Florida trip

[Captain Bud]

With this recall situation in back of my mind, my dw and I made our annual sojurn to Florida. My ABS light came on and went out many times, during the trip, but no lockups. We traveled down 17 with a lot of stop and go and returned 95. I ran the rig in downpours and cold with no hangups. During my travels I spoke to all the WH people I could, and I have never ever seen a more confused, misinformed, group of consumers.
Am I happy that I had no problems, you betcha, am I unhappy that I constantly am concerned with the status of my brakes, absolutely. I had to change my driving style to cater to the possibility of a brake failure and think of what I would do, if I had to pull over and let my brakes cool. I don't think that RVing is about worrying if you rig will have a catastrophic failure. Nice going Workhorse for giving your customers peace of mind.......
As a glutton for punishment I replaced my wiper blades and arms on the trip, with, are you ready for this....BOSCH blades...

[Spoonman]

We agree,
"getting there is half the fun" doesn`t apply anymore. Now that DW knows what is going on with the brake issue she is really nervous, to the point that I offered to fly her home from Fl next wk. Guess she`s more worried about the brakes on the plane

[rogueii]

For what its worth, I think the "Stop and GO' --in town driving is worse than the interstate driving. That is the only areas I have had overheating problems. In the Mtns, I use the Transmission. I have started to do the same in town--drives my wife crazy..LOL

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogueii I have started to do the same in town--drives my wife crazy..LOL

You keep driving your wife crazy. It'll be better than the look you're going to get if you get stuck on the side of the road. (I didn't want to go there but .... )

[Ron & Dee]

Quote:

For what its worth, I think the "Stop and GO' --in town driving is worse than the interstate driving. That is the only areas I have had overheating problems. In the Mtns, I use the Transmission. I have started to do the same in town--

I have seen this mentioned several times in the discussion of brake failures.

Dumb question

Why would this be more likely to cause a brake failure?

My experience with town or stop and go driving if I'm at the speed limit or below, my Allison's transmission down shifting on it's own, and a quick mometary application of the brake seems sufficient to control the speed of the MH when coming to a stop.

Anyone

Thanks,

Ron

[thepratts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron & Dee I have seen this mentioned several times in the discussion of brake failures. Dumb question Why would this be more likely to cause a brake failure?

The problem occurs when the piston in the brake caliber expands due to water contamination. That alone may not cause the problem but add the heating from stop and go traffic and the piston will expand even more causing the piston to hang.

I have had the problem twice, once in the hills and the first time in stop and go traffic.

[-Gramps-]

My old Bounders rear brake locked up after a long session of stop and go traffic.

[CoastieSCPO]

As I reported several times, we had a brake failure in August 07 and for the most part, things have been good since then. I try to use the Allison as much as possible to avoid overworking the Bosch brakes. Another words, I try to "baby" the brakes. Last January, on a trip to Florida, after using the Allison as much as possible, the tranny failed and had to be replaced. Talk about being confused! The brakes are questionable so use the Allison as much as possible, then the darn tranny goes south. I know that the computer will not let you damage the tranny, but really, who would of thought it would fail?

Aside from the fact that this brake fiasco has been going on for much to long, the thought that a failure just might happen, drives me nuts. They (brakes) have been performing well since 07; went to Alaska and back and Bristol, Tn last week. All has been well.......................BUT!

Bob

[Spoonman]

[QUOTE=CoastieSCPO;620666]As I reported several times, we had a brake failure in August 07 and for the most part, things have been good since then. I try to use the Allison as much as possible to avoid overworking the Bosch brakes. Another words, I try to "baby" the brakes. Last January, on a trip to Florida, after using the Allison as much as possible, the tranny failed and had to be replaced. Talk about being confused! The brakes are questionable so use the Allison as much as possible, then the darn tranny goes south. I know that the computer will not let you damage the tranny, but really, who would of thought it would fail?

Aside from the fact that this brake fiasco has been going on for much to long, the thought that a failure just might happen, drives me nuts. They (brakes) have been performing well since 07; went to Alaska and back and Bristol, Tn last week. All has been well.......................BUT!


Wow, thats terrible. Thease tranny`s are almost bullitproof as a rule, doesn`t mean much when it happens to someone though.Hoping your luck changes soon, sounds like you`ve payed your dues and then some.

[CoastieSCPO]

Thanks Spoonman, you're kind words are most appreciated. After my Allison broke, I racked my brains to see if I might have done something that might have caused the failure. I do not believe that I did, neither did the warranty company, who paid 80% of the cost of a retran.

We live in middle Tennessee, up on the Cumberland Plateau. We normally go to Florida at least once a year. I hate driving the interstates, especially I-75 thru Atlanta, so we often take the US Highways down thru Georgia's west side. US 27, US 19 etc, down to the Tallahassee area and then the nice 4 lane roads on the west side of Florida. Did this route numerous times over the years and used it the day prior to the tranny going kaput. We pulled into a campground on the Suwannee River one night with no indication that the Allison was terminal, pulled out the next morning, the yellow light goes on, and the transmission starts slipping and the only gear I have is reverse. So, we unhook the toad and back into our campsite and call Good Sam ERS. Who, by the way, came thru for us like troopers. Towed us to Ocala and two weeks later, a new (retran) is installed. On a positive note, I now have synthetic, rather than dino tranny fluid in.

I am happy to have a new transmission and pleased that my extended warranty company ponied up for most of the costs. But I, like most of those who have suffered brake incidents, am very tired of babying the brakes all the time and constantly worrying when and if they are going to fail again. We should maintain them properly and be able use the heck out of them, worry free. Just like I did for 10 plus years with my previous class C Allegro Bay 27.5 Ford motor home, with no, I repeat, no brake issues.

And yes, I have paid my dues!

Bob

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoastieSCPO On a positive note, I now have synthetic, rather than dino tranny fluid in.

Bob, We have been speaking about this for many years. If there is anyone out there with any doubts about their fluid in 2001-2005 chassis, I would suggest that a Transynd strategy be employed.

[CoastieSCPO]

Mike, after what we experienced, I could not agree with you more!

[bdaball]

Cap,n
We are on the last leg of our Florida trip. 4600 miles todate. Including todays trip through West Virginia complete with a couple of 5 mile 7% downhill grades and I still have brakes!! Thank goodness for Allison...

OBTW, I replaced my wiper blades as well. Hope it doesn't rain