Jump to content

Air Brakes on 2002 Monaco Windsor and other ?


breister

Recommended Posts

I have a 2002 40' Monaco Windsor with about 70K miles on it. Bought it used last year and have put about 10K miles on it since then. It is the first DP we have ever had so not sure how the air brakes should "feel". It seems like I have to push pretty hard to get the rig to slow down, so I usually use the exhaust brake as much as possible. I know it is a big heavy rig, but it seems like I shouldn't have to push the brakes so hard to get them to slow the thing down.

 

Also, I am towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a Patriot Brake system. It doesn't seem like the Patriot applies my Jeep brakes unless I am slowing down really quickly. Is this because this is an inertia system and it wont kick in unless it "feels" the rig slowing down?

 

Lastly, we have ceramic tile in the kitchen/bath area and we had a leak under the kitchen sink recently. Now one of the tiles that sticks out from under the kitchen slide seems to be pushed up. I assume the floor underneath puffed up from the water leak? Any ideas how to fix this without having to replace the entire subfloor?

 

Thanks for any input you can provide folks!

 

 

Brian

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Air Brakes could be working just fine, as they do have a different feel then hydraulic braking systems. If you have not yet done so, suggest you make sure the air drier is in good shape. If no record of repairs, assume it needs replacement. The based upon your travel regions, add it to your regular scheduled maintenance say every 2-3 years if in very humid areas, or maybe 4-5 years if exclusively in the dry areas - like the Southwest. (Follow Monaco's recommended schedule to be safe, but those seem to be what many do. With every 2 years probably too early, and maybe 5 years is pushing it too far:)!)

 

If you are not regularly bleeding air of your systems to look for moisture build up, locate all of your air valves and get in the habit of doing so periodically.

 

And either end the owners manual on Brake Leak Down test, or Google 'How to'. And find a level space to go thru a few cycles of Brake Leak Down Testing. (On this big rigs, really surprises me that this is not a mandatory requirement to demonstrate knowing 'How to', as a condition of license.)

 

On your Patriot braking system. Perhaps call and talk to their tech support, to have them walk you thru any settings that you might be able adjust.

 

Flooring sounds like a problem:)! Sorry! It may dry out and shrink back down some after a period of time. But usually wants a subfloor is damage, it's best to get it repaired before more wood rot kicks in. (But for sure, not really too up on this. That is what I picked up from reading posts by others these last 13-15 years - so hopefully someone with more sub floor experience will chip in on if their area any tricks! I'll follow the thread to see.)

 

Best of luck to you, and keep having fun,

Smitty

Be safe, have fun,

Smitty

04 CC Allure "RooII" - Our "E" ride for life!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Try this.....on a level surface so the coach wont roll on you and with engine running and air built up.....push in your yelllow knob to disengage parking brakes. Then step hard on the brake pedal and hold for a few seconds...do this about five times. It adjusts your brake adjusters up. Your braking should improve...it did on mine. I do this procedure regularily. Make sure you dont step hard on the brake pedal with the parking brake engaged however.

The above advice from Smitty is also good to heed.

 

In Alberta anyone driving a vehicle with air brakes is required to have an air brake endorsement on their drivers license. This requires taking a course.

<p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well.

IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On my coach the brake pedal is hinged at the base of the petal (bottom) as I assume most are. When I first started driving it I thought I had to push extra hard also as I had a habit (from prior rigs) of resting my heel on the floor and pressing the pedal just a few inches from the base (of the pedal). Soon discovered I needed to get my heel off of the floor and push on the TOP of the pedal for maximum effect.

 

Lenp

USN Retired
2002 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom

2012 F150 4x4

2018 Lincoln MKX

2019 HD Ultra Limited

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know what chassis you have, but Spartan chassis says it take about 100# pressure to activate the automatic slack adjusters. Since we (many of us) seldom have to use that much pressure, the slack adjusters are not activated properly.

While parked, P-brake off, push firmly on the brake pedal several times. Take a test drive, if they seem slightly improved, repeat the process.

P.S., the FMCSA does not recommend manual adjustment of automatic slack adjusters.

 

2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.  John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Try this.....on a level surface so the coach wont roll on you and with engine running and air built up.....push in your yelllow knob to disengage parking brakes. Then step hard on the brake pedal and hold for a few seconds...do this about five times. It adjusts your brake adjusters up. Your braking should improve...it did on mine. I do this procedure regularily. Make sure you dont step hard on the brake pedal with the parking brake engaged however.

The above advice from Smitty is also good to heed.

 

In Alberta anyone driving a vehicle with air brakes is required to have an air brake endorsement on their drivers license. This requires taking a course.

 

 

What about folks from the US passing thru Alberta to AK? Do they have to take a course?

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, I am towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a Patriot Brake system. It doesn't seem like the Patriot applies my Jeep brakes unless I am slowing down really quickly. Is this because this is an inertia system and it wont kick in unless it "feels" the rig slowing down?

I have not used the Patriot, but I have used a similar unit for many years and suspect that my experience does apply. I towed with a Brake Buddy for many years and it is inertial as well. If your Patriot is the same there should be a sensitivity setting that you can adjust to change when and how much it applies. You can use the remote unit to test the brake by letting the rig coast forward slowly in a parking lot and then use the remote manual override to apply the brake. It should be noticeable when it applies, if working properly. Since I've no experience with the Patriot, I did read through the Patriot Owner's Manual(found here) and there are some differences in the set-up. Remember that your motorhome is many times heavier than your tow vehicle so it won't slow the RV a great deal but you should be able to notice it, if it is applying. You may need to adjust the gain setting higher to get proper braking.

 

 

Lastly, we have ceramic tile in the kitchen/bath area and we had a leak under the kitchen sink recently. Now one of the tiles that sticks out from under the kitchen slide seems to be pushed up. I assume the floor underneath puffed up from the water leak? Any ideas how to fix this without having to replace the entire subfloor?

The first thing that I'd do is to give it a week or two to dry out as it may go back down to proper position, or it could also be something other than the leak which caused it. You would probably need to lift that tile and possibly one or two next to it in order to do much about this problem.

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

What about folks from the US passing thru Alberta to AK? Do they have to take a course?

If you are LEGALLY licensed in your home state you are legal. United States and Canada have reciprocity agreements to cover this sort of thing. For instance, I can use my lowly Class "D" drivers license to drive any RV including one with air brakes anywhere in the US and Canada, but if you lived in Cali, Texas, Michigan, New York, etc, you need a special type of license to drive larger RVs.

VisitedStatesMap.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are LEGALLY licensed in your home state you are legal. United States and Canada have reciprocity agreements to cover this sort of thing. For instance, I can use my lowly Class "D" drivers license to drive any RV including one with air brakes anywhere in the US and Canada, but if you lived in Cali, Texas, Michigan, New York, etc, you need a special type of license to drive larger RVs.

 

Thanx, that's what I thought.

<<Les Garten>>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Us HDT'ers have to do the same thing. I rarely apply more than 25-30psi on the brakes. For the automatic adjusters to work I need more around 65-80. I do as described above, park on a flat surface, release brakes and pump the brake pedal several times. The adjusters do their job and all is good.

Alie & Jim + 8 paws

2017 DRV Memphis 

BART- 1998 Volvo 610

Lil'ole 6cyl Cummins

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No one has mentioned doing a brake cylinder travel test. Automatic adjusters do fail to operate correctly periodically and require the travel to be measured. There are procedures for doing this posted in a number of the state and provincial motor vehicle regulations. These are posted in BC in an Insurance Corporation document called "Within an inch of your life-CVSE"

Bob & Karen Ritchie

Chase, BC when we are not RV'ing & chasing trains

'06 29.5 LKTG Hitch Hiker 2 LS

'07 GMC 2500HD Classic sb/srw

SKP# 96746

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

RVers Online University

campgroundviews.com

RV Destinations

Find out more or sign up for Escapees RV'ers Bootcamp.

Advertise your product or service here.

The Rvers- Now Streaming

RVTravel.com Logo



×
×
  • Create New...