Air brakes
We are in our 3rd year of ownership and traveling in our 2006 Itasca Horizon. Retired last year and now have the time for the longer trips. I always like to have a lot of stopping room so everythi...
Forum Discussion
prstlk wrote:
A thought
here and please correct me if Im wrong. When going down any grade with the pak or engine brake either on or off. Or in traffic is to make firm brake pedal suppression and then release and repeat. Continued even moderate brake pressure can cause overheating or glazing of brakes. Opinions?
Your last sentence is the most telling. A single stop, even panic stop is no problem.
The problem occurs when one tries to use the service brakes (air or hydraulic) to control speed of descent on long grades. That WILL destroy brakes or even leave you without brakes.
So, the correct technique on long descents is to find the correct combination of gear and use of exhaust brake/engine brake to keep YOUR SPEED IN EQUILIBRIUM. That is you are neither speeding up nor slowing down without using your service brakes.
Where a lot of first time heavy vehicle drivers get in trouble is that they see a long straight road and ASSUME that they do not need to control their speed. The Equilibrium speed of a motorhome will be FASTER than a loaded 18 wheeler, SLOWER than an empty one-- just straight physics. So, if you are blowing by all the trucks, you are likely going too fast for the grade.
