FWIW - Tuesday 7/17, a 1990 Monaco 37', carrying a family of 7, lost its brakes coming down the mountain from Hurricane ridge, careened through the city of Port Angeles at speeds estimated up to 70 mph, destroyed 3 cars, & went off a 20' embankment before it stopped. Fifteen people were injured, 2 remain hospitalized, and the driver died yesterday.

The newspaper photo shows the coach body intact, with substantial damage to the lower front, & the left side of the front compartment destroyed. The coach crashed nose-first on the driver's corner, & rolled on its side. The circumstances are a testimonial to the construction of that particular coach.

To view the photo, go to peninsuladailynews.com, type "crash" in the advanced search block, & scroll down to the story "Breaking News:driver of runaway RV dies of crash injuries." The photo is small, but you can zoom it.

Here's the kicker: Connie Gallant, president of RV Consumer Group, "a group that publishes highway safety rating for used RVs," said the family was fortunate to be driving an older RV. "The structural integrity of motor homes today is relatively poor...the walls disintegrate in crashes as slow as 35 mph."

Aren't you glad you drive an older Barth?

Here is the Link:
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...70719/NEWS/707190307

Pop quiz for P30 owners. Know what that drum brake thing directly behind the transmission is?
Do you know how it's activated? Do you know if it is working properly on your coach?
If you don't know the answer to all of the above, read the above post and FIND OUT!

And when you park your coach use you emergency brake. If you don't use is you may loose it.

Also, down shift before you go over the top of the hill.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bowers:
And when you park your coach use you emergency brake. If you don't use is you may loose it.

I know of a Barth that rolled downhill into a gas station because the dog shifted the trans out of park. Things were pretty tore up, but no conflagration.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Danny Z:
Pop quiz for P30 owners. Know what that drum brake thing directly behind the transmission is?

Let me answer! That's the emergency/parking brake.

That applies a braking force to the rear wheels. However, if you have a driveshaft or U-joint failure, it won't work. Someone elsewhere in this forum noted that a loose driveshaft can damage brake lines also. In that case, the driver would only have front brakes to deal with.

The story and the follow up stories of that crash at Port Angeles were troubling. Survivors said the driver was pumping the brakes with no effect. Maybe his e-brake was also not functional or maybe he panicked.

My mechanic suggested "brake fade". Looking that up I found this, and every driver of coming down mountains should be aware of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fade

One news story on a follow up says this: "Police and family members think the brakes on the RV failed after a descent to near sea level from 5,100-foot Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park."

Had your brakes checked lately?
Matt

If the P32 has discs in the rear, the parking brake is on the rear of the driveshaft. If it has drums in the rear, the parking brakes are part of the drum brakes. The trans mounted parking brake is not very effective as an emergency brake.

If you go down many steep roads, I would recommend yearly brake fluid changes, particularly if you live in a damp environment. If you are a flatlander, every two years. I had name brand fluid go soft on me in under two years. I now use ATE. Motul is good, too. Search for a little more info here, with links.-

Also, when going downhill, keep your speed low. With a gasser, choose a speed. Say, 25 mph. When the speed gets 5 over, at 30, brake down to 20. Then get off the brakes to let them cool until the speed is 5 over again. Repeat the process. A tach is good to have to get maximum engine braking without over revving.

The larger P32s have a power brake system that is powered by the power steering system. Pay close attention to the belts and fluid. Tolerate NO power steering leakage. Have the accumulator checked by a brake expert. Ask him how to do a hydroboost accumulator leakdown test. If he doesn't know right off the bat, find another expert.



If you have a tag axle, Be aware that it has its own master cylinder underneath which must be bled separately, and the line from the main master cylinder to the Hydrovac unit must also be bled. Tag brakes can be easily checked by removing the fuse to the air bag pump and dropping the air bags down to 10 psi. Go for a drive and apply the brakes. The tag brakes will try to lock up and a shudder will be felt. If you do this on a gravel road, they will skid without much shudder.

If you feel your brakes getting soft or weak, even a little bit, pull over and make a sandwich.

If you are going down a new hill, ask first. In this case, free advice is worth a lot. I have gone down hills that I would not do again, and was later advised not to. Heard some scary stories.

That guy in WA shoulda asked Roy about that hill.

This is life or death stuff, folks.

quote:

Originally posted by BarthBluesmobile:
Someone elsewhere in this forum noted that a loose driveshaft can damage brake lines also. In that case, the driver would only have front brakes to deal with.

Had your brakes checked lately?
Matt

That would be me. The problem I have with prop brakes are more then just that. Let's say the brakes applied with the prop. If one wheel has a little bit of slippage then it will turn backwards and could cause you to spin out. There is very little control with a prop brake.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill N.Y.:
Let's say the brakes applied with the prop. If one wheel has a little bit of slippage then it will turn backwards and could cause you to spin out. There is very little control with a prop brake.

The good news is that prop shaft brakes on the P32 are probably not strong enough to do that. I have experimented on gravel at low speeds and had little result, good or bad. Or perhaps, my tag axle skewed the results of that test.

Either way, the propshaft brake is more of a parking brake than an emergency brake.

And.....downshift before you go over the top of the hill...

quote:

Originally posted by bill h:
Either way, the propshaft brake is more of a parking brake than an emergency brake.

What are you thoughts on this scenario?

Joe Barther goes to the KOA and sets the "prop brake". He is on a little bit of an incline. The next thing he does is adjusts the front levelers. While adjusting the front height one rear wheel start to slip on wet grass. The front levelers could bend and break while the coach is sliding.

My biggest gripe about a prop brake is the fact that it really is only good on a dry surface. Snow, ice and wet grass will cause any vehicle with a prop brake to turn into an accident waiting to happen.

What's the answer? Apply your foot brake while using the levelers. If you're parking next to a curb then cut the wheels to allow your coach to come to rest on the curb if it should start to slide. Use blocking material around the wheels. Properly placed wheel chocks provide great additional protection.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill N.Y.:
What are you thoughts on this scenario?

First thing comes to mind is being sure the trans is in Park.

Our Barth doesn't have levelers, but if we did, I would level the MH fairly close with blocks first to be sure that both sides of the drive axle would have weight on the wheels to prevent rolling.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill N.Y.:

quote:

Originally posted by BarthBluesmobile:
Someone elsewhere in this forum noted that a loose driveshaft can damage brake lines also. In that case, the driver would only have front brakes to deal with.

Had your brakes checked lately?
Matt

That would be me. The problem I have with prop brakes are more then just that. Let's say the brakes applied with the prop. If one wheel has a little bit of slippage then it will turn backwards and could cause you to spin out. There is very little control with a prop brake.

Could you please explain the term "prop brake?" I got into the Barth I just bought and was alarmed to find no parking brake. What's up with that?

Jack

The term "prop brake" refers to a parking brake mounted on the drive shaft, not the wheels. It is common at least on the Chevrolet P-30 something chassis.

Does your Barth have air brakes? If so your parking brake is the brakes themselves, but you'll have to get advice from someone more familiar with the operation of air brake systems for specifics.

If that doesn't explain your lack of a parking brake, someone else will have to address your mystery.

My Breakaway has a driveshaft parking brake. It's also blessed with the GM Hydroboost system. Lose braking and power steering together if a belt breaks or the P/S pump fails.

There's no emergency braking system.