Community Forums

TheCatsRV · 02-28-2021, 08:30 PM

With COVID restrictions, air brakes courses offering may be very limited in B.C.. VIU on the island have suspended them. I called a few other places around Victoria and nothing offered right now.

Was going to look at a Triple E Empress but someone in the seller's family bought it, and then there is a Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser down the hill from me.

I picked up a copy of the Commercial Drivers License handbook anyway.

CND Viking · 03-01-2021, 03:36 PM

I was able to book a class for the end of Mar, Thanks for all the information, I will be pre studying all the info you provided.

95f5334j · 03-01-2021, 03:51 PM

You might find this helpful https://www.drivingtest.ca/bc-air-br...ctice-test-01/

CND Viking · 03-02-2021, 09:57 AM

Thank you for that site, all good information.

Donskiman · 03-02-2021, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ljwt330

I believe some/most gassers do not have air brakes either...

That's probably correct, but why? Realizing this isn't what the OP is about though.

Why don't class A gassers have air brakes and air suspensions?

KanzKran · 03-02-2021, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donskiman

Why don't class A gassers have air brakes and air suspensions?

Good question. I've driven straight trucks, including 10-wheelers and tractors, with air brakes and gasoline engines. None of them had air suspension, though, but that was many decades ago and air suspension wasn't all that common on diesel units at the time, either.

Skip426 · 03-02-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donskiman

Why don't class A gassers have air brakes and air suspensions?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KanzKran

Good question. I've driven straight trucks, including 10-wheelers and tractors, with air brakes and gasoline engines. None of them had air suspension, though, but that was many decades ago and air suspension wasn't all that common on diesel units at the time, either.

COST; air brakes and air suspension on a gas chassis would add another system to the assembly , because the gas chassis already has , power steering , cheaper and easier to use hydro-boost from the power steering or engine vacuum to aide braking and stick with spring suspension .

Donskiman · 03-02-2021, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

COST; air brakes and air suspension on a gas chassis would add another system to the assembly , because the gas chassis already has , power steering , cheaper and easier to use hydro-boost from the power steering or engine vacuum to aide braking and stick with spring suspension .

How much cost? It's not like the top of the line gassers from Tiffin, Newmar, etc., are inexpensive. Another $10K to have air brakes and air suspensions wouldn't be that much. Maybe $50K would be problematic. While most gasser owners don't seem to complain about brakes, there does seem to be many complaints about suspensions that could possibly be eliminated with air suspensions. Just a thought.

twinboat · 03-02-2021, 11:17 AM

Disk brakes out-perform drum brakes, little to no fade, and air powered drum brakes are bulky.

Not much vacuum boost brakes now days either. The use the hydraulics from the steering for brake assist.

Some old gas engine trucks used air brakes but needed a belt driven air compressor and air tanks. No spring brakes back then so if you lost air, you pulled the big lever in front of the seat and hoped it worked.