While driving home yesterday in my 1999 34' rexhall class a motorhome, I noticed on a few occasions a burnt rubber smell. I looked over the tires and engine and do not see anything standing out. Any ideas?? I was not stopping or on the brakes at all. I was actually had the cruise control on at 60. I looked at the belt and it looked fine nor did I here it squeal at all. The smell would come on and then slowly dissipate out. It happened a couple of times. I looked around to see if there were any tractor trailers around, as they seem to always smell of burnt rubber. It was just me on the road. Thanks

I would suspect the alternator belt or the air conditioning compressor belt if they are different. The belt may be the source of the smell, but there may be an issue with the alternator or compressor causing the belt to get hot. Belts can slip without squealing.Another possibility is an intermittent short in some wiring and you are smelling the insulation smoldering.Or a hose/wiring bouncing and touching the exhaust somewhere up front since you smell it in the driving area.

rolnovru wrote:While driving home yesterday in my 1999 34' rexhall class a motorhome, I noticed on a few occasions a burnt rubber smell. I looked over the tires and engine and do not see anything standing out. Any ideas?? I was not stopping or on the brakes at all. I was actually had the cruise control on at 60. I looked at the belt and it looked fine nor did I here it squeal at all. The smell would come on and then slowly dissipate out. It happened a couple of times. I looked around to see if there were any tractor trailers around, as they seem to always smell of burnt rubber. It was just me on the road. ThanksWere you towing perhaps and there have been some reports of this phenomenon that seems to be coming from the toad and with no real answers, as to why.

It more likely bits of rubber off the road getting onto the muffler.

could be a brake caliper dragging a bit, next time you smell it stop touch each rim see if ones really hot.

does that unit use the driveshaft as the parking brake it could be that if so

burnt rubber smell?? | Good Sam Community

charlie_good_ti
Explorer
Jul 11, 2015
First advise all to discuss an have a plan for evacuating rv if you smell electrical or other burning smell.Seconds count as we witnessed on ours couple weeks agp!
As for smell you experience do your best to find it.We have purchased another rv same age as yours an i will pull all fuses on this one individually an check for corosion an will look other potential places for rubbing or corossion at connections.I have a suspession our fire started in a 12volt fuse box.Ours did have the distinc smell of electrical wire.
garry1p
Explorer
Jul 10, 2015
I suspect the brake lines.
The brake line will swell on the inside and the fluid can not flow back to the master cylinder causing the brakes to drag. Once cool they are OK until they heat back up from using the brake.

When the brakes drag they smell as they heat up if not repaired will get worse to the point of slowing down more rapid than normal when you take your foot off the gas.

Lines are not expensive but the damage this can cause will be an expensive repair if not caught early.
tropical36
Explorer
Jul 10, 2015
newman fulltimer wrote:
does that unit use the driveshaft as the parking brake it could be that if so

Now, that one would be easy to figure out, as you would now, not have a parking brake that holds the coach any longer.
Question is...
Is it a Chevy chassis and does it in fact, have auto park with just being 34ft. and most weigh over 15K lbs to be so equipped.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Jul 10, 2015
does that unit use the driveshaft as the parking brake it could be that if so
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Jul 10, 2015
could be a brake caliper dragging a bit, next time you smell it stop touch each rim see if ones really hot.
A1B00902
Explorer
Jul 10, 2015
It more likely bits of rubber off the road getting onto the muffler.
tropical36
Explorer
Jul 10, 2015
rolnovru wrote:
While driving home yesterday in my 1999 34' rexhall class a motorhome, I noticed on a few occasions a burnt rubber smell. I looked over the tires and engine and do not see anything standing out. Any ideas?? I was not stopping or on the brakes at all. I was actually had the cruise control on at 60. I looked at the belt and it looked fine nor did I here it squeal at all. The smell would come on and then slowly dissipate out. It happened a couple of times. I looked around to see if there were any tractor trailers around, as they seem to always smell of burnt rubber. It was just me on the road. Thanks

Were you towing perhaps and there have been some reports of this phenomenon that seems to be coming from the toad and with no real answers, as to why.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jul 10, 2015
I would suspect the alternator belt or the air conditioning compressor belt if they are different. The belt may be the source of the smell, but there may be an issue with the alternator or compressor causing the belt to get hot. Belts can slip without squealing.

Another possibility is an intermittent short in some wiring and you are smelling the insulation smoldering.

Or a hose/wiring bouncing and touching the exhaust somewhere up front since you smell it in the driving area.

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burnt rubber smell??

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