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03-31-2019, 04:11 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Somewhere Nice
Posts: 1,466
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Parking Brake Failure?
I have a question for you MH veterans. As a newby, I recently became concerned about my parking brake. While boondocking in a very unlevel spot with my front end pointing downhill, I thought if the parking brake failed we are in big trouble. Nothing happened, but I wondered if I should chock my wheels or is the parking brake foolproof? Has anyone had their parking brake fail?
As a former school bus driver, I do ocassionally check the parking brake to make sure it holds.
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03-31-2019, 04:30 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
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You have a diesel pusher with air brakes.
The same rear brakes the stop the MH are used to hold it still, with the parking brake control.
The service brakes are applied with air but the parking brake is applied with springs, so they don't release if you loose air pressure.
Anything can fail, including the automatic slack adjusters and the springs in the chambers.
If the auto adjusters stop adjusting, you will see more air used in normal stopping and a weak parking brake.
If a spring in a chamber breaks, a rare occorance, you would only have one wheel holding the rig from rolling, although it probably wouldn't happen while parked.
Test them by setting them and attempt to drive foward. If they don't seem to hold well, get them checked.
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03-31-2019, 04:31 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Fort Myers FL
Posts: 400
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I don't think you should trust your parking brake, and you absolutely chock your wheels.
__________________
2001 Winnebago Chieftain 36W F53
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03-31-2019, 04:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Fort Myers FL
Posts: 400
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Or what TwinBoat said...
__________________
2001 Winnebago Chieftain 36W F53
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03-31-2019, 04:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,626
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
You have a diesel pusher with air brakes.
The same rear brakes the stop the MH are used to hold it still, with the parking brake control.
The service brakes are applied with air but the parking brake is applied with springs, so they don't release if you loose air pressure.
Anything can fail, including the automatic slack adjusters and the springs in the chambers.
If the auto adjusters stop adjusting, you will see more air used in normal stopping and a weak parking brake.
If a spring in a chamber breaks, a rare occorance, you would only have one wheel holding the rig from rolling, although it probably wouldn't happen while parked.
Test them by setting them and attempt to drive foward. If they don't seem to hold well, get them checked.
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Well said!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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03-31-2019, 05:36 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Somewhere Nice
Posts: 1,466
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Thanks guys. I appreciate your help.
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2008 Monaco Dynasty Squire
Paul & Luci
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03-31-2019, 05:38 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Somewhere Nice
Posts: 1,466
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Regarding chocks, what do you guys use? I have seen the curved plastic ones. Will they really hold a 45k pound coach?
__________________
2008 Monaco Dynasty Squire
Paul & Luci
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03-31-2019, 07:59 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,037
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__________________
'20 RAM 3500, '20 Heartland Road Warrior 430 https://thecastle.blog/ Also: Eagle Cap 950 Before:'17 Berkshire 38A class A https://dragonship.blog/ '11 Heartland Cyclone TH, '11 Lance TC, '05 Keystone TT, '76 Coachmen class A and a '16 DIY Transit conversion........
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03-31-2019, 08:11 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 3,009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oscarvan
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Me too. On a hill I chock 'em. If there's a hill with a curb I usually curb 'em.
__________________
2005 Monaco Knight 40PLQ; Cummins 8.3L ISC330, Pacbrake, Allison 3000, Roadmaster RR8R, ScanGauge D, 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan VN750(Geezer Glide) on a Versahaul carrier pulling a 2013 Kia Soul+; 2.0L, 6 speed Sport shifter(great car) on an American Car Dolly(great dolly.)
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03-31-2019, 11:07 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,899
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pduggs
I have a question for you MH veterans. As a newby, I recently became concerned about my parking brake. While boondocking in a very unlevel spot with my front end pointing downhill, I thought if the parking brake failed we are in big trouble. Nothing happened, but I wondered if I should chock my wheels or is the parking brake foolproof? Has anyone had their parking brake fail?
As a former school bus driver, I do ocassionally check the parking brake to make sure it holds.
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It would be nice if you posted your:
Chassis make/model/engine/year etc. You can install a signature below all your posts that automatically puts it there when you're done posting.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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04-01-2019, 04:14 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
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Interesting discussion. I rarely see a DP chocked, actually probably never have. It does make sense though.
__________________
Tim
Leesburg, FL '07 American Tradition 40Z Cummins 400 ISL
Towing a '14 Honda CRV Both sold
2021 Vanleigh Beacon 41LKB 5th wheel
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04-01-2019, 04:58 AM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,459
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
Anything can fail, including the automatic slack adjusters and the springs in the chambers.
If the auto adjusters stop adjusting, you will see more air used in normal stopping and a weak parking brake.
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I would never trust the tank pressure gauge to tell me when the brakes need adjusted. The change in volume of air is just not that much. But, of course, by law, if a vehicle has air brakes I have to check the brakes are not out of adjustment...
Quote:
Originally Posted by pduggs
Regarding chocks, what do you guys use? I have seen the curved plastic ones. Will they really hold a 45k pound coach?
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IMHO, the best kind of chock is a heavy rubber mudflap, long enough to get under center of wheel while bolted to a 4X4. Once the weight of the wheel is on the flap, it will not slide. And it takes a lot of power to roll the wheel up the inches needed to go over...
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04-01-2019, 05:15 AM
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#13
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Community Moderator
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Central, Arkansas
Posts: 11,223
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I would be more concerned with rolling out of the bed. If I was unlevel enough to worry about it I would pick a different spot.
__________________
2004 Beaver Monterey Laguna IV
Cummins ISC 350HP Allison 3000 6 speed
2020 Chevy Equinox Premier 2.0t 9 speed AWD
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04-01-2019, 08:02 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Somewhere Nice
Posts: 1,466
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScoobyDoo
I would never trust the tank pressure gauge to tell me when the brakes need adjusted. The change in volume of air is just not that much. But, of course, by law, if a vehicle has air brakes I have to check the brakes are not out of adjustment...
IMHO, the best kind of chock is a heavy rubber mudflap, long enough to get under center of wheel while bolted to a 4X4. Once the weight of the wheel is on the flap, it will not slide. And it takes a lot of power to roll the wheel up the inches needed to go over...
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Any chance you have a picture of that chock you describe?
__________________
2008 Monaco Dynasty Squire
Paul & Luci
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