John&Joey wrote:
I beg to differ on it "doesn't matter the size." RV's accelerate slower, they take more to stop,
One of the thinks I happen to have enjoied from time to time is doing math, Medium advanced math..
That statement "RVs take longer to stop"
I have put this to experts... I would not be sure of that statement.
Here are TWO reasons why.
How long it takes to stop if you need to calculate it, is a fairly complex formula,, The amount of energy you need to bleed off is easy, Speed Times Speed, times MASS of the consist (Motor home plus towed or tow vehicle (Tractor) + Trailer.. That one is easy.
Then you need the coificient of friction for the road surface, This is found by draging a weighted tire and measuring the fource (Pounds) needed to drag it, then weighing the tire, and dividing.
Now technically you need to know the force (Pounds) on the tires, the contact area and a bunch of other stuff, but,, when you get down to it this all factors out.
That is, the more massive the vehicle (Bigger) the more weight on the tires in a 1:1 ratio, so the more stopping force also in a 1:1 ratio,, it all factors out.
The result is that the size of the vehicle is NOT a factor in skid calculations.
I have confirmed this with several Police Accident Investigators, when all wheels lock up, it matters not if it's a Yugo or a Semi, they all skid the same distance for any given speed.
What DOES make a difference on motor homes?
Some folks do not think they need to put an aux brakign system on the towed.. If you tow without brakes on the towed then you have INCREASED the mass of the consist (The amount you have to stop) but **NOT** the weight on the tires that brake,, EVERY FREE WHEEL (wheel free to turn) adds to your stopping distance.
And here, relative size matters.. And no, i'm not into math that complex. US-Gear says it can be "Up to 30% increase" and as it happens, I believe 'em.
