Palazzo low ground clearance

[blindhog]

my 2017 Palazzo is built very low to the ground. This means the front drags when crossing some roadway dips or drive entries. The back does too but generally that is the trailer hitch, no problem. I first thought it was only cosmetic damage but has progressed to a significant problem. Have others had this experience? Thanks Dennis

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the forum!
You just have to slow down more, and be extra careful...
Do you have an airbag suspension? Perhaps there's something going on with it...

[chunker21]

If the Palazzo has air bag suspension, check the ride height. Air suspensions will have ride height adjustments that may involve 3 or 4 adjusters/valves. There will be specific measurements you take on the suspension at the 4 corners. Then specific methods to make the adjustments.

[rudyhehn]

My Palazzo has a switch on the driver's left side that raises and lowers the height. If you have that switch make sure it is set for the higher adjustment.

[TurnerFam]

the Freightliner XCS chassis is well known for it's LOW stance, and designed specifically for these 'compact' diesel pushers, for the Palazzo and also the ForestRiver Legacy, Fleetwood PaceArrow, WinnieFORZA, etc...
the great advantage is the single entry step, which sometimes is not even needed...compared to most coaches with two to three 'steps' just to get into the coach.

Yes, the air bags are there and will give you an additional ride height of 4-6 inches, but the front skirt design is rather low, so you have to be more careful with these coaches than you might with others... while you are driving, the ride height air bags are already in play, there's nothing you can do to give it more height, except to try to enter/exit hard transitions at a 45degree angle, or as much as possible - never at a straight angle.

As for the Air Bag 'lever', the 'Auto' position means that the coach will always keep the air bags inflated, even when parked. The 'Manual'("LOWER") position means that the coach will have the air bags inflated while driving, but will DEFLATE them(lower the coach) whenever you put the gear in NEUTRAL(park). Some folks may like that, I never have - I leave it in Auto while driving, and only move it to Manual/Lower(dump) when we park for the night. Then and only then do I use the LCI Leveling system to level the coach, as then the legs have much less distance to travel to the ground, and consequently the coach can sit much lower when level.

For the 'Manual' air bags mode, it also can come in handy if you reach an underpass that you might hesitate at, such as 12'. You can put the coach in Neutral, move the lever to 'Manual', allow the air bags to full deflate, then put it back into Drive and QUICKLY proceed - before the bags have time to REINFLATE. You are mainly only worried about getting the roof Air Conditioners thru the underpass, as the coach itself is not the real problem. Our Palazzo from the factory is about 11'10" at ride height, the highest point being the a/c cowling covers, until I added a rear roof-mounted King Tailgater II dome antenna, which added another 1".

The great advantage to the Palazzo and other XCS chassis coaches is that they sit so low - great for when parked, but not as much when transitioning thru intersections, driveways, etc.

[Bob Denman]

I wonder if he has, "found his acorn" yet?

[Robinson Motorsports]

Originally Posted by blindhog

my 2017 Palazzo is built very low to the ground. This means the front drags when crossing some roadway dips or drive entries. The back does too but generally that is the trailer hitch, no problem. I first thought it was only cosmetic damage but has progressed to a significant problem. Have others had this experience? Thanks Dennis

What is considered normal clearance between front and back and the ground? I have a 2017 33.2 also seems to be very low, when the step extends it is only about 6" off the ground. It does lower when I vent the air bags with the switch by the drivers feet