Quote:
Originally Posted by Supertoolie
Hi on the rear of my diesel motor home with air brakes I have a fitting for an air hose . I figure this was for activating the brakes on the toad am I correct?. If so what goes in the toad to press on the brake pedal , is this a good braking system? Thanks
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Well Sir,
First off, just to be sure that your intuitions on whether or not that air fitting IS for toad brakes or not, I'd do a bit of investigation. Either follow that air line to it's source or, you could simply plug an air tool into it and, if, just if, it's an air line for airing up tires etc, it "should" have air present all the time and will run whatever tool you plug into it, until you run out of air.
Or, if it is in fact for a braking system on a toad, and you plug an air tool into it, you WON'T have air present, even with full tanks. But, you will have air present if, you have someone with an air blow gun or tool, stuck in that fitting and, apply the brakes in the coach.
If that's the case, yep, you got air for a air activated braking system on a toad. There are two systems that I'm aware of. One, is the one I use and personally, I think is the best on the market for a couple of reasons. It's called the M & G Braking system. There unit, is installed in between the master cylinder and the power brake unit. It is installed basically permanently.
You NEVER have to remove or hook up anything to the brake pedal in the toad. Second, due to the way that system works, your toads brake pedal is NEVER pressed. It sits there idle, while the brake system works on the toad. What does that mean you ask? It's of prime importance if, you use your toads tail lights as towing/toad brake and running lights. You see, in many toads, when the brakes are applied, even with the key off, your brake lights are activated. In quite a few, they are not activated.
So, if you have your toad setup for using it's stock tail light bulbs as toad bulbs, and, your toads brake system activates the brake lights and your key is OFF, if you DO NOT have a towing brake system that applies the brakes WITHOUT applying the brake pedal, that's a serious plus. Hope you see what I mean.
The second air system, I think is called SMI or, maybe Airforce 1, uses a small cylinder that is attached to the brake pedal. Not really sure since I've never looked into it but, memory says it's something like that. Others will chime in with more accuracy.
In any case, I'd check it out via the methods I've suggested so that you're dead sure that air fitting has a specific purpose. Good luck and please report back on what you find.
Scott