For those following this thread, here’s some additional info to consider.
Newell followed conventional bus strategy from the 70s and 80s when they welded ping tanks as an integral part of the frame. The idea is that the extra volume of the tank softens the spring rate of the airbag. That softening is highly dependent on the quick flow of air between the air bag and ping tank. Hence the 1 inch diameter transfer hose between the tank and the bag.
But………when the air bags with the i inch inlet went out of production, the alternative has a much smaller inlet. This essentially negates the quick air flow in and out of the ping tank.
As the new bags with smaller inlets are used, there is NO ride quality advantage in retaining the ping tank. There is a slight installation advantage as outlined above. The disadvantage of retaining the ping tank are twofold. One, sometimes the leak is in the tank. Two, all the tank now does is slow the time to raise or lower the coach. It is not very difficult to run a completely new air line from the six pack directly to the air bags.
Richard and Rhonda Entrekin
95 Newell, 390 Ex caretaker
99 Newell, 512 Ex caretaker
07 Prevost Marathon, 1025
Maverick Hybrid Toad
Inverness, FL (when we're home )
Up here in Alaska we have the Dalton Hwy, its 412 miles of very rough gravel, pavement, and chip sealed roads with very large potholes and frost heaves. As a commercial drivers have discovered we can put rapid action HCV with quick release blow off valves to soften the suspension air hammer effect. It pretty much does the same thing as having the ping tanks. you just loose the air instead of retaining it in the system. Your compressor might work a touch more but well worth it for the ride quality.
It pops the valve and blows the air out instead of smashing it into the next bag in line making the ride way smoother. It also greatly increases traction of super steep hills by reliving the extra pressure on the back axle. In a tandem drive situation anyways.
What happens when you encounter a quick series of sharp edged bumps? Does the system have enough reserve to recover fast enough or does it end up sitting on the bump stops since the air gets pushed out?
The system recovers plenty fast enough. I'll try to find some amazing pictures of the Dalton highway so you can see the roughness. We fly over it at 55-60. Those should give a decent idea.
Am somewhat familiar with the Highway. We road the southern portion to just past the Circle waypoint on motorcycles several years ago. It had been raining for several days and with the calcium chloride(?) they used, it was a mudfest.
I remember looking at her bike and the front fender was scraping the excess mud off her front tire.
The old fellow at the restaurant/motel/souvenir shop at the Yukon river bridge was disappointed to see us on the way back down. He was certain we’d be on a tow truck or in an ambulance instead of on our bikes.
We just pulled over and stopped when we saw a truck coming. Let them have all the room they wanted.
Lots of good memories from that trip. Just about 8500 miles in 30 days. Both of us could have done a U turn in the driveway and gone at it again.
06 M450LXi 3 slide
(This post was last modified: 03-04-2025, 08:41 AM by arcticdude.)
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