TDInewguy
Minneapolis, MN
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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Hello all,
I just picked up my rental coach for my trip out west later this week.
I have only test driven DP's before - so maybe 5-10 miles at most for each coach. I have driven Fleetwood, Tiffin, Coachman, Damon, Winnebago, etc. and they all have the long skinny pedals that are typical of a DP.
The rental coach I have is a 2002 Monaco Windsor that has ABS and traction control. The pedals look more like a gasser set of pedals and it requires a LOT of pressure on the brake pedal to stop the coach.
Now it is a 37,000GVWR coach, but the effort required by the other coaches to stop was much less. The exhaust brake works fine, and the air brakes seem to work fine, it's just the significant amount of pedal pressure required to stop. Could the brake linings be glazed? or should I just not worry about it?
The coach was rented from a private party and has 37K miles on it.
SSSStefan
2006 Chev 2500HD - Crew Cab D/A
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Diplomat Don
Moorpark, Ca
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Joined: 04/09/2005
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When I first got my Monaco I thought the pedal required a lot of pressure and didn't trust it at first. One evening we were approaching a four way intersection and had some one run the red light. I hit the brakes and it just about put us through the windshield. They are deceptive, but will stop you on a dime.
Don & Mary 
2005 Monaco Diplomat 36SKT
400 Cummins 
2007 Dodge Dakota 4WD
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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First DP I drove I put on the brakes as I normally would and about sent us through the windshield. The salesman laughed and said most people did that the first time!
Doesn't sound right to me as none of our DP's have taken anywhere close to what the cars do pressure wise on the pedal.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
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zmotorsports
Utah
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They do seem to require a little more pressure than the standard 'treadle' style brake pedal but I think it is just a perception. I drove a friends the other day which was like my old Beaver and it did seem odd after driving the Monaco but I don't think there is any difference in braking. I would find a large parking lot or abandoned street and test the braking a little before heading out just to get a feel for it. I recommend doing a couple of emergency stops as well as standard and slightly aggressive stops just to get a feel for the various stopping distances and response time of the coach. Mike.
Mike & Chrystal (F315002)
2003 Monaco Dynasty/ 26' Haulmark Edge trailer
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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zmotorsports wrote:They do seem to require a little more pressure than the standard 'treadle' style brake pedal but I think it is just a perception. I drove a friends the other day which was like my old Beaver and it did seem odd after driving the Monaco but I don't think there is any difference in braking. I would find a large parking lot or abandoned street and test the braking a little before heading out just to get a feel for it. I recommend doing a couple of emergency stops as well as standard and slightly aggressive stops just to get a feel for the various stopping distances and response time of the coach. Mike.
MOST DEFINATELY!
And I have to agree with Don...in that they WILL stop you...but its a totally different sort of "feedback" thru the pedal that standard hyd brakes will give( such as on a car; pickup...etc)
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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Rollincool
Always Rollin
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Joined: 08/10/2007
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Have them checked out. They could be out of adjustment. You could have thin linings on shoes. Yes, they could be glazed over. When you step on air brakes, just leaning on them a bit will be noticeable. If they are out of adjustment, or glazed, they will be like you decribe.
Don't guess when it comes to stopping 19 tons. Get them looked at, today.
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pfunk
Shelby Township, MI
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Joined: 08/12/2008
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Sully2 wrote:zmotorsports wrote:They do seem to require a little more pressure than the standard 'treadle' style brake pedal but I think it is just a perception. I drove a friends the other day which was like my old Beaver and it did seem odd after driving the Monaco but I don't think there is any difference in braking. I would find a large parking lot or abandoned street and test the braking a little before heading out just to get a feel for it. I recommend doing a couple of emergency stops as well as standard and slightly aggressive stops just to get a feel for the various stopping distances and response time of the coach. Mike.
MOST DEFINATELY!
And I have to agree with Don...in that they WILL stop you...but its a totally different sort of "feedback" thru the pedal that standard hyd brakes will give( such as on a car; pickup...etc)
tested mine out yesterday idiot pulled out in front of me and basically stopped. if it wasnt strapped down, it went flying. the air horn works great too
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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pfunk wrote:Sully2 wrote:zmotorsports wrote:They do seem to require a little more pressure than the standard 'treadle' style brake pedal but I think it is just a perception. I drove a friends the other day which was like my old Beaver and it did seem odd after driving the Monaco but I don't think there is any difference in braking. I would find a large parking lot or abandoned street and test the braking a little before heading out just to get a feel for it. I recommend doing a couple of emergency stops as well as standard and slightly aggressive stops just to get a feel for the various stopping distances and response time of the coach. Mike.
MOST DEFINATELY!
And I have to agree with Don...in that they WILL stop you...but its a totally different sort of "feedback" thru the pedal that standard hyd brakes will give( such as on a car; pickup...etc)
tested mine out yesterday idiot pulled out in front of me and basically stopped. if it wasnt strapped down, it went flying. the air horn works great too
But the "good" part of that is that....NOW you know what it will / can do!!...
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rowesort
Prince George BC Canada
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Joined: 07/12/2008
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Air brakes work differently on a DP then hydraulic brakes. With all the weight in the rear the rear brakes come on 1 st then around 50% pressure the front brakes engage. In a panic situation the pressure is more than 50% so all brakes come on at the same time. No doubt it takes more pressure than the power assisted brakes on the toad especially at low speeds but then there is a big difference between stopping 5,000 vs 30,000+ lbs. Air brakes take approx .4 of a second to react vs hydraulic in a panic situation so remember 60 mph is 88 feet per second thus if there is less than 40 feet between you and the vehicle you are following in a panic situation where you both hit the brakes 100% you will already hit the guy when your brakes engage I think the rule goes on an individual vehicle double the weight double the stopping distance double the speed quadruple the stopping distance so slow down in traffic give yourself more stopping distance. All vehicles by law must stop in a given distance. Thus for a higher GVWR the bigger brakes, it is just that some and most can stop in a lot shorter distance.
Steve
2002 Ultimate Advantage 40 J
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tomlang
Los Angeles area
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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Before I bought my Foretravel last June, I test drove three others. In all cases, my first thought when applying the service brakes was that they were not working. But after applying some pressure to the pedal (about 10 pounds), the brakes definitely work. This makes it difficult to impress my passenger with my smooth braking ability, but I've learned to use the retarder for that.
I too had an experience with someone running a red light through the intersection right in front of me. I too learned that these air brakes (disk brakes on all four corners) really do work. I had a few things to pick up off the floor that went flying in that panic stop.
I don't have any experience with other brands, but it appears my Foretravel is not unique. What is unique to Foretravel is how the 6-stage retarder is tied into the brake pedal. Since you have to go through three levels of retarder braking (30%, 60&, 100%) before the air brakes kick in, that kick-in pedal force might be higher than on other brands.
Tom and Lynne
Tom is an Electronics Engineer, Lynne a retired teacher.
old rig is a 1988 Winnebago Superchief, just back from being on tour with the Blue Turtle Seduction (band)
new (our dream rig) is a 2003 Foretravel 38' U295
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