Does your home jurisdiction require air brake endorsement?

Tom_Anderson wrote:

slickest1 wrote:
The fact that you think you have auto air tank purging and air driers on your compressor says to me you really don't fully understand your system.

There is such a thing as an automatic tank drain valve.

I suppose but many are the manual type. Curious though, which chassis are using automatic drain valves.

slickest1 wrote:
The fact that you think you have auto air tank purging and air driers on your compressor says to me you really don't fully understand your system.

There is such a thing as an automatic tank drain valve.

Reading it is one thing, following it is another. What does it say about pre-trip inspection/testing of the air brake system?

Spartan Chassis

Why I don't worry about it..

Spartan Chassis


Quote
What is the recommended service I need to perform on my Recreational Vehicle?
It is important to point out that you are operating a vehicle of significant size and weight that requires both pre-trip and daily inspections. The Spartan Chassis owner's manual will guide you through routine chassis maintenance. We highly recommend that you read the manual thoroughly. It will help you understand your role in safe vehicle operation and basic vehicle maintenance.

yes I have read it..as should every vehicle operator.

slickest1 wrote:
The fact that you think you have auto air tank purging and air driers on your compressor says to me you really don't fully understand your system. What you hear purging would be the air dryer that is plumbed into your air system that removes most of the moisture out of the air before it gets to your tanks.
I don't think most people need the same course a truck driver needs but should have an idea of what they are driving and that it should be maintained. Air brake systems are more complicated and need to be because of they weight they need to stop. There are alot of safety measures built in to them like auto slacks and such that need to be maintained. You may scoff at us old truckers all you want, but telling people that are new to this that you can just get in it and drive it without knowing anything about it is just plain Bad Info.

Beat me to it. Thats kinda scary. I wonder how many people are driving around out there that haven't purged their tanks. I would hope they get told how to purge their tanks on their walk through from the dealer. Scary.

The fact that you think you have auto air tank purging and air driers on your compressor says to me you really don't fully understand your system. What you hear purging would be the air dryer that is plumbed into your air system that removes most of the moisture out of the air before it gets to your tanks.
I don't think most people need the same course a truck driver needs but should have an idea of what they are driving and that it should be maintained. Air brake systems are more complicated and need to be because of they weight they need to stop. There are alot of safety measures built in to them like auto slacks and such that need to be maintained. You may scoff at us old truckers all you want, but telling people that are new to this that you can just get in it and drive it without knowing anything about it is just plain Bad Info.

Here in Saskatchewan Air Brake Endorsement is a requirement. The "course" is not dedicated to RV's, a truck driver event really. And it is not convenient to even book the course.

I had to take mine at a truck driver training company, at great expense. The government course cost $20.00; I paid $360.00. It would have taken at least three months wait to take the government course. The truck drivers had all their times booked.

I got my endorsement without a lot of difficulty, on my first attempt.

Another point to consider. Our previous motor home did not have air brakes, and although it didn't happen often, my wife was able to competently take over from me at the wheel if needed. She can't do that now, and will never take that course. The consequence is that there are thousands of big coaches being driven daily across the USA and Canada by older fellows without back-up drivers.

That seems important to me?

havasu wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

Who cares? you have your coach maintained by a professional and it works properly when you step on the pedal.

You do not need to know all the details to be safe. other wise a transport pilots would have to be aviation engineers to fly.

OUCH!! and that's exactly the response that I did not expect unless you do not drive an air brake equipped RV, in which case your response is understandable.

You can see by my signature line what we drive, it has auto air tank purging, you can hear it working as it purges. it also has air driers on the compressor, and auto slack adjusters along with all the warning horns whistles and bells which all go off when I start up.

I started driving a 1949 International 2 ton'er on the farm and in the past I have driven every combination legal on the US highway, and by far driving my Newmar is a no brainer.

When you hold your self out as a public carrier you should be held to a higher standard. operating a private vehicle should not be over burdened by regulations simply because of the equipment it carries.

Jarlaxle wrote:

havasu wrote:
So just for fun and being totally honest, can you answer the following?

Yes.

1. What are slack adjusters and what procedure should you follow to check them?
-They adjust the play in air brakes...exact procedure varies a bit, but basically: pull on the end of the adjuster. If it moves more than it should (1/2"-2", depending on type, and you should really know which ones you have), it's FUBAR.

2. Do you have 1 air tank or 2?
-Actually, I recall I have five...I have two air SYSTEMS.

3. How often should you drain your tanks?
-Daily, especially in cold weather.

4. At what pressure should the spring brakes apply
-20-40psi. (It's ~30 in my Genesis.)

5. What pressure should cause the low pressure alarm to sound
-60-90psi. (~70 in my Genesis.)

6. What is the maximum air pressure allowed
-120-125.

7. How many seconds should it take to build operating pressure
-85-100psi in 45 seconds or less at idle for a dual-air system, 2 minutes for single-air.

8. What are the 2 tests for air leakage
-Brakes off and brakes applied, parking brakes released in both cases.

9. What the are maximum leakage rates allowed
-2psi and 3psi in 60 seconds, respectively, for a single vehicle.

How many can you answer without Googling?

All of them. :)

Also: 10. The air compressor should cut on at 95-100psi.

Oops, yes I missed 10. :)

Wear this with pride!

wny_pat wrote:

havasu wrote:
If you are not "checking" your automatic slack adjusters then you are an accident waiting to happen. Just because it says 'automatic' does not mean 'failsafe'.

If you want to know 'how' to check them, just ask.

So true. I watched those automatic slack adjusters being replaced all the time because they failed to work as required.

I had to replace both rear adjusters on my Genesis.