jleamont

Vanha Pieru, Welcome to the FMCA Forums! I have never done any compartment work like that. Take photos of the before and after and post them on the gallery. Sounds like that will keep you busy for a weekend.

Carl, maintenance is my reason. It is much easier to drain some oil out each year and top it off then pull the hub off, clean and repack the bearings, replace the seal and reassemble each front wheel end. Another reason I read was less rolling resistance which equals better fuel economy. I felt that was splitting hairs but non the less someone took the time to calculate that along with LED chassis lighting and how it reduces alternator load which equals better fuel economy. I can respect their test results but fuel economy was not my reason. lets just say getting old and lazy was the reason. Fuel economy was not the reason my coach is 98%LED I made that switch so I could be seen better in the dark.....less chance if getting hit.

Carl, not sure other than there is and probably will always be a Horsepower war between manufactures, they don't want to be left behind.

Herman, I saw them online from Firestone for $135.00 each. What chassis did your friend have?

FIVE, I work full time for a fairly large North East Trucking Co with 1200 tractors and 3000 trailers as a Fleet Manager.

Carl, two teenage girls, one DW and one Chihuahua = large washing machine required. Well the dog isn't bad its the kids that create large piles of laundry. My wife and I wear one outfit a day, the kids......well anyone that raised teenage girls knows how that goes.

Does anyone know or have literature on how to replace the air bags on a 2001 Roadmaster RR8S chassis? I was looking at them yesterday and there is some spots where the rubber is pitted at the bottom of a few bags, it looks like divots in the rubber from road debris getting caught up as the bags roll over itself. It has me slightly worried about the failure possibility. Since they are right at the wheel opening they look fairly simple to replace, I was hoping for instructions on how to access the mounting,air lines and most importantly how/where to stabilize the chassis for bag service. I had some ideas but didn't want to block it someplace that would cause stress on the suspension cage or frame above. I also have to replace the protectors (straw like material) that are suppose to block road debris, they are deteriorated. Anyone ever tackled this before or any thoughts?

I added more drawers in that spot rather than leave the empty space, I turned off the water supply at the manifold and unhooked the hot and cold tubes just in case someone opened the water valves in that bay and sent water that direction. The drain was easy to thread a pipe cap into it. You will be surprised how heavy that thing is when you pull it. If it weren’t for air ride I swear the coach would lean.

I removed our Splendid 2000 series, it needed a part that had been discontinued. If I had room I would have went stackable, anything less is just to small. When needed we just use the laundry at the CG. We tend to pick higher end campgrounds and even the last minute stops have not been bad so along with the other amenities the laundry is usually nicer also.

ObedB, yes it was and it had the same concerns listed in this post. There were not many of them since the heavy truck OEM's began to heavily produce and push their own engines to increase their profit margins, in those years the Cummins was an option that was expensive and still is an option that has become more reasonable in pricing. Now they push their engines claiming fuel savings when all of the driveline is working with each other not against each other. I know I am sold on one OEM, when I have a problem I have one phone call to make, not put all of them in a room and watch them argue over who's fault it is. In the Medium Duty market Cummins dominated the competition as the dependable engine, fuel efficient option. Even when a chassis manufacture offered their own most still went the Cummins route if it was an option and for some only Cummins was the option, which dictated their sales numbers. One OEM didn't offer it and that almost bankrupted them due to their product reliability when it tanked with the new emission engine lineup. The ISX was not an option in those medium duty chassis, they were ISB, ISC and depending on GVWR, ISL. I am sure you remember the days when the tractor didn't matter much it was the engine under the hood that did. As the years passed that has changed, now most only want everything from one OEM, especially now that manual transmissions are becoming a thing of the past, everyone wants automated manual transmissions to control repair, safety and fuel costs. We wont purchase any manual transmissions unless its for a special application and that's the only transmission option. From experience it makes it much easier for me when we have a problem all of the finger pointing has gone away from who's component caused the failure to "how are you going to fix this for us"?

Bill and Carl, thank you for the recommendations. I can have no problem respecting their laws. We are excited and have Passports in hand waiting. Bill, I find it offensive how you were labeled because of the state on your license plate. I am glad you kept your cool, not sure I would have, depending on how I felt I might have laughed it off or told them how I really felt. I am hoping to do some duty free shopping while there and bring it back over. We will see. If it goes well we will probably go back to sight see at a later date.

Rick, glad to hear it was simple. Kind of scary that there was no behind the wheel test but I guess its good for you. I am glad you posted back now I do not have to babysit my friend when he goes for it. I am surprised they didn't hand you the license at that time, they usually print them on the spot, you smile they take the picture and you leave. Is it going to be a card to keep with your current license until it expires?

From experience, the engines between 2007-2011 were more prone to problems, just like this with most if not all USA engine manufactures. The regulations came so fast they were all scrambling to make it work for survival and the economy was crashing around them in the process they all were working with tight budgets to make the required emissions work to survive. Not to make excuses for them but the industry was a mess at the time. I cant count how many EGR coolers I have replaced since their introduction in 2003-2004, then they got worse when the particulate filter technology came along. I was so frustrated as a Technician I bailed out of the dealership side and went into fleet management to get away from it. Hopefully it works out for you. Cummins is a good company I would be surprised if they left you hanging.