We're done with Workhorse

[WinnebagoDRVR]

Last night, on they way out on Memorial Day vacation, it happened again.

For the 4th time in two years, the parking brake locked on while driving down the road, and stranded us right in the middle of an intersection.

It took 90 minutes to get through to Workhorse for help; on hold twice for 30 minutes then desconnected twice. The Highway Patrol got tired of waiting and dispatched their own tow. They dropped the axle and $715 later it's at the dealer... Again.

This is such a huge safety issue. Last time in they completely replaced and rewired everything, gave the brake it's own dedicated circuit, and here we are again. I am tired of going from 40-60 mph to nothing in a matter of seconds, crap flying everywhere. Good thing everyone was buckled in.

This rig will not be coming home.

[WinnebagoDRVR]

Last night, on they way out on Memorial Day vacation, it happened again.

For the 4th time in two years, the parking brake locked on while driving down the road, and stranded us right in the middle of an intersection.

It took 90 minutes to get through to Workhorse for help; on hold twice for 30 minutes then desconnected twice. The Highway Patrol got tired of waiting and dispatched their own tow. They dropped the axle and $715 later it's at the dealer... Again.

This is such a huge safety issue. Last time in they completely replaced and rewired everything, gave the brake it's own dedicated circuit, and here we are again. I am tired of going from 40-60 mph to nothing in a matter of seconds, crap flying everywhere. Good thing everyone was buckled in.

This rig will not be coming home.

[rvten]

Guess one reason Workhorse does not make a P chassis anymore.

Parking brake has been a problem even before Workhorse took it over from Chevy. I was lucky. Had 3 P chassis and never a problem with it.

[John-D]

On these forums are instructions for locating a procedure to override the auto-park brake.

Personally.. I have a "W" series, it has a good old pedal I push when I wish to set said brake, works very well, works better than the one on my car since I use it more often.

[FrontRangeRVer]

Sorry to hear about that. That's one of the reasons the P-32 was discontinued. It's basically a bread truck chassis with HORRIBLE brakes. We dumped our '05 Sightseer on that chassis after owning it for less than a year. We had the same thing happen to us, and I will tell you that that was the ONLY time those HORRIBLE SQUEEKY brakes about threw us through the windshield....the rest of the time, I had to STAND on the brake pedal to get our unit to stop....

I gaurantee you that the W-22 is a completely different animal, and we can stop on a dime....and the front end doesn't sit lower, among MANY other things...

[oemtech]

I think you guys with 2005 an later Wxx's need to check your parking brake.... Unless you have the pedal to push I will bet you a "Cold One" that you have the same basic Auto Park the P32 has. If you have a Yellow Push/Pull button you have Auto Park!

DriVer correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that WCC is not using it in 08 models.

[FrontRangeRVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by oemtech:
I think you guys with 2005 an later Wxx's need to check your parking brake.... Unless you have the pedal to push I will bet you a "Cold One" that you have the same basic Auto Park the P32 has. If you have a Yellow Push/Pull button you have Auto Park!

DriVer correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that WCC is not using it in 08 models. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The W-20/22 has a brake pedal with a transmission parking prawl.....no auto park....

[Jeff H]

We kept our new Itasca P32 for 28,000 miles and a bit over 3 years...we had enough too. We traded it in even though we had friends who wanted to buy it. Wouldn't sleep well if we had sold it to someone we know.
This W22 is a dream compared to that one.
Give it a try,

[FreshAir]

Ya'all got me concerned. I can't think of anything worse than locking up at highway speeds or not being able to move off the road, outta the way. I have an 05 WH with the yellow pull handel auto brake system. Am I also vulnerable to this phenomenon w/the WH24? This is major safety issue I do believe.

Pat

[Wallaby Dan]

I don't know why they ALWAYS have to Over-Complicate the system that has been in use for over 50 years?? I have a older P-30 and it has a arm that you pull and the emergency brake goes on. You release it buy letting the arm swing down. How hard can that be?? Why all that electric bs when it was already a bug free system??
And the dealerships wonder why I give them the one finger salute everytime they want to sale me a new model!
New and improved, It is new but not improved! No thanks!!!

[WinnebagoDRVR]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Ya'all got me concerned. I can't think of anything worse than locking up at highway speeds or not being able to move off the road, outta the way. I have an 05 WH with the yellow pull handel auto brake system. Am I also vulnerable to this phenomenon w/the WH24? This is major safety issue I do believe. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't know Pat, hopefully someone can answer.

Interesting note, the tow driver said "I did three of these yesterday, and do about 10-15 a month". This is just in San Diego County.

Question: How does the brake on Winnebago's Ford Chasis work?

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Unless you have the pedal to push I will bet you a "Cold One" that you have the same basic Auto Park the P32 has. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
DALE: that is a bet you will lose. The P series chassis has an older design auto apply parking brake called a J-71. Starting with the 2005 model year the 17,000 and 18,000 GVWR P chassis became equipped with the new design J-72 and ALL W-24 chassis were equipped with the J-72 ED

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Capt. Dan:
New and improved, It is new but not improved! No thanks!!! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Capt. Dan, "New" and "Improved" is more than ink at Workhorse. Change in a positive manner has always been the way that Workhorse has approached all the the systems that go into motorhome chassis.

Breeching the Millennium WCC developed the Wide-Track IFS P32 chassis in a state of the art assembly plant which was very well received by the public as a positive change from the narrow track P series which GM pursued for so many years. The J71 auto apply parking brake was redesigned using fewer components and it evolved into the more reliable J72 system. Significantly fewer problems have arisen with the J72 than the J71. Is the system infallible, not quite but fleet wide it serves well.

The very next year the amazing W series. Built from the ground up to be a motorhome chassis the 8.1L Vortec and Allison 5 speed transmission were fitted to a rail that yielded all the strength of an RDP while providing customers an air-like quality ride. With 22.5 inch tires and greater weight carrying capacity the initial W series began capturing market share for gas chassis which GM rarely if ever achieved. The W-Series continues to be the chassis of choice for RV'ers that know what they want in a motorhome chassis.

Subsequent improvements and advancements in maneuverability, ride comfort and handling, instrumentation, including the new six-speed Allison transmissions, weight carrying and towing performance, quad piston brakes, grade brake, the sunset of the J series auto apply brake on chassis over 22,000 pounds, redesign and improvement of the cool pack on the front gas units continue to distinguish the Workhorse philosophy. And now technology bends over backward and an entirely new and improved platform is born; the UFO.

The UFO shatters all expectations regarding how a gas motorhome chassis are perceived and function. Systems such as rear gas engine, 6 speed Allison automatic transmission, WABCO HPB, WISE, Torquebox, Hendrickson coil spring suspension, Semi trailing arms, monoleaf springs, adjustable gas and brake pedals, push button shifting, new cool pack, flat floor, universal fuel options, improved weight carrying capacity, pass through storage options, larger tires and improved instrumentation offer the buyer of new gas powered motorhomes performance that was previously unachievable. Tested in desert environments and on on high performance test tracks the UFO exceeded all expectations for gas powered motorhomes and has demonstrated superior performance than RDP air brake systems.

Workhorse technology "is" both new and improved and there's no going back.

In closing, new coach dealers continue to be flattered when you pass by an insist that they are indeed #1!

[oemtech]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Unless you have the pedal to push I will bet you a "Cold One" that you have the same basic Auto Park the P32 has. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ed,

The key words are "the same BASIC auto park" and I don't care of you call it J-71 or J-72 it is prone to failure in my opinion due to the complexity of the system. Besides from what I have read there are very few WCC, GM or RV techs that can fix it when it goes bang. It seems the best source is a fellow on RV.net call OldUsedBear.