|
|
01-16-2018, 02:52 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Vancouver, WA / Tucson
Posts: 168
|
Use of Parking brake
My wife recently went through a day of driver training so that she would feel more secure when driving our diesel pusher. The instructor told the class of 8 that for a controlled, safe stop, they should pull out the parking brake knob. I’ve driven 45 foot tour buses and trained drivers for a number of years, and was surprised at this. To my knowledge, that parking brake, powered by air or springs in case of air loss, is only applied when securing the parked coach, and should also be applied as part of a brake test, but only at very slow speeds and only to insure that those brakes function correctly. For a safe controlled stop, I would recommend what we call “feather braking” with the service (foot) brake - gentle but firm application and easing up just before coming to a stand still. Applying the parking brake at anything faster than a walking speed is not a controlled stop and dangerous in my opinion. Comments?
__________________
'04 Journey 36 with 330 Cat towing a '14 Sonic hatchback 1.4 liter turbo 6 spd. '16 Subaru Outback at home in Vancouver WA, plus a few other toys up at our remote cabin in Alaska's Talkeetna Mountains.
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
01-16-2018, 03:09 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,912
|
I don't drive DP's, but regardless, it seems a follow-up question direct to the instructor is in order to find out exactly what was communicated and the intent. I'm sure you will get lots of nods to your post on here, but you know the source and need to address your question directly to him/her.
__________________
Mike and Cindy
2016 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 34PA
2018 Chevy Malibu
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 03:14 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 947
|
Parking brake is just that. You set it after you have stopped, not before.
__________________
Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3
2014 F-350 6.7L CC DRW
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 03:16 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Port Orchard, WA
Posts: 4,215
|
I'd be interested in the instructor's rational if he did indeed say to apply the parking brake when traveling at speed for a controlled stop. It goes contrary to everything that I've ever been taught or heard . . . . but I could be wrong!
__________________
Scot & Laura Kellersberger, U.S. Army (ret)
Newmar 4 wheel drive Dutch Star 3891, SOLD
Now RV'ing on the water in a Trawler!
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 03:31 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: North Florida
Posts: 2,474
|
Your correct, her instructor is badly mistaken.
The parking brake chamber has a spring that, when applied, uses around 3000lbs of braking force all at once, the very instant the knob is pulled....
If you pull that yellow knob out with coach in motion, it'll do more than embarrass you.
I don't recommend anyone try it, but knowing this site, someone will pipe in stating they do it all the time & works perfect....ha-ha
__________________
1999 American Eagle
ASE med/heavy certified technician
ASE advanced diesel certified
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 03:37 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Ontario, CANADA
Posts: 318
|
The yellow parking brake knob is for just that; parking. That is in no way way how to stop a air brake vehicle. It is only used in an emergency if the air pressure has dropped to a dangerous level. I have driven air brake vehicles for years and that instructor needs to re teach that part of the course. As you have described, a firm push on the brake initially and a feathering as you come to a stop. After you are stopped then you can pull the yellow knob to set the parking brake. I hope someone corrects this instructor before he teaches someone something that will cause harm.
__________________
Mike and Family
98 American Eagle EVS, Cummins C8.3
2022 Jeep Wrangler Sahara ECO, Blue Ox
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 03:48 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca.
Posts: 947
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod
I'd be interested in the instructor's rational if he did indeed say to apply the parking brake when traveling at speed for a controlled stop. It goes contrary to everything that I've ever been taught or heard . . . . but I could be wrong!
|
You are not wrong. Had a commercial Class 'A" drivers license for 25+ years. Never was taught or never heard of setting the parking brake while still moving on any type of vehicle air brakes or not.
__________________
Mike & Trish Romans 10:9
2011 Mobile Suites 36RSSB3
2014 F-350 6.7L CC DRW
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 04:11 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 698
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mackwrench
...If you pull that yellow knob out with coach in motion, it'll do more than embarrass you...
|
No it won’t.
I have purposely applied the parking brake at 50mph, so I would know what to expect if the air ever fails. The brake brought me to a nice, controlled stop, just a bit quicker than I would normally stop. I’ll grant you that the final stop was a bit rougher than normal because you can’t feather this brake as you would with the service brake, but overall it was a non-event.
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 04:23 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by A Traveler
No it won’t.
I have purposely applied the parking brake at 50mph, so I would know what to expect if the air ever fails. The brake brought me to a nice, controlled stop, just a bit quicker than I would normally stop. I’ll grant you that the final stop was a bit rougher than normal because you can’t feather this brake as you would with the service brake, but overall it was a non-event.
|
Good info to know! Thanks!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 04:29 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,323
|
It may do a fast stop but not screeching halt but I in 25 years of major company trucking have I ever heard to "pull it while moving" short of ant all out emergency! Perhaps you or the DW misunderstood the context ?
Pulling it will release the air holding the spring brakes and engage them.
__________________
2023 Coachmen Encore 325SS
2002 Ford Escape toad
2020 GMC terrain
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 04:44 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
|
You can release spring brakes with as little as 60 PSI of air.
Knowing that, the springs can only apply the equivalent of 60 psi of air pressure to the brakes.
That will give you a controlled safe, fairly rapid, stop. Been there done that many, many times.
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 04:50 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 710
|
This is a seriously bad idea. On a slippery road setting the rear brakes may result in the back of the coach sliding sideways by locking up and losing directional stability.
Worse, the front wheels are still rolling so the back end sliding down the crown of the road means the coach turns left.
Even worse, pulling out the parking brake doesn't activate the ABS. If a wheel locks it stays locked.
Hopefully she misunderstood the instructor. Otherwise, that person needs some retraining. Soon.
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 04:53 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Rogers, AR
Posts: 2,590
|
Good information to know for emergencies. Things like a total air tank blowout where you don't think there will be enough air to stop, having hart attack where you may not be able to stay on the brake to the end, etc. .I would guess the intended context of the instruction at the time was a bit misunderstood.
For someone traveling behind, would the brake lights come on if the park brake is applied while moving? Would be quite a sudden stop without warning.
__________________
2019 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 40M w/2021 Equinox
|
|
|
01-16-2018, 05:05 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: E. Wenatchee, WA
Posts: 406
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MTK46
You are not wrong. Had a commercial Class 'A" drivers license for 25+ years. Never was taught or never heard of setting the parking brake while still moving on any type of vehicle air brakes or not.
|
I agree! You pull that yellow knob at speed and you're in a world of hurt! I tried it at about10 mph once. I thought the cab was gonna chatter right off chassis!
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|