2022 New Aire - Air Braking Question

[LK23]

I am considering installing an Air Force One or M&G Air braking system on my tow vehicle. Does the air outlet on the rear of the New Aire provide constant air pressure or only when the brakes are applied?

Must the New Aire be modified for either air braking system?

Thanks

[Dutch Star Don]

Your coach uses constant air to keep the brakes OFF. That's why when you lose air pressure, your brakes apply.

Newmar installs the coach side of the AF1 or M&G system at the factory. The unit they install is for safety. Should the airline between the toad and coach brake, you won't lose air pressure that operates the coaches' service brakes. In the past, before that unit was required by DOT, they just tapped into an airline. If that toad airline broke, you would have a massive air leak.

I've always had the AF1 system because I change toads about every five years, and I just move the AF1 toad unit to the next toad. M&G is/was car specific as it had to attach between the master cylinder and the brake booster. As under hood space got tighter, there were some vehicles that didn't have the room for the M&G unit. Consequently, in some installations where their original unit wouldn't fit, they basically moved to the AF1 style unit.

Either unit is a good product.

TIPS.....if you have a shop do the install, make sure they wire a fuse into the Emergency Break Away switch. Should it fail, you can just pull the fuse and release the brakes.

I also carry a spare airline for the connection between the toad and coach.

[LK23]

Don,

Thanks for the reply. Are you saying I have to request Newmar to install the AF1 or M&G coach side at the factory. Or does my New Aire already have that installed for Both systems?

Rex

[Dutch Star Don]

Originally Posted by LK23

Don,

Thanks for the reply. Are you saying I have to request Newmar to install the AF1 or M&G coach side at the factory. Or does my New Aire already have that installed for Both systems?

Rex

They started making them standard I think in 2021. You should have an airline fitting at the rear of the coach, next to the hitch receiver.

[twinboat]

To be clear, Your rig uses constant air, when you release the parking brake, to keep the parking brake off, but it uses air pressure from the brake pedal to apply the service brakes, the ones you use to stop.

[LK23]

Don,

Yes, there is an air line receptacle near the hitch receiver at the rear of the coach and I always thought that was all you needed for Air Force One and M&G braking systems. But I read in a thread that the Air Force One requires and air accumulator tank be installed on the coach.

[jacwjames]

The air accumulator tank is for the break away system. This will apply the toads braking system if it detaches from the motorhome. It is not a requirement that you install but I think it is the "right" thing to do.



I installed a Brakemaster system and I did install a Break away system. I didn't' try to install the Airforce 1 system as i had limited room in front of the brake booster, might have been possible but decided to go with the Brakemaster.

[shepardmike]

Originally Posted by LK23

Don,

Yes, there is an air line receptacle near the hitch receiver at the rear of the coach and I always thought that was all you needed for Air Force One and M&G braking systems. But I read in a thread that the Air Force One requires and air accumulator tank be installed on the coach.

the fact that you have the air line receptacle means the accumulator tank has already been installed.

[OMMM4747]

If you have a pre-installed air line back there then you have the BrakeSync system installed and don't require any work be done on the coach. There should also be a lanyard zip-tied to your hitch. Pull it and you'll hear air escaping from the pre-installed auxiliary air tank. I have BrakeSync and the AFO. The TOAD side AFO installation was an easy DIY.

Good luck

[MarkMaxPayne]

After purchasing my 2023 New Aire, I converted my TOAD over from the RoadMaster InvisiBrake to the Demco Aire Force One braking system. I didn't have to install or change a thing on my New Aire for this to work correctly. It automatigically does proportional air braking in the TOAD when connected. I did the install/swap myself.

The reason I swapped was the New Aires turn on the brake lights for any and all engine braking. Yes, the RoadMaster has a timer that stops TOAD braking after something like 15 seconds, but I was still overheating and wearing out brake pads on my TOAD (a little Fiat 500) regardless of how soft I had the unit adjusted (I drive a lot of mountain passes). Once I swapped to Air Force One I got proportional braking (which the InvisiBrake doesn't have) and all I had to do was replace the Invisibrake unit in the TOAD with the AF One and route a supplied airline to the front of the car and install a quick connect (also supplied) to connect the air hose tether/jumper up to.

Just make sure you order the correct AF One kit and don't spend extra $ on parts you don't need for your New Aire. If you have the braking system airchuck there in the back by your towbar and 7 way plug, you don't need the entire kit as there is nothing to install on the coach. The "Second Car Kit" should have all that you'll need for your TOAD given the New Aire is already set up. The only other thing required is a "Replacement Air Jumper for Demco Air Force One Flat Tow Brake System" as that air hose tether doesn't come with this scaled down (and much cheaper) 2nd vehicle kit. If you just want to be sure you have everything for the TOAD and tether, then e-trailer has "Demco Air Force One Flat Tow Brake System for 2019 and Newer Spartan K2 400 RVs w/ Safe Haul" which also includes the Air Jumper...

The other thing I did was swap the Roadmaster universal wireless bake indicator for the "Demco Wireless Coachlink Braking Monitor for Flat Tow Brake Systems". I found the previous to be unreliable and even though the Demco system has a red LED strip that attaches to the front of the mirror to indicate when braking, the poor resolution of the rear view coach camera made it a challenge to see when lit in the daytime. The Demco wireless braking monitor was extremely simple to install and I've yet to have any problems with it.

Best,
-Mark

[Dutch Star Don]

As noted by others, the tank is already there. This is what the AF1 tank looks like, yours should be similar.

[LK23]

Mark,

Thanks for the great information. How did you wire the "Demco Wireless Coachlink Braking Monitor for Flat Tow Brake Systems?" It says it plugs into the coach power port. My New Aire has no cigarette lighter receptacle.

[MarkMaxPayne]

Originally Posted by LK23

Mark,

Thanks for the great information. How did you wire the "Demco Wireless Coachlink Braking Monitor for Flat Tow Brake Systems?" It says it plugs into the coach power port. My New Aire has no cigarette lighter receptacle.

I cheated. My New Aire came with 2 separate USB port devices down on the driver's side wall near the floor positioned right next to each other. They both were of the type that mounts into a hole the same size as a 12V socket. Upon removing both from the trim I noticed that one was connected to a USB extension cable that ran all the way back to the NAV unit (this is so you can plug in a USB memory stick with music on it in folders or with firmware updates if required--easier than digging into the removable top dash cover). I put that one back in place and use it primarily for music files.

The second one was only connected to 12V power. I swapped that out for a 12V power socket instead. Not this exact one but close: https://a.co/d/ixvW4Cc

That then allowed me to plug in normal 12V socket-based items near the dash. I ended up getting one of these and plugging it into that socket I had swapped in. I chose it because it gave me 3 switchable 12V outlets and some USB power ports. https://a.co/d/063wEb9

UPDATED: Note that if you do plan to use the 30W USB C port on the 12V splitter (for modern laptops), you'd want a beefier 12V socket and heavier gauge wires/fuses to it vs. leveraging the 12V that ran to the previous USB power socket.

Best,
-Mark

[NuC02Guy45]

I have the same on my 2023 New Aire. The tech installed a separate air feed and chuck for the AF One on my coach. He didn’t use the chuck that came with the coach.