Air Bags

Rick everyone is discussing the over size tires and what happens if they
become flat. However that scenario is,in my opinion giving everyone
contemplating going to oversize tires a false sense of security. The
problem is not if the tires hit the wheelwells or the air bag when the tire
is deflated. The disaster occurs when a tire BLOWS out at speed and the
steel cords whip the inside of the wheel well to death causing large amounts
of damage, and in the process severs the air lines to the air bag. Ever see
the damage that an oversize tire does to the inside of the wheel well when a
blowout occurs at 55MPH, first from the blown tire and than from its mate on
the same side? Scarey to say the least. The recommended Michelin LT225/7516
all steel tire is all of the tire anyone needs. Why is anyone even
contemplating a larger one? I have not seen a good explanation yet.

>
>> if you are on
>> the road and an air bag breaks can the unit still be driven or are you
>> stopped in your tracks.
>
>Bob,
> Like most things, "It depends...." One of the first places I ever heard
>about the GMC Motorhome was an article in Popular Science Monthly, August
>1973, (p. 78). They test drove and compared the new FMC 29' pusher, and the
>GMC. In the course of their testing, "A puncture developped in first the
>left, then the right, air bag of the GMC, leaving the whole rear end sagging.
> Despite this, we were able to drive it at up to 55 mph without loss of
>control...." I saved the magazine, and find that quote comforting.
> Of course, if you run the oversize 9.50R16.5 tires I do, the tires may rub
>on the deflated air bag, so you may not be able to drive as far as necessary.
> (No, the tires don't rub on the wheel well or body.) I carry the
>recommended 3/4" X 20" threaded rod.and nuts. In the event of an air bag
>failure, I can remove the air bag (Do a dry run to get the nuts freed up.)
>and substitute the rod. This will get you home.
> My .02.
>
>Rick Staples
>'75 Eleganza
>Louisville, CO
>
>
 
>Bob,
> Like most things, "It depends...." One of the first places I
>ever heard
>about the GMC Motorhome was an article in Popular Science Monthly,
>August
>1973, (p. 78). They test drove and compared the new FMC 29' pusher,
>and the
>GMC. In the course of their testing, "A puncture developped in first
>the
>left, then the right, air bag of the GMC, leaving the whole rear end
>sagging.
> Despite this, we were able to drive it at up to 55 mph without loss
>of
>control...."

This article may mislead someone to think it is possible to maintain
highway speeds.

I would caution everyone to follow the manual....do not even try to drive
the coach anywhere near 55mph with deflated bags. If the coach had
belonged to the tester I would guarantee he would not have driven it at
that speed.

Dave Greenberg
GMC MOTORHOME REGISTRY
Seagate Towers 200 MacFarlane Dr PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
 
Scott

I opted to carry the Ragusa product rather than an old air bag, primarily
because of space considerations. Lots of internal storage options for the
aluminum shaft, that would not be feasible for an airbag.

That's what I did.

Chuck
77K
North ID

>Hi Group!
>
>Maybe I'm missing something here about blown air bags. All the talk I have
>read is to use a 4x4, a 3/4 inch threaded rod and filling up a bag with
>silicone. What is wrong with replacing the air bag with the an old spare
air
>bag? The old bag would have a schrader air valve. Re-use the air hose if
>possible. Use your air compressor and/or fix a flat to inflate the old air
>bag if needed.
>
>Scott NEHODA'S
>BACK YARD
>
>
 
a portion of my space is for an air bag....
jw

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Adohen
> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 1999 7:09 AM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Air Bags
>
>
> In a message dated 11/18/1999 7:38:14 AM Eastern Standard Time,

>
> > Lots of internal storage options for the
> > aluminum shaft, that would not be feasible for an airbag.
>
> Hi Chuck!
> I can see that space would be a consideration:). Since I have
> about 60 miles
> on my coach, I certainly don't have the seat of my pants
> experience. Would
> the ability to travel at highway speeds again outweigh the lack
> of internal
> storage? What happens when we get to where we are going with the 4x4 or
> shaft? Somehow we will still have to procure and install an
> airbag, right?
> Maybe space is a large consideration that I wish I might have to
> deal with in
> the future :).
>
> Scott NEHODA'S
> BACK YARD
>
>
 
I carry a spare air bag 'cause I have one, actually it is new and I
should put it on and keep the old bag as a spare. (Thought I would say
that before everyone jumps on me!)

But I also made up a piece of threaded rod that takes up a whole lot less
space than an airbag.

The rod/wood/whatever is for those that don't carry a backup air bag.

Dave Greenberg
GMC MOTORHOME REGISTRY
Seagate Towers 200 MacFarlane Dr PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829

Hi Chuck!
I can see that space would be a consideration:). Since I have about 60
miles
on my coach, I certainly don't have the seat of my pants experience.
Would
the ability to travel at highway speeds again outweigh the lack of
internal
storage? What happens when we get to where we are going with the 4x4 or
shaft? Somehow we will still have to procure and install an airbag,
right?
Maybe space is a large consideration that I wish I might have to deal
with in
the future :).

Scott NEHODA'S

BACK YARD
 
>Sounds like a lot of work just to have a rigid prop to hold up the wheels.
>The 4x4 with two lags bolts or the 3/4" threaded rod with nuts will work fine
>and take a whole lot less storage room.

I had assumed that that a silicon filled air bag would NOT be rigid but
would have some give, thus be more suspension component friendly than a 4X4
or steel bolt. It was the non-rigid aspect that led me to consider it
(haven't actually tried to do it yet though :^)

Marion Hope
77 Kingsley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
George M.(Marion) Hope, Ph.D.
1930 SW 19th Way gmhope
Gainesville, FL 32608 gmhope
(352) 371-2795 (Home) (352) 846-2111 (Office)
 
>I have no idea if this would work or not. But I love it because it is a new
>idea.
>It would take a lot of silly-cone but it might just work. Thanks for an
>original
>idea. I can work with this. HHMMMMM wonder if Jell-O would work---could
>carry the bag flat fire up the stove make Jell-O You get the idea. Wow what
>about a dead bag and a can of Great Stuff foam. I know that one can would
>fill a bag. Now this this is fun.

Hey Arch, I like the Jello concept. Just throw it in the frig for a while
and use it - then when you're done, you can eat it (the Jello, not the dead
bag :^).

I had considered foam too and hadn't rejected it - probably would only take
a half can or so. However, I wonder if it wouldn't compress too much under
a heavy load????

Possibly, a water filled bag would work. . .but would have to be in pretty
good shape so as not to leak. The nice thing about the silicon is that you
could use an old, checkered, leaky bag.

Cheers,
Marion Hope
77 Kingsley

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
George M.(Marion) Hope, Ph.D.
1930 SW 19th Way gmhope
Gainesville, FL 32608 gmhope
(352) 371-2795 (Home) (352) 846-2111 (Office)
 
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