Wolfe 10: You're correct and I thought quite polite. I have been monitoring these air brake comments for last 4 yrs. and this is my latest thought. It's a given that most Motorholmes only travel 6 to 8 K / yr. My own observation is most are owned by older retired people who could not or would not crawl under in the mud even if they knew how to properly do the air brake practical tests.
Here is my latest thought . Most new class A's with air brakes probably start at $325,000.00 and up. For an extra $5,000.00 the manufacturers could add one extra computer controlled system which could check the following
Low pressure cut in and cut out
Air pressure build up time [compressor]
Air pressure cut out and cut in [governor]
Air loss test [leaks]
Brake stroke or travel [brake adjustment]
All of this could be accomplished in 15 minutes and if failed could shut down the engine until the repairs were properly completed not allowing an unsafe vehicle to be moved.
There were so many comments about how to release the spring brakes or parking brakes which really showed the lack of knowledge of the people offering advice about something they themselves know nothing about.[scary]
When you have no air spring brakes are released by the use of caging bolts which come attached on every new brake chamber. You better have wheel chocks in place and a bit of understanding.
In conclusion DOT , MTO [Canada] should be getting together with the RV industry to develop an automatic check each time these vehicles are started.
