Set-up sequence?

[Pusherman]

Originally Posted by Automobilist

Fellow Winnebagoists, Journey'rs in particular;

Proper sequence for camp site setup?

I've been doing it thusly;

• Stop coach on desired patch of desert
• Allison in neutral
• Park brake ON
• Jacks power on, coach lowers itself
• Jacks extend; level coach
• Extend slides (first check if kids left anything like say, an air rifle on top of slide...)
• Shut down engine
• Awnings as desired
• Open cool frosty adult beverage(s)

Procedure correct?

Ed

Everybody is correct with one modification:

Set Park Brake.
Crack open the adult beverage.
On with the rest of the list.

[Hawkeye]

I thought the key needed to be turned to the left, accessory position, to dump the air bags and level. We always try to have the shore power hooked up first before leveling

[Automobilist]

What is this shore power you speak of? Some sort of mythical presence? We cannot find in the vast desert...

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I thought the key needed to be turned to the left, accessory position, to dump the air bags and level. We always try to have the shore power hooked up first before leveling

At last. I was beginning to think I was dreaming. We had two DPs and one of the key things was to DUMP the air before levelling and putting out the slides.

If the engine remains on how do you dump the air?

I initially thought this thread was going to be about whether you put the slides out after or before levelling.

Winnie (and most other manufacturers) says after levelling whereas Monaco for many years said dump air, slides out, then level.

There are pages and pages of debate to be found on this issue on RV.net.

Anyway, has Winnie changed its instructions for its DPs and eliminated the "dump air" before levelling requirement? Did anyone check their manual for the set up instructions? I do know that the "cool one" is not included.

[SCVJeff]

Since mine has auto-levelers I can say the proper order is to dump, THEN level. That way the coach is as squatted as it can get and keeps the stair at a manageable distance. HWH wants control of the load on the jacks, not the wheel.

As for the slide, the whole deal there is to keep it from binding on a possibly twisted chassis. Personally I level then extend, but I also make sure the chassis is leveled properly and NOT tweaked (either Man or Auto).

[Automobilist]

Reading my HWH manual (not Winnebago manual) it says to dump air, then extend jacks, then extend slide outs. On my coach, that means key in ACC position (meaning engine off) and turn on HWH system, then it dumps air without the compressor trying to fill it back up.

Guess it's a matter of RTFM...

[SCVJeff]

You don't Have a dump button?

[The Shadow]

BTW, the manual for my 04 Journey 39W had an interesting "tip." To get the water off of a slide topper it said it could be done by raising the jacks on one side and the water would drain off. Frankly, I thought that was dangerous. I talked the folks at HWH and they were dumbfounded. In fact, i sensed the guy really didn't believe me and I ended up having to scan the page and email it to them. He was not happy, but wasn't sure how to address the issue with Winnie - I guess he didn't want to PO a good customer.

Is that "tip" still in the manual?

Don

[Automobilist]

Originally Posted by SCVJeff

You don't Have a dump button?

Nope.

[Pusherman]

Your HWH leveling panel should have a 'dump' button on it on the Journey.

[SCVJeff]

Originally Posted by Automobilist

Nope.

Just read ur 1st post again
"Jacks power on, coach lowers itself"
That's a jack dump, and that valve should stay open.

[Automobilist]

Originally Posted by Pusherman

Your HWH leveling panel should have a 'dump' button on it on the Journey.

Nope. No "Dump" button. HWH jacks in this case dump air when turned on. Hence the need to turn off engine so as not to counteract air dump with compressor.

[Automobilist]

Originally Posted by SCVJeff

Just read ur 1st post again
"Jacks power on, coach lowers itself"
That's a jack dump, and that valve should stay open.

Yep, that's what I've figured out. It's worked fine with the engine running, as the air dumps faster than the compressor refills it. Guess I'll level with the key in ACC from now on though , per HWH manual.

[SCVJeff]

Originally Posted by Automobilist

Yep, that's what I've figured out. It's worked fine with the engine running, as the air dumps faster than the compressor refills it. Guess I'll level with the key in ACC from now on though , per HWH manual.

I'd still level and run the slides with the engine running to lessen the pain on the batteries.

[Automobilist]

Originally Posted by SCVJeff

Just read ur 1st post again
"Jacks power on, coach lowers itself"
That's a jack dump, and that valve should stay open.

So, if I keep the engine running and turn on the jacks, it will dump the air and keep the air dump valve open?

[Pusherman]

Originally Posted by Automobilist

So, if I keep the engine running and turn on the jacks, it will dump the air and keep the air dump valve open?

I think that's correct. You can dump the air bags with the engine running.

The failsafe to air your bags back up is when you release your parking brake, the bags should air back up (and I believe turn off your HWH leveling system too. I had your same setup on my prior coach, but it's been a while..).

[The Shadow]

If that is how things work now it seems to me they've made some major changes since we owned an 06 Ambassador and an 04 Journey. I sure don't recall dumping the air while the engine was running. But then again, that was almost four years ago. Nope, definitely don't recall the process.

[SCVJeff]

My '06 HWH #626 system is completely apart from the parking break.

If I hit "Level", it dumps all air in the bags, and levels the coach as close to the ground as it can; engine on or not

If I hit "Dump", that's all it does. Only thing is you need to remember you did that or the bags will never air back up.

If I hit "Store" the jacks retract and the dump valve closes for travel.

[Roadking52]

Good Grief Charley Brown!! How many ways are there to do this? Every HWH leveling system I have seen (so far) on a coach with air bag suspension will dump the air bags when the leveling system is turned on. If the engine is running, it will not try to overcome the dump. This would only happen if for some reason the dump solenoid figured out a way to exhaust the entire air system, at which time the compressor governor would tell the compressor to get to work. Normally, all that dumps are the "ping" tanks that supply the airbags.

I normally run the engine while extending jacks to ensure the highest voltage possible is supplied to the pump motor, thereby decreasing the amperage draw by(and load on) the pump motor. This is a matter of choice, as upon arrival at a campsite the batteries involved should be at full charge. I just happen to know what a pump motor cost$$$$$. No need to run the engine while retracting, as the pump doesn't run during retraction.

The airbags will inflate(again, in my experience) when either the parking brake is disengaged, or the inflate (aka "rabbit") button on the HWH panel is depressed. I prefer to inflate prior to releasing the parking brake. Movement of the coach while the airbags are not inflated may lead to airbag/suspension damage.
I agree that the coach should be leveled before extending the slides to prevent extension while the coach body is possibly racked.

Just my two cents worth, and we all know what that will get ya.

[Norm4015]

Originally Posted by Roadking52

Good Grief Charley Brown!! How many ways are there to do this? Every HWH leveling system I have seen (so far) on a coach with air bag suspension will dump the air bags when the leveling system is turned on. If the engine is running, it will not try to overcome the dump.

Most motorhomes I've owned and driven do not work this way, but I have seen a couple that did work as you described.

Hint: Read the manual that came with the motorhome.