Braking Question

[RustyJC]

Pat,



Through your contacts, you wouldn't happen to know of a qualified facility in the Houston, TX area that could do a turnkey conversion of my truck and 5th wheel, would you? If I were to do this, I'd be looking at the brake controller, electric over hydraulic actuator and disc brake conversion (Dexter 7000 lb axles). In checking out websites, I get the idea that companies just want to take on one piece of the puzzle - nobody (with the possible exception of MorRyde) is packaging the total solution - but, then again, maybe I'm missing something... .



Rusty

 

[IWeiny]

In the class 8 world, using the foundation brakes AT ALL is equivalent to admitting you have failed to plan your descent/stop correctly.

What are "foundation brakes"? Does this mean using the brakes rather than gears/exh brake?



Ira

 

[EMD Diesel Power]

Foundation Brakes are the same as the service (normal) brakes. Just another name for them.



Jeff

 

[Un-Hemi]

One thing that really cheeses me off is the minimal axles, brakes, wheels and tires that are on our 28' Jayco and most other TTs. 10" brakes just don't cut it at all. I'm all for upgrading the axles to 6,000 pounders, just for the much larger brakes... . (if I don't sell the darn thing. ) Then I could use the steel wheels off the truck when I install the alloys and larger tires.



BTW, other than the cheap and sleazy axles, etc. , the trailer is OK.

 

[Eric_77]

I agree with Pat 100% service brakes should only be used to bring truck/trailer to a stop or for emergency if exhaust brake equipped but in the event you do not have an exhaust brake then you should not ride brakes but instead have correct gear selected and apply brakes to bring speed 5 mph under your ideal/selected speed brakes should be applied firmly and no longer than 4-5 seconds then released and vehicle allowed to "speed up" to desired speed. If more braking is required then selected gear/speed is too high and you will start overheating your brakes in steep grades.