OldBeaver Report post Posted October 10, 2016 I recently purchased a 40 foot 1987 Beaver Marquis and unfortunately the air line from the compressor to the air dryer has a leak. I need to replace this line but have no idea where the air dryer is located. ..or what it looks like. The motorhome is parked in a storage facility almost an hour away and sits on some very coarse gravel so crawling under it is very difficult. Is anyone familiar with this motorhome and the exact location of the air dryer?? I want to have a new hose made and get it installed. I have tried to trace the existing hose but after it goes from the engine compartment down near the transmission, it goes up towards the top of the frame and I cannot follow it due to other lines wires and devices.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfe10 Report post Posted October 10, 2016 Old Beaver, Welcome to the FMCA Forum. Dryers are pretty substantial-- most are more than 18" tall and 12" in diameter. Afraid you will need to locate it, as both length of new hose and size and type of fitting are important. It will be between the air compressor on the engine and the wet tank (first large air tank). What chassis are you on-- that may help tell where the dryer is located? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldBeaver Report post Posted October 10, 2016 Thanks Wolfe. I am on a Gillig chassis. I have located something that looks similar to the various photos I have on the internet. What threw me off is the location - dead center of the coach in the front, maybe 2 to 3 feet back from the front bumper. Most people that wrote about theirs mention either the engine compartment or the rear axle. Where can I purchase the SS braided line? I called local Freighter parts department as well as NAPA and did not have any luck. Maybe Freighliner service department? Also, would the entire line from compressor to dryer be stainless steel or does it connect somewhere under the motorhome to one that is not. I ask because the only places on the internet that I found selling these do not have anything longer than 80 inches. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dickandlois Report post Posted October 10, 2016 Old Beaver, Welcome to the FMCA Forum ! The maximum length of braded line you mentioned is very common on most RV's Have you tried to contact Gillig? They might have some information on file. http://www.gillig.com/contact Safety Recall link. http://www.carsafetyreference.com/gillig-motorhome-chassis-1991/ Service Manuals NOTE ! When I tried to down load the information I got a warning from my security software ! So one might ask about the issue when talking to Gillig ! http://www.download-provider.org/download-k:Gillig Chassis Motorhome Service Manuals.html?aff.id=7582 Should Gillig clear this issue please let me know and I will edit out the warning ! Thanks. Rich Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jleamont Report post Posted October 10, 2016 Old beaver, I had my line fabricated by a Hydraulic hose store. Just remove your old one and take it with you. It has a Teflon inner core, most have the hose available but they will have to crimp the ends on to suite your application. Some have a copper line that is solid other have the flexible SS. I had a hard time locating my dryer also when we bought our coach, someone made a wooden box around it and painted it black. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted October 10, 2016 5 minutes ago, jleamont said: Old beaver, I had my line fabricated by a Hydraulic hose store. Just remove your old one and take it with you. It has a Teflon inner core, most have the hose available but they will have to crimp the ends on to suite your application. Some have a copper line that is solid other have the flexible SS. I had a hard time locating my dryer also when we bought our coach, someone made a wooden box around it and painted it black. Wasn't that nice of them. Isn't that an AN -16 line? You should be able to order one or just have it made at a local shop. Like others have said it would be good to have the old line as a sample. I had one blow along 30 at S.Iris rd. in Indiana this summer. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
obedb Report post Posted October 10, 2016 If the hose snakes up out of sight wouldn't it be better to measure from the compressor forward and mount it in a different fashion than factory? Just a thought. Sympathize with you on crawling around on gravel. Ours is stored 8 miles away and all they offer is gravel. I run all tires onto blocks of wood for storage, and use pegboard to slide around under the coach. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jleamont Report post Posted October 10, 2016 1 hour ago, WILDEBILL308 said: Wasn't that nice of them. Isn't that an AN -16 line? You should be able to order one or just have it made at a local shop. Like others have said it would be good to have the old line as a sample. I had one blow along 30 at S.Iris rd. in Indiana this summer. Bill Especially when it wouldn't purge (never serviced) I thought it didn't have one. I ended up following the line into a wooden box, needless to say the dryer was replaced and the box went into the trash, I put it right back where Roadmaster intended it too be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
obedb Report post Posted October 10, 2016 Am I missing something or am I the only one that read the last paragraph of Old Beavers original post? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfe10 Report post Posted October 10, 2016 5 minutes ago, obedb said: Am I missing something or am I the only one that read the last paragraph of Old Beavers original post? Barring someone having first hand information on this coach/chassis, or information from Gillig, the best answer really is that you can not hide an 18" tall by 12" diameter dryer with 3 air lines to it! Guess it could be located all the way forward, but that makes no sense. The proper location is close to the engine-driven compressor, as two of the lines go back to the compressor/governor. And, since moisture is present in the compressed air before the air dryer, there really should not be a drip loop/sag, as it could freeze in cold weather. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldBeaver Report post Posted October 10, 2016 (edited) Gentlemen thanks for all the info. I calleg Gillig this morning and learned that the line is #12 and 73 inches long. With that information I crawled underneath again and found with a hose connects to another one. Unfortunately that is as far as I can get laying on my back. There is too much in the way for me to disconnect the old one and attach a new one. There are two other air hoses and 2 liquid lines plus number of wires and a pump of some sort and bracket the pump is attached to that I suspect is welded onto the frame as I could not find any bolts that attach it to the frame. I went back to my previously failed repair and gave it another try. Amazingly enough this time it is holding . I drove in circles around near the storage facility and put 9 miles on it. I think it is good enough to get it into a service center where they can get it on a lift and do a replacement. I also located the air dryer. As I suspected it is all the way in the front of the RV. I will also have it serviced. Edited October 11, 2016 by OldBeaver Awful spelling errors Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
