Air Brake system
We have a 2009 Fleetwood Discovery 39r we are having trouble with our air brake system. We have all the manuals but there is nothing in any the manuals showing where the air brakes are located. I have...
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Actually, "stopping power" is NOT the reason for air brakes over hydraulics in motorhomes or anywhere else. Heck, Boeing 747's at over 1 million pounds have hydraulic brakes, not air brakes.
The reason is that air is MUCH easier to hook/unhook from tractor to trailer than hydraulics which would have to be bled every time. And, since it is less expensive for RV chassis makers to use "off the shelf" truck parts, that is what most RV's have.
I have had coaches with both air and our current coach (2003 Alpine) has 4 wheel, 4 piston, fixed caliper hydraulic brakes with ABS. Well the best braking system of the three DP's we have had over the last 18 years. Throw in a 400 HP Cummins ISL with engine compression (jake) brake and stopping power is excellent.
And, all air brakes are not the same. Some are air drum, some air disk.
The reason is that air is MUCH easier to hook/unhook from tractor to trailer than hydraulics which would have to be bled every time. And, since it is less expensive for RV chassis makers to use "off the shelf" truck parts, that is what most RV's have.
I have had coaches with both air and our current coach (2003 Alpine) has 4 wheel, 4 piston, fixed caliper hydraulic brakes with ABS. Well the best braking system of the three DP's we have had over the last 18 years. Throw in a 400 HP Cummins ISL with engine compression (jake) brake and stopping power is excellent.
And, all air brakes are not the same. Some are air drum, some air disk.
