Seneca rear air suspension dump valves

[Mark S]

Finished up manual dump valves today. Works great. Quickly drops height at hitch 4”. I tested all connections with soapy water and no leaks. I inflated and deflated the airbags several times using the valves and works well.

Thanks to all who provided guidance.

[Robbbyr]

Looks great Mark!

[jeffro01]

This is one of the many things I want to do and all of the necessary information is in this thread so my only question here is, how difficult is this for someone who's never worked with air suspension of any kind at any time? I just don't want to screw this up and impact my ability to stop the coach. My apologies if I sound a bit paranoid...

Jeff

[Pookieandsparky]

Originally Posted by jeffro01

This is one of the many things I want to do and all of the necessary information is in this thread so my only question here is, how difficult is this for someone who's never worked with air suspension of any kind at any time? I just don't want to screw this up and impact my ability to stop the coach. My apologies if I sound a bit paranoid...

Jeff

Jeff, isn't difficult at all. Just make sure you empty the air tank before beginning.

[Mark S]

Originally Posted by jeffro01

This is one of the many things I want to do and all of the necessary information is in this thread so my only question here is, how difficult is this for someone who's never worked with air suspension of any kind at any time? I just don't want to screw this up and impact my ability to stop the coach. My apologies if I sound a bit paranoid...

Jeff

I felt some of the same apprehension about this project. Actually it was easy. All air connections were push on and worked the first time.
We just completed our first trip with the dump valves and it made a nice difference in the RV wasn’t as high and felt more solid with the bags empty.
With all the great resources on this forum willing to guide you I would not hesitate on this addition.

[javamon]

Originally Posted by Mark S

Finished up manual dump valves today. Works great. Quickly drops height at hitch 4”. I tested all connections with soapy water and no leaks. I inflated and deflated the airbags several times using the valves and works well.

Thanks to all who provided guidance.

Ordered my parts this morning using your parts list. What is the best way to cut the air line? Did you use a special cutter?


Thanks!

[Mark S]

Originally Posted by javamon

Ordered my parts this morning using your parts list. What is the best way to cut the air line? Did you use a special cutter?


Thanks!

I used a diagonal cutter. It is surprisingly easy to cut and the job was easier than I thought it would be.

Now here is a little known factoid. If you fail to close the valves to re-inflate the airbags when you leave, don’t worry, you will know very shortly. Dishes will fall out of cabinets and it will sound like the world is coming to an end. Don’t ask me how I know ��

[repeach]

Y'all are getting me in trouble. Yesterday I finished re-attaching and sealing my cab to my house and installing the motion sensor on the awning.
I just placed my Amazon order for all the valves, fittings, solenoids, etc. I will be starting this air dump project shortly.
We will be leaving mid July, from what I read on this thread, I should be able to easily get it done.

[tpastorini]

If you have help should only take an hour or so. Pretty straightforward. Good luck.

[Firewrench]

Discovered this thread a few days ago. Been reading it with great interest. Now I have a new project.
Hearing the jacks scrape across the ground is akin to fingernails on a chalkboard!

[tpastorini]

Firewrench, As an example, we were coming to a campsite and always the front right tire was about 10 inches off the ground. Now adding the dump valves and squatting the back suspension, the front tire does not lift off of the leveling pads that are about 4 inches high.

[Firewrench]

Fortunately we have not had any campsites that were too wonky side to side, but there was a couple times the front wheels were barely on the ground. It’s no wonder those screws in the back of the cab pull out…
I was thinking at that time, if the ass end could squat, that would be awesome.
Then later I encountered the airliner creep on a hard surface, sheer loads on hydraulic cylinders is bad.

I really appreciate all the information I’ve learned here in the last few weeks since I found this forum, particularly Seneca/Accolade stuff.

[repeach]

Originally Posted by tpastorini

If you have help should only take an hour or so. Pretty straightforward. Good luck.

Hour or so???? took me over a week. (spent three days down at deer camp).

I really want to thank everyone on this forum for your knowledge. Especially everyone that did the air dump before me and shared their pictures, suggestions, and part numbers.
Everything works great, it takes about 15 seconds to get the secondary tank below 50 psi. When leveled it was quick and low (although it was tested in a cemented barn that is level). AND I had zero walking when I raised the jacks.
We will be heading out in a week or so to higher elevation and higher latitude (someplace cooler than AR). I will report back on real world testing.

[Firewrench]

Got my system all plumbed and wired, works great. Thanks everybody who posted pics and parts list. I think I spent around 3 hours Wed, Maybe 4 yesterday, and a couple hours today. Not on flat rate any more!!

Making the mounting plate for the solenoids took a couple hours, I had some 3/16" aluminum sheet laying around, so that's what I used. Also had to move the rig off the gravel parking pad and onto the grass so I could lay underneath and run the wire from front to rear. Told the kid at NAPA to give me 30 feet of loom. Had about 2 feet left over.

Since the Vixen solenoids only use 2 amps total, I found the WAGO connector in the center dash that feeds the 12v accessory plug and connected there. I like those things.

Did anybody else have trouble with the 45* elbows on the top of the air bags not sealing good with the new hose? I can't hear the air leaking, but bubble soap shows both sides leaking slightly. Not the end of the world, but I think I'll get a couple of those nickel-plated fittings from McMaster. None of those are leaking.

[Gilly 1071]

Hopefully we did the project correctly. Installed a 3/8 x 3/8 x 1/4 T in the mainline. 1/4" to a manual dump switch we mounted in the battery enclosure and then 1/4 to the dump inlets on the bags. Seems to work fine. Hopefully gets me low enough to get into the barn. Will find out Friday when we go to the farm.

[Mark S]

Originally Posted by Mark S

Finished up manual dump valves today. Works great. Quickly drops height at hitch 4”. I tested all connections with soapy water and no leaks. I inflated and deflated the airbags several times using the valves and works well.

Thanks to all who provided guidance.

We just returned from our annual “trip of a lifetime”, our longest trip to date, 3 months and 3 weeks. (DW hinted in no uncertain terms it was too long LOL).

In all our travels, not once did our front wheels come close to coming off the ground. I am very happy I added the dump valves.

[Lost and Found 2022]

Got the dump valves installed today! Works just like Robs as mine is a 2015 with the bigfoot leveling system. Thanks again for all your help. Sharing your experience made the job easy for me.

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by Lost and Found 2022

Got the dump valves installed today! Works just like Robs as mine is a 2015 with the bigfoot leveling system. Thanks again for all your help. Sharing your experience made the job easy for me.

Nice work!

[01 mixson]

I was going to remove both of my air tank drain valves, install fittings, run hoses to a tee then run hose to a shut off valve & just drain the tanks, what do you think ?

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by 01 mixson

I was going to remove both of my air tank drain valves, install fittings, run hoses to a tee then run hose to a shut off valve & just drain the tanks, what do you think ?

Just draining the tanks will not immediately dump the airbags. The leveling valves will hold air in the bags. Eventually it may leak down enough to drop but it might take days.