Does your home jurisdiction require air brake endorsement?

Tom_Anderson wrote:

michelb wrote:

John & Angela 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. 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.

FWIW, I purchased a 10 year old DP last year and the lanyards for the airtanks had NEVER been pulled - they were still covered in the foam that Tiffin sprays under the chassis and I had to dig them out.

My coach does have automatic moisture ejector so you don't have to do them daily but unless you're 100% that the automatic moisture ejector is working properly, you should probably pull them once in a while ...

How much water came out when you finally drained them after 10 years?

Good point, I should have mentioned that! There was none visible. It was relatively low mileage (43k miles) and spent it's life in a dry climate (around Houston, TX) so that might have contributed but personally, I'll still check them at least a few times per year.

michelb wrote:

John & Angela 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. 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.

FWIW, I purchased a 10 year old DP last year and the lanyards for the airtanks had NEVER been pulled - they were still covered in the foam that Tiffin sprays under the chassis and I had to dig them out.

My coach does have automatic moisture ejector so you don't have to do them daily but unless you're 100% that the automatic moisture ejector is working properly, you should probably pull them once in a while ...

How much water came out when you finally drained them after 10 years?

John & Angela 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. 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.

FWIW, I purchased a 10 year old DP last year and the lanyards for the airtanks had NEVER been pulled - they were still covered in the foam that Tiffin sprays under the chassis and I had to dig them out.

My coach does have automatic moisture ejector so you don't have to do them daily but unless you're 100% that the automatic moisture ejector is working properly, you should probably pull them once in a while ...

jim.smithjr wrote:

.....In Saskatchewan this certificate is all about trucks, not RV's..... .

Are you sure about that???
http://www.sgi.sk.ca/individuals/licensing/classifications/endorsements/airbrake.html
The only exemption I see is for Class 3 or 5 vehicles licensed as a farm truck. But I could be missing something as I am not familiar with you licensing laws.

I would still rather have a legal back-up driver than this certificate!
In Saskatchewan this certificate is all about trucks, not RV's and very few wives will even try to write for it.

Tom/Barb wrote:
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.

And...if you READ the Spartan Chassis owner's manual, you'll see where they RECOMMEND taking their CLASS on Chassis AIR SYSTEMS.....

Chassis Air Systems

I live in the northeast and think, like slickest1, I would be replacing auto tank drains very quickly. I remember one winter a few years back when I left for Florida in sub 0 F temperatures. Temperatures like that are a perfect time for those auto tank drains to stick in the open position. Even the air dryer automatic release valves had heaters built in to prevent that.

You are right, that there are auto tank drains available. I replaced several of them on commercial trucks with manual drains. They may work alright on a coach but I found after period of use they would be the source of an air leak. I much prefer the manual ones with the lanyard to pull to eliminate getting under there to drain them.

Tom_Anderson wrote:


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

TYVM for the correct terminology.

John & Angela wrote:

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.

I have no idea, but anybody can buy them and install them.