I am using the air force one braking system.
Does the AF1 activate with the retarder without applying the brake peddle?
I am thinking the retarder has no effect on the toad braking while on long descents in the mountains.
This is something I was thinking about this morning instead of sleeping.
Thanks for your input.
I believe that you are correct that the brakes are not applied when you are using the retard.
I do not have the light hooked up to show when the toad brakes are applied. Some do and they should be able to verify one way or the other
On mine, the retarder does not activate the AF1 brake system. When someone is following me, they see the coach brakes lights but not the tow'd brake lights. I have an audible alarm that also confirms this.
Rich
You need air from the brake pedal. It is attached to one of the brake cans so the retarder does not affect it.
The toad brakes will only come on when the air brakes are applied. The Air Force one has nothing to do with the retarder.
As has been said yes you have to apply brake in order for the toad breaking system to come on.
Easy enough to do I don't think you have to apply a lot of break I'm not sure how proportional it would be. It's a good question. But I have yet to ever want some pretty steep grades now feel like jeep was causing any problems being towed. And I use the retarder a lot and the brakes rare. Which is kind of good when you think about it because over time it will save wear and tear on the Jeep's brakes. I did upgrade my tow bar to a 10, 000 lb Roadmaster tow bar. The previous one I had was only rated for 6,000 and the Jeep weighs around 5, 000 I believe so I was never comfortable with that towbar from the previous owner.
Thanks for all the replies, since I was correct my question is would the, ready bruit, or some other type of braking system with the surge type be better for use in the mountains?
Before I got a Jeep Gladiator I was towing a Ram 2500 diesel truck. That's a lot of extra weight for the retarder.
Thanks again for the info.
Ron
Ron I actually really do prefer your current setup over the others because I'm always worried that the towed brakes could overheat on long downhills were your running the retarder and having towed brakes come on with service brakes let's you control there duty time with the service brakes. Just be aware of your retarder temps and adjust speeds and rpm according. Your dodge weighs about 7200 lbs if equip like mine. Tow limit on your coach is 10k
Scott
I'm with Dsd that I don't want my Toad brakes or when I'm towing a trailer that the brakes for either come on unless I'm applying
the brakes.
Dsd
I hadn't considered that the toad brakes could be on most of the time going down hill. That's the reason I ask all the dumb questions. I swapped the Ram for a Jeep Gladiator so I am not towing that much weight.
Thanks for the input.
Ron
I need some help while hooking up the air for Air Force one I bumped the electrical plugs that goes into the top of the valves and they fell apart is there any place to get new ends for these plugs
Thanks
Chris
Well I was fortunate to find the cables on eBay AL919347 they are not replacements but I can solder the new cable ends on and
use the heat shrink with glue to make a water proof connection and solve this problem.
Chris