air brake kit

[VietVet]

Can any one tell me what is in the air brake tow kit for 350 dollars from Spartan.

[Iron Man]

It contains directions, a small air storage tank, air hose, fittings and mounting hardware for mounting the air tank. Spartan "requires" it for any toad brake system that ties into the chassis air brake system. The SMI Air Force 1 includes the equivilant in their system. You will have people say that you can directly tie into the air system and don't need the storage tank, Spartan does not agree.

[AFChap]

The Roadmaster Brakemaster has a small air tank that mounts behind the grill of the toad ...recommended to drain it periodically & chk for moisture/water. Whatever else it does in normal use, that tank would power the break-away braking. I presume that is the kind of thing the Spartan kit is, but mounted on the coach? It sounds reasonable, but I've never heard of the kit, and never heard of such a thing being required/recommended. Is this a relatively recent Spartan thing?

For coaches w/o air brakes there is an additional tank w/small compressor to completely power the Brakemaster system. That would be over-kill on an air coach.

[VietVet]

Thanks for the feed back. I tied directly in to the coach air at the rear brake pancake on the freightliner, Freightliner does not condone cutting in any where, got to do what you got to do. Just keep line tied up so it can not get damaged from road trash.Brake master is the system I am moving to the Spartan. I to have a small tank in the toad for break away. Don,t know if I will spend the extra bucks or do the same thing on the spartan. Any suggestions?

[AFChap]

I've had my Brakemaster system on my '02 Spartan Mountain Master chassis since July 2004 with over 50k towing miles. I paid to have it installed, so don't know exastly how they did it, though I recall some folks saying in that time period that there was a factory tap designed for that purpose. I still performs flawlessly, and I have had zero air related problems with the coach.

[David K]

I have a Spartan chassis also with the Roadmaster braking kit installed. Mine was installed to one of the service ports at the rear where the right and left brake lines come off the chassis. No problems with the install at all on mine. You don't cut into the chassis system at all --- just remove a screw in plug and then screw in the Brakemaster adapter. Me thinks that someone may be "protecting" themselves from a law suit by saying the tank is required --- if a failure without the tank, they can say "air brake system was compromised by the install." JMHO

[Stillwater]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VietVet Thanks for the feed back. I tied directly in to the coach air at the rear brake pancake on the freightliner, Freightliner does not condone cutting in any where, got to do what you got to do. Just keep line tied up so it can not get damaged from road trash.Brake master is the system I am moving to the Spartan. I to have a small tank in the toad for break away. Don,t know if I will spend the extra bucks or do the same thing on the spartan. Any suggestions?

I don't think anyone would condom splicing in like you appear to have done. The proper connection would be to plumb into the rear axle brake relay valve. It's not that hard to do.

[Iron Man]

As far as Spartan chassis is concerned EVERYONE that I have talked to who works with Spartan say the tank system is the ONLY correct and safe way to tie into the air brake lines. It may be a liabillty issue with Spartan but it is also a liabilty issue with me. Any time you chage the intended design of a system there are changes that happen, some you are not aware of because you are not familar with the system you modified and you did not desing the system. So what do you say if you are involved in a accident and the others involved find out you did an unapproved modification the air brake system? In this "lets sue everybody" society I don't want to deal with that. I have the SMI Air Force 1 and SMI has their own Spartan approved "ping tank".

[VietVet]

I have a 32000 lb gross with only 21000 lb actual . The breaks can handle 32000 lb the toad only comes in at 2200 lb why do I need aux breaks any way . Just a thought, my state only requires breaks on a trailer at 10000 lb. My math says I am with in the limits. Whats the difference a tandem trailer or a toad.

[GaryKD]

Hi VietVet,
Go to The Physics of Towed-Vehicle Braking and read post #1. It is written by a trained and skilled professional. Post #1 can answer your question.

[Stillwater]

I gotta fess up and correct myself, I went thru the Brakemaster installation guide and if there is no available port in the relay then the next option is to "tee" into a service line, meaning an air line going to one of the brake chambers.

[VietVet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stillwater I gotta fess up and correct myself, I went thru the Brakemaster installation guide and if there is no available port in the relay then the next option is to "tee" into a service line, meaning an air line going to one of the brake chambers.

I agree. What is the difference, so long as the line is protected from damage.

[VietVet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryKD Hi VietVet, Go to The Physics of Towed-Vehicle Braking and read post #1. It is written by a trained and skilled professional. Post #1 can answer your question.

Good info. But what I am saying i have got enough brakes to handle the mass at the force, Do not rely on out side forces to make up for poor driving skills. ie following to close or driving to fast for conditions. Professorial driver with CDL combination 80,000 lb gross.

[GaryKD]

Hi VietVet,
I have asked SMI to respond to your question directly.