[rheavn]

He had enough air leaks in his 2015 Foretravel to cause his air compressor to cycle every 8 minutes.  Replaced every plastic shut off valve with good quality metal ball valves, one cheap air dryer, one check valve and every push in fitting we could find with DOT compression fittings and now his pump only cycles a few times in 24 hrs.

A leak down tool saved the day as he had no leaks big enough for the ultrasonic leak detector to hear.  Remember 25 small leaks add up to a big leak!

NOTE: all repairs were made without getting under the coach.

[HoosierDaddy]

WOW!!! Were the plastic shut-off valves from the factory?

[Trainer]

When the Fore family designed Unicoach chassis was sold in late 2005, the new folks started changing things. They are boxes on rails today like so many other motorhomes. Most have the baby 400 series Aqua Hots. So if it is newer than 2005, it is not my era Foretravel motorhome.

The 1995 to 2005 Unicoach is monocock style as is Newell and Prevost. They came through the front door as square tubing, NO frame rails a la Spartan or Freightliner. The U320 model had the large Aqua Hot, nothing smaller was installed. The 431/12 and its successors have one 120 electric element where as the special for Newell Aqua Hots have one 120 volt element, one 240 element and an in tank temp sensor. Newell is a cut above.

That era Foretravel was a Mercedes level coach while Newell would be Rolls Royce level.

[rheavn]

HoosierDaddy,
Foretravel used the same shut off valves that Newell used. They are brass bodied, but have a plastic stem & shut off. All were leaking through the stem. All of mine leaked and were replaced with all metal ball valves.

[360]

Every 8 minutes to a couple times a day is some kind of difference.

[Trainer]

Mr. Bare, you are welcome to sneak around my Foretravel any time.

Recently, a friend heard my front level valve leaking. From underneath safely, he determined the valve body near the supply inlet was leaking. So a new WABCO valve is ready to be installed. Strange leak as MOT installed the leaking valve 10 or 11 months ago.

[Winegrower]

Thanks for posting Steve. It's a valuable lesson to learn about these air systems, how to test them, and good quality fittings.

[Latitude 28]

Steve Bare,
Got my curiosity up about these air valves. I have not seen any such valve while rooting around the coach. Do you have an idea where they might be located? How many did Newell install at the factory?

[MrE]

Steve, not wanting to sound ignorant, but... You said you used a "leak down tool", is this a cylinder leak down tool used on internal combustion engines to check the rings, or something else.

[BobALou]

Jon,

Go to 3:45 in this video that Steve did at a guru gathering:

https://youtu.be/RDd-AR7we8w