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butkus51_'s avatar
butkus51_
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014

Air brakes

The more I use my 5er air brakes during a long windy, downhill run, the more touchy my air brakes become. In other words, when I use my air brakes often they engage with a little more force. Before I leave on the original trip, I always test my air brakes that they will stop me in a matter of 10-15 seconds. Air brakes do not lock up and skid the 5er.

19 Replies

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  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Dec 29, 2014
    Any chance you can get an exhaust brake fitted to your Cummins?
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    Dec 29, 2014
    The more that the brakes are used the hotter they get along with the drums. This will reduce the gap between the shoes and the drum which can cause the brakes to sometimes engage harder. Until they get hot enough to fade, then they don't work well or not at all. Better to follow the good advice here about using gearing and save those brakes.
  • Just_Wandering_'s avatar
    Just_Wandering_
    Explorer
    Dec 29, 2014
    I pull a 34ft 5th wheel, with the ram 2500 cummins. If you use your exhaust brake you shouldn't need that much brakeing on down grades. Are you useing your tow haul and exhaust brake?
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Dec 29, 2014
    KD4UPL wrote:
    As a former truck driver I can tell you that air brakes shouldn't be used frequently. That's a good way to run out of air. Less applications for longer durations are preferable to lots of short applications. Further, you should be using gear reduction and engine braking to do most of your deceleration.
    What TV and FW are we talking about?


    In post he said 98 Volvo with Cummins towing 36' TT or 5er
  • butkus51_'s avatar
    butkus51_
    Explorer
    Dec 29, 2014
    I incorrectly referred to "air brakes." Sorry, my bad. They are regular trailer brakes on my 32' Sunny Brook 5ver. I am pulling it with a Ram 2500 Turbo Diesel.
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer II
    Dec 28, 2014
    As a former truck driver I can tell you that air brakes shouldn't be used frequently. That's a good way to run out of air. Less applications for longer durations are preferable to lots of short applications. Further, you should be using gear reduction and engine braking to do most of your deceleration.
    What TV and FW are we talking about?
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Dec 28, 2014
    Many posts on how to use brakes on down hill grades and letting the engine do the work. Riding brakes and causing fade is dangerous.
  • Just_Wandering_'s avatar
    Just_Wandering_
    Explorer
    Dec 28, 2014
    What model trailer do you have? I have never seen or heard of air brakes on a 5th wheel RV.
  • jims1's avatar
    jims1
    Explorer
    Dec 28, 2014
    How big of a trailer do you have to have air brakes?

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