Does your home jurisdiction require air brake endorsement?

Less government, YES...but if you've got a coach with an air system, including the brakes, you should know the simple maintenance required to keep them in the best, read safety, condition...."pedal to the metal" simply means apply the brake "firmly" as far as it will travel....Dennis

What happened to

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

Everyone seems to be so anti Uncle Sam these days!

Tom_Anderson wrote:
Has there been a rash of motorhome crashes recently due to improper driver training, particularly in regard to air brake operation? Because if there has been, I've missed it.

Why are people trying to solve problems that don't exist by giving more money to the government?

I have to agree with this. I'm all for a thread reminding our fellow RVers to do the necessary maintenance & inspections, but I have no appetite for more government regulations that allow Uncle Sam to reach into my pocket and take more of my hard-earned money.

moisheh wrote:
I did not read this thread right from the beginning but one thing that has not been mentioned is a "6 pack". Almost all MH's have automatic slacks. But they do not always adjust. At least once a week ( if you are on the road) here is a procedure that will adjust your slacks. The wheels should be blocked and the park brake off. Build up to full air pressure. You will be doing 6 full to pedal to the metal brake applications. However they must be at near maximum air pressure. 18 wheelers have an extra air gauge that will tell when you are at that pressure. In most MH's you will do 2 applications and then build up the air pressure. When you have made 6 full applications your brakes are adjusted. As for air brake endorsements it is ridiculous that every state does not require that endorsement. Every Province in Canada has that requirement. I will go one step further. Before driving a vehicle over a certain GVW one should be required to take a driver's test!!! I decided that the air brake endorsement was not enough and I now have a CDL.

Moisheh

Please explain what "pedal to the metal" means?

Not to take a position on the endorsement, but Moisheh's post about calibrating/adjusting your automatic slack adjusters above is the most important thing that many MH driver's are unaware of.

Simple and easy to do....can be disastrous results if neglected.

Has there been a rash of motorhome crashes recently due to improper driver training, particularly in regard to air brake operation? Because if there has been, I've missed it.

Why are people trying to solve problems that don't exist by giving more money to the government?

06Fargo wrote:
Are there jurisdictions about the continent that allow people to drive air brake equipped vehicles without any type of training or license endorsement?

Yep, anyone with a driver's license can drive an RV with no formal training and I wish it weren't so.

peaches&cream wrote:
Well the requirements for driving a MH over 26000 lbs. and with air brakes has been covered from head to toe on this site. i have a further proposal as to the safety of the unit. I have to have a "annual inspection" on my Airplane each year. has to be completed by a Mechanic with a A&P and Inspectors rating. Let's make the same thing mandatory for a MH. Easy to inforce. Just no tag until you produce the required paperwork. I mean, all these MH's are out here running around , wrecking, killing people, putting our population in "emininate danger". The inspection for my single engine plane only cost $2000 to $3000 per yr. Small price to pay in order to stop all these MH accidents. This plan would protect the public from all the "rogue" MH operators more so than a piece of paper saying they know which pedal is the brake and which one is the accelerator. :S

I hope this post make the majority of readers aware of the Gov. intervention that can happen due to the concerns of a very few. If the accident rate called for further regulation, then it may be required. A very few individuals think everyone should be trained CDL drivers or they should not be allowed to operate their MH's. Getting a CDL or a endorsement to your license is more Gov. regulations to your way of living. They think we do not have enough regulations now, so just add a few more.

BUT...BUT...BUT...
It is for SAFETY! Do it for THE CHILDREN! IF it saves ONE LIFE, it will be worth it!
As one of the "resident sarcastic cynics", I probably better stop right there. P&C, I agree totally. Enough said.

Well the requirements for driving a MH over 26000 lbs. and with air brakes has been covered from head to toe on this site. i have a further proposal as to the safety of the unit. I have to have a "annual inspection" on my Airplane each year. has to be completed by a Mechanic with a A&P and Inspectors rating. Let's make the same thing mandatory for a MH. Easy to inforce. Just no tag until you produce the required paperwork. I mean, all these MH's are out here running around , wrecking, killing people, putting our population in "emininate danger". The inspection for my single engine plane only cost $2000 to $3000 per yr. Small price to pay in order to stop all these MH accidents. This plan would protect the public from all the "rogue" MH operators more so than a piece of paper saying they know which pedal is the brake and which one is the accelerator. :S

I hope this post make the majority of readers aware of the Gov. intervention that can happen due to the concerns of a very few. If the accident rate called for further regulation, then it may be required. A very few individuals think everyone should be trained CDL drivers or they should not be allowed to operate their MH's. Getting a CDL or a endorsement to your license is more Gov. regulations to your way of living. They think we do not have enough regulations now, so just add a few more.

I did not read this thread right from the beginning but one thing that has not been mentioned is a "6 pack". Almost all MH's have automatic slacks. But they do not always adjust. At least once a week ( if you are on the road) here is a procedure that will adjust your slacks. The wheels should be blocked and the park brake off. Build up to full air pressure. You will be doing 6 full to pedal to the metal brake applications. However they must be at near maximum air pressure. 18 wheelers have an extra air gauge that will tell when you are at that pressure. In most MH's you will do 2 applications and then build up the air pressure. When you have made 6 full applications your brakes are adjusted. As for air brake endorsements it is ridiculous that every state does not require that endorsement. Every Province in Canada has that requirement. I will go one step further. Before driving a vehicle over a certain GVW one should be required to take a driver's test!!! I decided that the air brake endorsement was not enough and I now have a CDL.

Moisheh