Releasing Foot Brake after Slides are out?

[precioustime]

Is it ok to release the foot brake after my 2 slides are out and the levelers are down? Being in a site for 2-3 weeks with the foot brake on doesn’t make sense. If released will the levelers retract?

[MrWizard]

dougrainer wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
If i release my parking brake, my levelers will retract,
Why would you want to release the parking brake , on a vehicle so large, with slides extended out like sails, you could end up rolling thru the campground, most likely into another camper

Powergear system and some LCI will release when the parking Brake is released, BUT, the key has to be turned on. If camped and the Ignition OFF, and you release, the jacks should not retract. If they do, the wiring is not to spec. Doug

Doug
You are correct and I failed to mention the key being on !

I was thinking of when he got in the
Drivers seat preparing to leave, turn on the key to power up the slides and because the parking brake has already been released the jacks retract, but the slides are out, he would no longer be level, and any good wind would be putting additional strain on the transmission parking paw ,
This is not a situation I would trust, This could damage the transmission if the MH moved,
Even more dangerous if the MH has kick down jacks, which have been know to give way and flip up, if the RV rolls forward, it's a feature which prevents damage to the jacks, if the RV is driven forward while the jacks are down
How ever it might be described, I think releasing the parking brake , while using leveling jacks and slides ,
Is Bad Idea
There is nothing in the chassis literature that says do Not use parking brake for ???? Or longer tHan xxx

PARKED STORED NOT BEING MOVED parking brake should be engaged

[ferndaleflyer]

I have never done this but I have a Monaco DP and on several occasions the parking brake did not release. It was determined to be because it had metallic brake shoes that had “froze” to the drums. Easily released by hitting the throttle in reverse. But I still leave it applied when parked.

[dougrainer]

azdryheat wrote:
I hope you're not talking about a MH with an air brake system. Anyway, I'd keep the parking brake set. If you were to release the brake there is the possibility your MH could move slightly and maybe damage your levelers. BTW, most levelers will retract when you start the motor and put the tranny in drive. I had to do that on a brand new Allegro Bus, at work, because I didn't have a clue where the level control panel was (it's now on the glass digital display panel).

So there's some replies on leaving the brake set, now I'd like to hear your reason for not wanting it set.

If Diesel with Air brake, it will not release when the jacks are extended. When you do a correct level with a Diesel, you dump the air Bags and then level. Once the Jacks hit the ground and raise the RV, the remaining air in the Air tanks will bleed out from the ride height arms and you have insufficient air to release the Parking Brake. Doug

[dougrainer]

MrWizard wrote:
If i release my parking brake, my levelers will retract,
Why would you want to release the parking brake , on a vehicle so large, with slides extended out like sails, you could end up rolling thru the campground, most likely into another camper

Powergear system and some LCI will release when the parking Brake is released, BUT, the key has to be turned on. If camped and the Ignition OFF, and you release, the jacks should not retract. If they do, the wiring is not to spec. Doug

[Dusty_R]

Most parking brakes lock the 2 rear wheels. We had a mh on a Ford chassis that the parking brake was on the rear of the transmission.

[MrWizard]

If i release my parking brake, my levelers will retract,
Why would you want to release the parking brake , on a vehicle so large, with slides extended out like sails, you could end up rolling thru the campground, most likely into another camper

[georgelesley]

It is called a parking brake, which indicates it is to be used when the vehicle is parked.......

[wildtoad]

Not sure why you’re concerned, but on my gasser, once things are setup I can release the brake. It seems like a less than good idea though.

[rk911]

precioustime wrote:
Is it ok to release the foot brake after my 2 slides are out and the levelers are down? Being in a site for 2-3 weeks with the foot brake on doesn’t make sense. If released will the levelers retract?

we've had the emergency/parking/foot brake engaged for months at time with no ill effects. and releasing that brake will cause our jacks to retract.

[Lwiddis]

Oh...I want as many wheels locked up as I can get when parked.

[CA_Traveler]

precioustime wrote:
Is it ok to release the foot brake after my 2 slides are out and the levelers are down? Being in a site for 2-3 weeks with the foot brake on doesn’t make sense. If released will the levelers retract?

Assuming you're referring to the parking brake then it doesn't make any sense to release it until you're ready to drive away since it's a safety factor.

Releasing the parking brake could immediately (or later say with wind) cause the vehicle to roll. Levelers are designed for up/down weight and not for horizonal motion.

[azdryheat]

I hope you're not talking about a MH with an air brake system. Anyway, I'd keep the parking brake set. If you were to release the brake there is the possibility your MH could move slightly and maybe damage your levelers. BTW, most levelers will retract when you start the motor and put the tranny in drive. I had to do that on a brand new Allegro Bus, at work, because I didn't have a clue where the level control panel was (it's now on the glass digital display panel).

So there's some replies on leaving the brake set, now I'd like to hear your reason for not wanting it set.

[Beverley_Ken]

I would think that it would depend on how the RV manufacturer installed the leveling system. We don't have anymore information on your RV that could help us.
I'm not sure why you would want to release the foot brake, assuming it is your Parking brake. Mine is used all the time, whenever I'm parked. It's been on since November now. No issues at all since we bought it in 2007. I use the parking brake on all my vehicles all the time and never had problems. It's actually saved me from an embarrassing situation/possible accident in my car when the transmission didn't properly go into park, found in reverse next day.

Ken