Air Bag / Suspention Storeage

[GPJourney]

New to this forum and to MHs with air bag suspentions. First time asking a question here but thought there was more practical answers here than calling mfg.
Checked all through massive manuals and no where does it say how to store motorhome. I'm not talking about for the season but just for a couple of weeks between using it. Are we to air down and put weight on levellers, air down and leave weight on chassis, air up and use levellers or air up and no levellers. All questions are assuming level ground. Will airing down for long period of time damage bags as I beleive bags are not designed to be compressed and bulged for long periods of time.
Thanks guys. This forum has been a great help already .
Garth

[AFChap]

Your air bags probably will bleed down over a period of a week or so even if you don't dump them ... the storage recommendation given at GNR is to level the coach w/the levelers. That takes a bit of load off the tires, which saves them a bit. You also should park the tires on some sort of vapor barrier ...plastic, wood, etc. Covering the tires is very good for them also!

[GPJourney]

Thanks Paul. Did they refer to the bags being stretched or flat? Just not sure what the general concencus is on whether bags can be deflated and flat or if that practise would hurt the lifespan of the bags.
Thanks again
Garth

[MaverickBBD]

Dump air and level and you will be fine. Do take the recommendation to use a vapor barrier seriously to preserve tire life.

[GPJourney]

Thanks guys. Will dump and level. Asked about damage to collapsed bags cause would be easy to "T" into air line and add air every so often from a valve mounted in a storeage compartment.
Good advise on tire protection. Spent most of adult life owning an auto and tire center and know how hard weather, moist ground contact and uvrays are on tires. If you dont have covers even products like Armourall help slow down the damage to the polymers in the rubber.
Thanks again

[AFChap]

No recollection to any reference to the bags being stretched or flat ...likely because when the jacks are down the bags are not carrying the load... I presume their reference to the tires being relieved of the load would be the same for the airbags...

[RVDude]

Wading through the manuals can be tough, but keep at it, they are THE source for answers.

Parking for just a couple weeks? Take the key out, turn everything off, and lock it up. Make sure no spoil-able food is in the cabinets/basement/refer. KISS, no need to do anything more.

[RVDude]

Originally Posted by GPJourney

products like Armourall help slow down the damage to the polymers in the rubber.

That is a negative. Armor All contains petroleum distillates and that is a definite no-no with RV tires (they - RV tires - already have stuff in the rubber compound for long periods of no-use). Just about every tire product contains them, yes silicone is a petroleum distillate. Only a DuPont branded spray on tire product explicitly says none and I've found it only once. Use a cover, do not slather, or just do nothing at all to the tires since you are just parking for a couple weeks.

For more info on RV tires and storage get it from the horses mouth at the link below - read the guide in the "reference materials" also note the videos, one could possibly be a shocker to you.

Michelin North America RV Tool Box Page

BTW Air bags don't get smooshed when fully deflated, the axles settle on frame mounted stops and the bags just hang there when fully deflated. No problem keeping the bags aired up or fully flat or anywhere in between for as long as you want.

With the disappearance of nylon cord tires, weight on or weight off a tire in storage is only a matter personal preference, there is no technical/scientific reason to do either. However, keeping tires dry and covered from UV is still very scientifically valid.

[GPJourney]

Thanks a bunch guys! Great forum. Glad to be involved.
Garth