How many of you have tried a full emergency sudden breaking Exercise with your rig fully loaded. Or have you never bothered. And how did it go. Did you stop in a straight line/ and or pull side ways.
We, with a new van fully loaded with loaded tug, am thinking of doing a few out on the open road with no traffic fore or aft of me, with speeds from 60/80/90/ 100. Just to know what to expect before the need arises. The actual stopping distances. Our van loaded will be 2650kg and tow truck 3200kg.I have fitted new BFG A/T and new brake pads.
Maybe you should just the whole house with you lol.
I wouldn't be bothered with taking that exercise as long as you have everything tied down securely. Every sudden braking scenario would not be the same!!
Hi Jim, I think it's a great idea, I've done it myself and I think it's something everyone should do. Mine pulled up straight in about the distance I expected. You have to leave a lot more space between yourself and the vehicle in front, stay alert at all times and drive to the conditions.
Cheers Owen.
__________________
The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.
I do so every time I hook up the van before a trip from home. I do a couple of laps around the block sitting on the brakes to get rid of the rust on the drums. Then I do an emergency stop. Perhaps not a real test.
The neighbours think I'm strange I suppose.
Had one for real when a (empty?) garbage truck stopped suddenly in front of me. Or was I being inattentive? The bloody Patrol locked up, no ABS, but the van's 4 wheels seemed to do the job & I was able to stop in a cloud of smoke to add to the garbo's smoke. Important thing was that I maintained my line & did stop in time.
Pulled over for a break to recover my composure. What a way to go .. wiped out by a garbage truck!
Straight line emergency braking it totally different to braking with the steering turned even slightly off line resulting in the strong possibility of the trailer steering the tug, especially when the trailer weighs more than the tug.
If it gives you peace of mind, do it. I'm with Cupie, I try; at lowish speeds; after every hook up just to check that the Redarc brake controller is set correctly. I suppose I could mark the setting and do away with the ritual, but I'll continue doing so I actually know the van brakes are working. Its one of the peace of mind things for me.
Every advanced driver course I have done included several panic stops so you get a chance to do a stop in safe conditions. Two days after doing the Stay Upright course for motorcyclists, an older driver did a Uturn across double lines, just in front of me. I felt totally in control as I pulled up in minimum distance, missing the car by not much. Knowing how a rig behaves under maximum braking effort is a good thing to know before you need to.
Iza
__________________
Iza
Semi-permanent state of being Recreationally Outraged as a defence against boredom during lockdown.
I Am glad there are a few who "Stop before they start". Allthough I don't 'emergency stop' . I do give the brakes a wake up call.
I also 'wiggle my tail' , to get a feel of the 'handling' , this is done at 30 to 40k . The way I drive , The Accelerator , gets me out of
"close calls". Yes , I have done , Defensive & Advanced driver training courses . And I am STILL Learning.
A good idea is to test your Van's electric brakes prior to testing anything else. I do this by the Controller in the car and you can adjust/feel that they are stopping the car - don't let the wheels lock up or you will have flat spots on the tires!
Saw one the other day which had the wheels lock while travelling (the break away plug had pulled out) and the tires were down to the wire in the flat spot.
__________________
Glen
A diesel Nissan Pathfinder towing a Coromal Element 542.
A good idea is to test your Van's electric brakes prior to testing anything else. I do this by the Controller in the car and you can adjust/feel that they are stopping the car - don't let the wheels lock up or you will have flat spots on the tires!
Saw one the other day which had the wheels lock while travelling (the break away plug had pulled out) and the tires were down to the wire in the flat spot.
This test is part of the set up procedure in my controller documentation.
I run thru it from the laminated copy in my glovebox before every trip. After I do a couple of laps around the block to get rid of any rust on the drums.
When you van has stood for a while. Specially like up ON the coast.
Air rust forms in drums.
It's a good idea to drive the first km or so on back road/s with either foot slightly on/off brake or manual actuator
on/off slightly.
THEN check your brakes. They have been known to snatch otherwise.
Your brakes (I do anyway) should be checked AND adjusted at beginning of every trip
Just in case anything has changed. (They are your life in traffic)
Adjust them so they come on JUST A FRACTION b4 car brakes.
IE you can feel a slight drag from rear as yours are coming on,
Just a feeling. no more..
Then it won't push you and It'll help towards fishtailing.
If your trailer starts to "swing" try actuating manual lever a little. B4 doing any braking.
Often just that will pull it back in line.
I always check van brakes by themselves too.
As in on a clear road at say 40 km.
Activate lever and see how the van pulled you up all by itself.
A Tandem should do a surprisingly good job.
Otherwise Adjust loading on electric controller. Get brakes (shoes etc, checked)
I have my van serviced every yr. Either b4 heading off on main trip or just standing.
Coupla hundred well spent.
You know the whole exterior parts are working properly, and adjusted to suit.
Before you start then.
If fully on road. that don't pertain, everybody does it different.
Once I was happy my new van was set up correctly I did several hard stops working up from about 60km to about 90km. Once I did that I paked the van and felt each drum. To my suprise one was cold. It was faulty from new and was later replaced by alko agents.
Everyone should do it once in a while but also get put and check they are all hot.
At Every stop. You should just walk around rig by heading for pump.cafe etc.
Just touch each rim Centre for heat and look at couplings.
Last trip coming North. We stopped in a truck park area. (car section full)
Had dinner. Quick walk round rig b4 starting. "Everything "looked" alright.
Coupla miles down road. I didn't "feel" right.
Pulled over. and checked.
Trailer 7pin flat was bouncing on ground. Just about calked. Anderson was shattered.
They "were" both in when I looked,
SOMEBODY had actually slipped them partly out of connections and vibrations did the rest.
There's NO WAY a 7 pin Flat plug can come out when spring loaded lock plate is locked in.
I rang servo.
They said it had happened a coupla times recently and police were checking camera's.
Just check your plugs are FULLY in when you depart.. Just maybe.......
