Tire sensors

[BernieD1]

On our Freightliner chassis, there is a 6 port manifold on the firewall.  One port is used for the air horns and the others are available for other applications.  I have attached a quick connect fitting and a 50' air hose to one port and use that for my tires.  I don't know where, or if, Spartan puts such a manifold.

This is NOT a tap into the air brake lines.

Ned

Usually it the the coach builder who decides where to mount the air manifold. On our coach (Spartan chassis), the manifold is mounted on the raised frame rail in the forward area of the bays facing the curb side.

 

[Ned]

Right, Bernie, and when I asked Freightliner about it, they told me it was usually mounted on the firewall.  All of the FL chassis rigs I've seen had it there, including your Damon

 

[Ron3]

On our Freightliner chassis, there is a 6 port manifold on the firewall.? One port is used for the air horns and the others are available for other applications.? I have attached a quick connect fitting and a 50' air hose to one port and use that for my tires.? I don't know where, or if, Spartan puts such a manifold.

This is NOT a tap into the air brake lines.

On our Eagle the air hose connection as provided by American Coach is in the forward most bay, Forward of the front tire, on the drivers side.

 

[Tom]

Smoky

On our Monaco there's a female air connector in the generator compartment up front. I just plug an air hose into the connector. I was under the impression that all DPs had these connectors for inflating tires.

 

[BernieD1]

Right, Bernie, and when I asked Freightliner about it, they told me it was usually mounted on the firewall.  All of the FL chassis rigs I've seen had it there, including your Damon

While FL usually left it up front, some of the manufacturers were very inventive on where they hid them behind the front hood. We looked for it on a new Tradewinds and finally found it all the way in the upper right corner of the firewall, almost impossible to get to

 

[Ron3]

Smoky

On our Monaco there's a female air connector in the generator compartment up front. I just plug an air hose into the connector. I was under the impression that all DPs had these connectors for inflating tires.

I am not sure if all diesel pushers have air connections for airing tires but I do know some that have the air connection don't have the capacity to air up the tires.  I'm not sure what the reason is. Our Eagle does have suffciant air to air up the tires.

 

[BernieD1]

I am not sure if all diesel pushers have air connections for airing tires but I do know some that have the air connection don't have the capacity to air up the tires.  I'm not sure what the reason is. Our Eagle does have suffciant air to air up the tires.

Ron

If the coach has air brakes/emergency brake, the air connection is neccessary in case of an air loss. Otherwise a tow truck wouldn't be able to move the coach.

 

[Smoky1]

Another question for my dealer then.? Where is the air hose connection?

Wow this is great!? I can sell my air compressor. It weighs about 25 pounds.? ?

 

[Tom]

If the coach has air brakes/emergency brake, the air connection is neccessary in case of an air loss. Otherwise a tow truck wouldn't be able to move the coach.

Thanks Bernie, I didn't know that.

 

[Ecker]

If the coach has air brakes/emergency brake, the air connection is neccessary in case of an air loss. Otherwise a tow truck wouldn't be able to move the coach.

Thanks Bernie, I didn't know that.

My experience with 4 tows is that they don't use it. The reason is that both their air hose and the firewall connection are female. Therefore, they seee it as easier to climb under chassis and put a male fitting in main air tank and hook air line there.  If the reason for tow is loss of air, one can do something else in an emergency if you carry a 1/2" coupling with you. The most common reason for loss of air is the failure of air dryer and associated valves. One can remove hose and couplings from top and bottom of air dryer - hook them together with the coupling and air up and go on your way to nearest repair faility without a tow truck.

 

[Ron3]

I am not sure if all diesel pushers have air connections for airing tires but I do know some that have the air connection don't have the capacity to air up the tires.? I'm not sure what the reason is. Our Eagle does have suffciant air to air up the tires.

Ron

If the coach has air brakes/emergency brake, the air connection is neccessary in case of an air loss. Otherwise a tow truck wouldn't be able to move the coach.

This is true Bernie but if they have the air connection there why not make it adequate to air up the tires.  The main reason the aux air connection is usually located in the front 1/4  of the vehicle is to make it readily accessable for the tow truck.

 

[BZam]

[
If the coach has air brakes/emergency brake, the air connection is neccessary in case of an air loss. Otherwise a tow truck wouldn't be able to move the coach.

No Bernie, I had a very experienced tow truck guy who came and he did not want to use that outlet, so he make a quick assessment  under the coach and had a wrench and a T and crawled under back by engine and opened and air line and put that T in and hooked it up to his truck compressor and towed it away. Now that I recall my connection up front on my coach is a female and the T in his hand was a male and he used a female line from his truck.. But I am sure with his big rig and recovering all kinds of large vehicles like busses and 18 wheelers he had a lot of connectors.

Bob

 

[BernieD1]

I am not sure if all diesel pushers have air connections for airing tires but I do know some that have the air connection don't have the capacity to air up the tires.  I'm not sure what the reason is. Our Eagle does have suffciant air to air up the tires.

Ron

If the coach has air brakes/emergency brake, the air connection is neccessary in case of an air loss. Otherwise a tow truck wouldn't be able to move the coach.

This is true Bernie but if they have the air connection there why not make it adequate to air up the tires.  The main reason the aux air connection is usually located in the front 1/4  of the vehicle is to make it readily accessable for the tow truck.

Ron

AFAIK, air brake systems have compressors that cycle between 110-140#s +/-. That should be adequate to air up most tires. The engine should be running so the compressor can pump up the pressure and deliver enough air.

 

[BernieD1]

I had a very experienced tow truck guy who came and he did not want to use that outlet, so he make a quick assessment  under the coach and had a wrench and a T and crawled under back by engine and opened and air line and put that T in and hooked it up to his truck compressor and towed it away. Now that I recall my connection up front on my coach is a female and the T in his hand was a male and he used a female line from his truck.. But I am sure with his big rig and recovering all kinds of large vehicles like busses and 18 wheelers he had a lot of connectors.

Bob

Bob

I yield, wasn't aware of the alternate. Of course, we all can't be lucky to get an "experienced tow truck guy". I didn't and he didn't air us up, tho we had enough air in the tanks for brakes   but not enough for air bags :'( and he damaged the front bottom spoiler.

 

[Ron3]

AFAIK, air brake systems have compressors that cycle between 110-140#s +/-. That should be adequate to air up most tires. The engine should be running so the compressor can pump up the pressure and deliver enough air.

I have seen a cpouple coaches that the owners indicated they do not get enough air to air up their tires to the correct pressure.  It might be due to volume of air available.  I use my onboard air all the time to air tires.

 

[Smoky1]

My dealer confirmed to day that my pusher will indeed have an air connector.? It is a quick disconnect located in the "bin" where the generator is.? He tells me the access is easy and that there is plenty of air to fill tires.? Woot!? Another 25 pounds jettisoned from the fulltiming rig.

 

[Tom]

Good to hear that Smoky. Don't forget you still need the air hose 

 

[John From Detroit]

Well.... Got my Pressure Pro sensors installed on the Motor Home tires.. All working.

Took two tries, but that was my fault, I should have re-read the instruction before try 1

Major problem was............................ Remembering where I put the wheel cover wrench

 

[Smoky1]

OK, got my 60 foot air hose and a set of various tapes of connectors.

BUT, the male quick connect I have won;t fit the female quick connect on the coach.  I did not realize these came in different sixes, but a guy at the parking lot came buy and opinioned that I needed to thread a larger size male onto my air hose.  Is it true these connectors come in different sizes?  And if so, how do I know what size I have?

I originally thought that Spartan had installed a defective female, but the parking lot guy insists it is a sizing problem.Opinions?

 

[Ned]

I use all 3/8" fittings and hose in my air system.  There are both 1/4" and 3/8" fittings and they aren't interchangeable.  I prefer the larger size to maximize the air flow.