Auto Parking Brake/ emergency brake???

[HD tech]

There has been much dicussion about what you would do if you were to loose your brakes. I know that the owners manual specifically states not to engage the Auto Parking Brake with the vehicle in motion, but lets face it....it has more merit than the Flinstone method! Honestly, I have to ask if it would stop you. Perhaps this would be a better alternative than say...going over a cliff. If you have slowed the coach as much as possible by downshifting, and then... and only then apply the park brake, would it stop you safely?? We are talking an EMERGENCY situation here (when you have no primary brakes). I have never owned a vehicle that had no emergency brake,and we travel in the western mountains frequently. Thanks for your input, Ray

[HD tech]

There has been much dicussion about what you would do if you were to loose your brakes. I know that the owners manual specifically states not to engage the Auto Parking Brake with the vehicle in motion, but lets face it....it has more merit than the Flinstone method! Honestly, I have to ask if it would stop you. Perhaps this would be a better alternative than say...going over a cliff. If you have slowed the coach as much as possible by downshifting, and then... and only then apply the park brake, would it stop you safely?? We are talking an EMERGENCY situation here (when you have no primary brakes). I have never owned a vehicle that had no emergency brake,and we travel in the western mountains frequently. Thanks for your input, Ray

[DriVer]

You neded to call Workhorse Customer Service directly and get the answer you're looking for from them.

If it were me, I'd be in low gear, standing an the brake pedal and yes I'd apply the auto apply brake.

[Easyrider]

I would say that in a true emergency that damaging the auto parking brake would not be as big a concern as possible damage/injury from driving over a cliff or into something? I would be trying anything to stop including downshifting, auto braking, cussing, and throwing the kitchen sink out! Just my thought on the subject.

[Myron]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HD tech:
There has been much dicussion about what you would do if you were to loose your brakes. I know that the owners manual specifically states not to engage the Auto Parking Brake with the vehicle in motion, but lets face it....it has more merit than the Flinstone method! Honestly, I have to ask if it would stop you. Perhaps this would be a better alternative than say...going over a cliff. If you have slowed the coach as much as possible by downshifting, and then... and only then apply the park brake, would it stop you safely?? We are talking an EMERGENCY situation here (when you have no primary brakes). I have never owned a vehicle that had no emergency brake,and we travel in the western mountains frequently. Thanks for your input, Ray </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Well guess what. If I turn my ignition switch off my parking brake activates. From 55 mph it worked quite well. Once it reached about 25 there was a **** of a bang as I shifted to neutral and restarted the engine. I was able to duplicate the problem in the driveway. Since my brakes are about as useful as a ,well my main brakes. It is now in the service center. They had it all day. They have a call into Workhorse. Won't have any information until at least Monday. I guess I'm not looney.
Drove my partners 35 ft workhorse ten feet today. The brakes will toss you through the windscreen if you don't buckle up.
If they can get me half of that braking power I will be thrilled.

[rogueii]

I had mine lock up electrically in Nov/03--set up in a campground in upstate NY-the next morning, the brake would not release-calle WH and asked where the fuse might be and they wouldn't tell me, they towed me to a small shop in Cloister, NJ-spent the night, found fuses in a third panel on the p-32 and replaced the next day. Never had a problem after that.

[Griffith]

Rogueii could you please tell me where you found that fuse for the parking brake for future reference. I have not had a problem yet but I am paranoid about this brake system. I have talked to others that have had theirs lock and they describe it as a very scary situation.