Disaster Strikes

[prstlk]

We have been doing the AL Can and Alaska since the end of May.

We had were winding up a 4 day stay in Denali NP, and the area around it on 6-22. We left our RV Park and drove both the MH and toad to the park visitor’s center around 11:30. Our intent was to leave the MH in the RV lot, take the toad for lunch, and return for the midday sled dog experience which departs from the VC around 1:20 pm.

When we returned to the RV lot shortly after 1 pm the MH was not where I parked it. It had rolled backward some 50+ feet and squarely into the side of a parked SUV.

My first thought was “did I not set the brake” my second thought was “no way it would started rolling as soon as I left the driver’s seat”.

While we were assessing the damage to the SUV (extensive) and the MH (not too bad), a gentleman approached us saying “I saw the whole thing”.

He was walking his two small dogs past our MH our two dogs were barking and jumping, one was in the driver’s seat, and then the MH started to roll backwards. Our assumption, which I think is accurate given the timeline is the dog (don’t know which one as we are waiting forensics i.e. paw prints) pushed the knob down and the brakes released.

Luckily no one was behind the MH when it rolled, no one was in the car that was hit, and in a way hitting the car was a good thing as past that was more downhill, a road, and the train station.

Did all the right things, called a Ranger, full report, note on windshield etc.

For the rest of you consider wheel chocks, brake knob lock outs etc. if you leave pets or people in the MH.

BTW - If you have ever done the roads up here you will understand why the back of the MH is so dirty!

Photos to come soon if I can ever figure out how to get them in here from photobucket. Any help on how would be appreciated.

[prstlk]

2gypsies wrote:
Awwwww. Neither one of those innocent faces could have done it. 🙂

You might want to post something in the Pet section of this forum. Some pet owners might not read the Class A forum.

I'm sure you were just sick about it but it's done so continue onward.......

Hope the fires aren't giving you too much smoke.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll copy a link on that forum as well.

[Mr_Mark1]

noleakman wrote:
I have an Allison 6 speed trans and I have park !!

How are those air brakes?

MM.

[jwmII]

Fortunately I saw this coming a few years ago with one of my dogs jumping up into the drivers arm rest and releasing the brake button. I found a piece of 1/4" oak panel. Gave it a 1/2" wide slot with the router. It slides firmly under the brake release button and dog proofs the brakes. It is a piece about 2' square and the slot is 1 1/4" deep. When not in use it rides along nicely in the cup holder where it is not in the way of cups or anything else they are used for.
It has become habit that the spacer is in place anytime the motor home is parked.

[noleakman]

I have an Allison 6 speed trans and I have park !!

[jorbill2or]

gfs1943 wrote:

Ductape wrote:

BurbMan wrote:
...when you step on the brake pedal, you dump air from the system, allowing strong springs to return the brakes to their applied position...

No, the Parking brake is spring applied and air pressurized to release, but the service brakes are air applied.

Correct. Usually, the parking brakes are only on the rear wheels. There are two air chambers per brake. One holds the spring brakes released, the other applies the service brakes.

Yup the yellow knob applies air to release the spring brakes only, the brake pedal applies air to push the brakes in and has nothing to do with the springs , they remain held back by air.( you can do this with the spring brakes still engaged ). two separate functions and very misunderstood. A good reason for taking a air brake course.
Also a good reason for those with large pets and vertical valve buttons ( it takes some weight to push the valve down) to protect the valve in some way

[gfs1943]

Ductape wrote:

BurbMan wrote:
...when you step on the brake pedal, you dump air from the system, allowing strong springs to return the brakes to their applied position...

No, the Parking brake is spring applied and air pressurized to release, but the service brakes are air applied.

Correct. Usually, the parking brakes are only on the rear wheels. There are two air chambers per brake. One holds the spring brakes released, the other applies the service brakes.

[msmith1199]

I have a Golden Retriever who would always get into the drivers seat when we were gone if I forgot to put the arm rest back down. I always tried to put the arm rest down because that blocked him and I didn't want him in the seat anyway. Never once did I even think about him stepping on the parking brake knob and releasing the brakes. I'll remember that now, but it will be for the next dog. The Golden is old now and couldn't get into the drivers seat anyway.

[Ductape]

BurbMan wrote:
...when you step on the brake pedal, you dump air from the system, allowing strong springs to return the brakes to their applied position...

No, the Parking brake is spring applied and air pressurized to release, but the service brakes are air applied.

[BurbMan]

I vote suspect #2 with the "Who me?" look.....at least the SUV is driveable so the owners can get home!

[2gypsies1]

Awwwww. Neither one of those innocent faces could have done it. 🙂

You might want to post something in the Pet section of this forum. Some pet owners might not read the Class A forum.

I'm sure you were just sick about it but it's done so continue onward.......

Hope the fires aren't giving you too much smoke.

[prstlk]

The poor victum - notice the tire marks where it moved about 4 feet. The hole was caused by the toad hitch.



If you have ever driven in Alaska you will understand why the coach is this way!



One of the possible suspects.



the other possible suspects

[prstlk]

Just a few blanks to fill in. The suv was not a rental it was from Washington St. It was still driveable only real ugly. For the cat folks, we have one also, he like me is old and fat. If he could have balanced on all fours on the knob his 25 lbs might have released the brake.
To the person who called me negligent, I remind him we followed all procedures to park the MH safely.

[prstlk]

noleakman wrote:
What happened to being in PARK did the dog knock the trans out of gear also??

Sorry Allison transmissions do not have "park"

[Dale_Traveling]

Would this be covered by comprehensive rather than collision coverage considered the owner wasn't in of near the coachor. Maybe an uninsured motorist?

[BurbMan]

Rick Jay wrote:
Well maybe he is, but you're making some too. I beieve there are lots of people without RVs that use their personal vehicle for vacation travel. Not everyone is as fortunate as us to have an RV! LOL

Yes, good point, the SUV driver is guaranteed to have some level of inconvenience in any case. But it's not like the OP carelessly backed into his vehicle on purpose, have to admit it's kind of funny that the dog did it. Although it wouldn't have been so funny if the RV went careening off the cliff with the dogs inside. OP got a good wake up call, next time may not be funny at all.

Vehicles under 26,000 lbs GVWR typically use hydraulic brakes, where the brakes are normally "off" and pressing the pedal forces hydraulic pressure to apply the brakes. When you release the pedal, you release the hydraulic pressure, and the brakes release.

Air brakes are required for vehicles with a GVWR of 26,000 and up, and work the opposite of hydraulic brakes. The brakes are held in a fully applied position by strong springs, and air pressure is used to release the brakes. So air pressure keeps the brakes unapplied, and when you step on the brake pedal, you dump air from the system, allowing strong springs to return the brakes to their applied position.

In addition to a compressor, there is an onboard air storage tank. Pulling the parking brake knob dumps all the air from the wheel lines and applies the brakes at all wheels. Pushing the knob back in allows air to flow from the tank, re-pressurizes the lines, and releases the brakes. As one poster noted, if you pump the brake pedal repeatedly after applying the parking brake, you will drain air pressure in the tank to zero, so even if the knob is pushed in, there will no air pressure available to release the brakes.

The reason that these HD transmissions have no park 1) the vehicle is parked with the brakes locked at every wheel, and 2) a pawl in the transmission gears is not enough to hold a heavy vehicle like we are talking about.

DOT requires air brakes on these heavy vehicles so the brakes fail to "fully applied" instead of "unable to apply".

Next time you're on a shuttle bus with air brakes, look at the shift lever....it will only have "D", "N", and "R".