

As far as checking them, yes you probably should. They can be damaged if the are below 5 psi. Just remember there is not much area inside the air bag, so you can actually let out 5 pounds just by putting the air gauge on and off.

[ATVer]

I usually check air bag pressure before a trip and sometimes when I check tire pressures which I do at least every couple days when traveling. If you have tire minders you could put transmitters on the bags too.

[DXSMac]

Ok, guess I had better start keeping track of those things.

[bgilly]

My manual states normal pressure loss should not be more than 3 - 4 pounds per week when inflated to 50 psi.
The manual also recommends at least monthly checks during continuous operation or when the vehicle is removed from long term storage.

Maximum pressure - 100 psi and a minimum of 20 psi.

Other information found - as a general rule, the air bags will support approximately 40 lbs for each psi. As weight is added to the vehicle the air bags become an active part of the suspension system. As more pressure is added to the air bags, they will support more weight thereby reducing sway and handling problems.

There is no mention of cautions or otherwise when using with hydraulic levelers. It does state however, to first release the pressure from the air bags prior to lifting the vehicle by the frame (suspending the rear axle). The uninflated air bags are capable of supporting the weight of the axle when the vehicle is lifted by the frame.

Most common areas for air leaks are: threaded connection between air fitting and air bag, the fill valve, and hose connections not squarely cut into fittings.

Lastly, there are some add-on accessories that provides instant air source for air suspension systems. There are a variety of options from just a compressor and single gauge to full electronics with remote (Firestone XTREME).

Bobby

[DXSMac]

Originally Posted by bgilly

There is no mention of cautions or otherwise when using with hydraulic levelers. It does state however, to first release the pressure from the air bags prior to lifting the vehicle by the frame (suspending the rear axle). The uninflated air bags are capable of supporting the weight of the axle when the vehicle is lifted by the frame.

HUH? I have to deflate the air bags prior to using the Quadra Big Foot? I haven't been doing this! Guess I gotta check the owners manual.

[bgilly]

Originally Posted by DXSMac

HUH? I have to deflate the air bags prior to using the Quadra Big Foot? I haven't been doing this! Guess I gotta check the owners manual.

No mam. Only if you lift the coach axle off the ground (rear tires in the air).

[paulmlac]

Originally Posted by bgilly

No mam. Only if you lift the coach axle off the ground (rear tires in the air).

Which you shouldn't do anyhow...

[ATVer]

It can be tricky with Big Foot jacks because in auto mode they will go to the end of their stroke to try and level the coach. That could end up with front or rear or side to side with wheel(s) off the ground. I have not had it happen on the rear but did on the front when the site sloped down toward the front. I would expect if the site slopped to the rear enough it could lift the rear axle off the ground. You just have to pay attention to how unlevel the site is and use manual mode if it looks more than a few inches off.

[bgilly]

Originally Posted by paulmlac

Which you shouldn't do anyhow...

Paul, is that based on personal experience or is there documentation you've seen stating this?

[bgilly]

Originally Posted by ATVer

It can be tricky with Big Foot jacks because in auto mode they will go to the end of their stroke to try and level the coach. That could end up with front or rear or side to side with wheel(s) off the ground. I have not had it happen on the rear but did on the front when the site sloped down toward the front. I would expect if the site slopped to the rear enough it could lift the rear axle off the ground. You just have to pay attention to how unlevel the site is and use manual mode if it looks more than a few inches off.

I agree. I've had this happen but it affected the front wheels - one of them lifted in the air about an inch or so.
You could drive onto boards or lego blocks to keep the wheel(s) on the ground.

Bobby

[paulmlac]

Originally Posted by bgilly

Paul, is that based on personal experience or is there documentation you've seen stating this?

I believe I recall reading it in the documentation, Quadra told me when they gave me the demo (bought direct from them aftermarket), and I know I've read it on the net. Not that the net is the best source, I know. But it makes sense. When you put the vehicle into park, it's tied into the rear wheels. If they don't have a lock to the ground, the vehicle could roll away. I guess technically it would scrape away on the jacks but you get the idea.

I did it once on an unlevel site using auto level. Once I noticed, I dropped it back down and used a combo of Lego blocks and manual mode.

[DXSMac]

Originally Posted by bgilly

No mam. Only if you lift the coach axle off the ground (rear tires in the air).

Originally Posted by paulmlac

Which you shouldn't do anyhow...

Whew, THANKS! NO WAY do I allow the tires off the ground. I don't even allow the FRONT tires off the ground. If I have to lift so high that front tires are off the ground, I put blocks under those tires. I just feel WRONG about having tires off the ground.

[bgilly]

Originally Posted by paulmlac

I believe I recall reading it in the documentation.

What I read was not to use the levelers for jacks; working on the tires or rotation. Makes sense. The levelers are a tall vertical lift and don't have the stability against lateral movement.
There is another note in there about operating the levelers in pairs so the frame doesn't twist but that was about the extent on lifting/leveling RV's.